The Andy Palich Story

Annually, since 1965, the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame (SCSHOF) has presented a special award to individuals who have made a major contribution for the betterment of athletics in the county, Ohio or nationally other than as a player, coach and/or manager. That award is called the Andy Palich Memorial Award in memory of Andrew “Andy” Palich, a long-time Akron area sports reporter and a member of the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame Committee.

A native of Mountain Springs, PA, Palich took an indirect route into the newspaper business.  Before becoming a full-time reporter for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Akron bureau chief in 1945, he had worked as a fireman and a school custodian.

Palich was only five when his family moved to Akron.  He was a graduate of North High School and attended Kent State University.  Friends said Palich always had a deep interest in sports of all kinds.

As a reporter he covered sports activities in Summit and Portage Counties, including The University of Akron and Kent State.  Andy had a reputation as “a guy coaches and athletes liked to confide in.”

Palich died on December 4, 1964 from injuries suffered in a traffic accident on October 29.  Ironically, the 49-year old Palich was to have attended the SCSHOF banquet the day of the crash, which ultimately took his life.

The Andy Palich Memorial Award is a fitting tribute to a man who devoted his life and career to writing about Akron area sports.

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