The Phil Dietrich Senior Athlete Award Story

By John Seaburn

Beginning in 1992, with the recognition of Byron Fike and Dr. Allan C. Jackson, and with the exception of two years when no award was given, the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame (SCSHOF) annually has honored senior athletes and their accomplishments.  Since 2001, the SCSHOF Senior Athlete Award has borne the name of Phil Dietrich, retired Beacon Journal sports-writer.

Dietrich was born March 1,1907.  He graduated from Akron’s Sacred Heart Academy in 1921 and Akron South High in 1925.  He attended the University of Akron (1925-30), then graduated from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism in 1931.

He wrote sports for the Akron Times-Press and the Akron Beacon Journal until his retirement in 1970.  Along the way he wrote the histories of longtime Akron St. Vincent High School coach Eddie Wentz (“E.P.W.: Ever Patient Worker”), the Goodyear Silent football teams (“The Silent Men”), and the 1923-41 South Akron Awnings football team (“The Suncheaters”).

One of his most in-depth research efforts resulted in the book, “Down Payments, Professional Football 1896-1930 As Viewed From The Summit”, the story of pro football in Akron.  The book captured in great detail the various sandlot, semi-pro and professional football teams that have represented Akron and local environs all the way back to the 19th century.

Dietrich’s diligence paid off for readers of the Press-Times and Beacon sports pages for four decades and his hard work resulted in many awards.  In 1968, Dietrich received the Kent State University Service Award and one year later shared the Akron Dapper Dan Man of the Year Award with Barberton native and major league baseball catcher Hal Naragon.

In 1974, the SCSHOF presented Dietrich with the Andy Palich Meritorious Service Award.  Five years later he received the prestigious John S. Knight award from Knight-Ridder.  The University of Akron presented Dietrich with its Meritorious Service Award for Athletics in 1981.

With Dietrich’s writings so synonymous with stories of athletes who dot the histories of the Akron area’s various sports, it is quite fitting that the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame’s Senior Athlete Award bears his name.  He is an honorary life member of the SCSHOF committee, serving the organization for 28 years from 1962 to 1990.  Dietrich died on September 5, 2005.  He was 98.

This article contains information compiled in part by Joe Quinn of Atwater, Ohio, and is derived from “About The Author’ in Dietrich’s book, “Down Payment” which deals with pro football in Summit County, between 1896-1930.

Gene Abdenour (1993)
Paul Amadio (2007)
Oliver Artz (1993)
Peter W. Augsburger (2005)
Bill Bosshard (1995)
Judy Carroll (2001)
William C. Carey (1996)
Paul Denham (2006)
Byron Fike (1992)
Josephine Jerub Gregg (2002)
Jim Grove (2002)
Larry Hall (1997)
Dr. Allan C. Jackson (1992)
Thomas Labbe (2003)
Peter Ostervich (2000)
Robert G. Roush (1998)
Karl Schmidt (1995)
Dr. Syd Sude (1995)
Harold Tschantz (1994)
Joe Ungvary (1996)
Simmons, William (2009)

Note: No Award presented in 1999 and 2004