Explanation
Title
To recognize the life and contributions of Ron Shay.
Body
WHEREAS, Ron Shay, beloved Bishop Watterson High School teacher, coach, and development director left this world to join his God on Sunday, October 8, 2006, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Shay spent 46 years of his life teaching, coaching and mentoring Watterson High School students in his quiet, confident and steadfast manner, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Shay was an athlete in his own right, joining the Watterson family after successes as captain of The Ohio State University baseball team and as a professional baseball player and
WHEREAS, Mr. Shay wore many hats in his four-decade career, including English teacher, baseball, basketball and football coach, dean of boys, athletic director, development director and director of alumni relations, and
WHEREAS, as head coach of the Watterson Eagles football team for 15 years, he accumulated a record of 109-36-4 with a winning average of 74.4 percent including the 1972 Ohio State Championship, and
WHEREAS, as alumni director, Mr. Shay founded many of Watterson's popular alumni events and fundraising activities including the alumni association, the Eagle Auction, the holiday alumni basketball tournaments, the annual fund phone-a-thon, the EagleWalk and coupon book
sales for tuition assistance as well as coordinating the school's first capital campaign launched in 1990, and
WHEREAS, in recent years as alumni consultant to the
Advancement/Alumni Office, Mr. Shay coordinated events for the fall annual fund phone-a-thon, including rounding up volunteer alumni with contacts just days before his death, and
WHEREAS, On Friday night, October 6, Mr. Shay held court for what would be the last time in the end zone at Hagely Field, visiting with his legions of former students and players, as he has for every home game since leaving coaching, and
WHEREAS, That night more than 6,000 fans packed the stadium to watch the Bishop Watterson Eagles defeat the St. Francis DeSales Stallions in one of the greatest victories in this historic football rivalry, and
WHEREAS, the Bishop Watterson High School family will never forget Mr. Shay's tireless and unending interest in the welfare and success of those he served, and his true reflection of the Watterson motto, to "Be all things in Christ," now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council recognizes Ron Shay's contributions to Columbus through his work with the students of Bishop Watterson High School and sends sincere condolences to his wife, Charlotte, his four children and all who knew and loved him.