Zanesville City Schools

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Class of 2020 / Biographies

Zanesville City Schools \ ZCS Hall of Fame \ Class of 2020 / Biographies

Donald L. Cain

Donald L. Cain was born in Zanesville, Ohio, and was a product of Zanesville City Schools. He graduated from Lash High School, Class of 1949. His classmates remembered him for his beautiful tenor voice, and friendships endured throughout his life.

One year after graduation, he married his beloved, Bonnie J. Kirby. They had four children together, all who graduated from Zanesville High School. Throughout much of his life, Don volunteered for his church (choir director) and community (volunteer fireman, barbershop chorus, YMCA, Toastmaster Club), holding several leadership roles.

Don began serving the schools as President of the Pleasant Grove Elementary School PTA, and later as President of the Zanesville Band Boosters

A friend suggested that he run for the Zanesville City Schools Board of Education in 1975. He was elected four times and served for 16 years, 1976 to 1991. He was elected as the Vice President and President several times during his tenure. He was also appointed to the Muskingum Area Joint Vocational School District Board of Education from 1976 to 1981.

Don had an interest in serving at the regional, state, and national levels of the school board association. He served on the Executive Committees of the Southeast Region Ohio School Boards Association and the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA). He was elected as Vice President, then President of the Southeast Region of the OSBA in 1982. He then was elected as President-elect of the OSBA and became President in 1986. He also served the National School Boards Association as a

moderator at the national convention, was a member of the nominating committee, and attended the Federal Relations Network meetings in Washington, D.C., for several years.

He returned to service as the hired Southeast Regional Secretary in 1993 to coordinate regional events and serve as liaison between the region and OSBA. He maintained that role until the end of 1998. For almost three decades, Donald L. Cain advocated for the students, educators, boards of education, and the public-school systems in the city of Zanesville, state of Ohio, and the nation with distinction.

Lee Eppley

Lee was born June 21, 1939, in Zanesville, where he lived almost all of his life. He attended both Wilson Elementary and Grover Cleveland Junior High. He graduated from M&M High School in Morgan County in 1957. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy and served on the U.S.S. Johnston from 1957 to 1963.

Lee met his wife to be, Ann, in 1963, and they were married in 1964, a marriage that would last 53 years. They had two children, a son, Marvin, and a daughter, Michonne. Lee worked at A.K. Steel from 1986 until he retired in 2004. Prior to that, he worked at Finlaw Lumber Company from 1965 to 1986.

Lee started his baseball career as a third baseman in the Jaycee League. He was widely known in Zanesville for his involvement with the Y-City Midget League. He became involved in 1975 when his son started playing and he became a coach. He became a member of the board in 1976. He was reelected Commissioner for over 40 years and was in charge of daily operations. He was the backbone of the program from then until his health forced him to retire. Under his leadership, thousands of dollars were spent on improvements to the fields and park. He assisted in raising $185,000 to buy the Y-City Park, insuring that little league baseball would continue in the Zanesville community.

He also spent 20-plus years as a Pee-Wee football coach, where he coached one of the toughest groups of 2nd and 3rd graders.

Lee was active in the ZHS Quarterback Club, Zanesville Athletic Boosters, ZHS Tip Off Club, and the Devilette Boosters. He also built props for The Miss SEO Pageant.

Lee was elected to the Zanesville City School Board starting in 2004, serving three four-year terms, and enjoyed every minute of it.

Those who knew him remember him as a kind-hearted man who loved sports and children. He was dedicated to the children of the Zanesville community at large, and the Zanesville City Schools system.

Ted Hannahs

Ted was born on May 30, 1957, to Marjorie and Ernest Hannahs, two very loving parents who provided him with a wonderful childhood. They took him to church regularly, which he continues to do to this day.

Ted is a product of Zanesville City Schools and had many talented teachers. He says that Mr. Davis was his favorite because he made history come to life and blended a great sense of humor with his teaching skills. Ted also says that Coach Toler was the best coach he ever had. He taught leadership, self-confidence, respect, and motivation. Running three miles for gym class in December with a t-shirt and shorts was a true test of that. “It’s hard, but it’s fair” was a sign that hung in his office.

During his high school years, Ted’s bowling improved and his dream of becoming a professional started to become more of a reality. After graduation, he had success as an amateur and then faced a fork in the road – he could have worked for the U.S. Postal Service or turned pro. Not wanting to face a “what if” all his life, Ted chose bowling. He credits his dad and brother for teaching him the game and preparing him for that

moment.

Ted bowled on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour from 1980 to 1988. He won three national titles, 23 regional championships, an American Bowling Congress doubles title along with Zanesville grad Bob Blakey, and, in 1982, he had his best year by finishing fourth place on the year-end earnings list.

During those years, his three bright children were born: daughter Megan, and twin boys Justin and Jacob. After leaving the tour, Ted continued bowling weekend tournaments to support his family and also worked various jobs, including the post office. He is currently a security officer in Columbus.

Ted acknowledges that what the Lord has done in his life is more important than his bowling career. “My life has truly been blessed and enriched by God. I have been a Christian for 41 years and am humbled that He has brought me to this point. I have full trust that His promises of eternity are true, and that everyone can be saved through baptism and obedience to His will. May God bless us all.”

Dr. Bob Haynes

Bob Haynes and his four siblings graduated from Zanesville High School. A 1964 graduate, Bob was a percussionist in the marching band and a pianist in the jazz band and recorded a piano solo playing Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” with the concert band. He was a member of the honor society and participated in plays and the science club.

While at Oberlin College, Bob founded and directed a jazz band. He became proficient in German and studied in Vienna, Austria. With a major in biochemistry, he did research in embryology at the Duke Marine labs.

At the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, Bob thrived in the balance of science and service. Awarded a grant from the Federal Office of Economic Opportunity, he organized a free medical clinic operated by seniors in Nursing, Pharmacy and Medicine.

Bob loved teaching medical students, residents, and Medics, and was a Clinical Assistant Professor of Cardiology at the University of Washington in Seattle. He published papers and a book chapter on cardiac resuscitation, and helped the American Heart Association formulate a standardized teaching program for Advanced Cardiac Life Support.

In 1977, Bob founded a solo cardiology practice in Kirkland, Wash. – a practice that is dedicated to patient-centered care and has expanded to 12 cardiologists. He served as chief of Medicine and Cardiology and was Chief of the Medical Staff at Evergreen Medical Center. For five years, featured in “Seattle” magazine, Bob was voted by his physician peers to be “Top Doctor” in cardiology.

Since 1993, Bob has participated in Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility medical delegations to care for citizens and refugees in areas throughout the Middle East. Nearly every year since 2008, Bob has taught Advanced Cardiac Life Support and consulted in cardiology in Gaza.

Bob and his wife, Gerri, delight in their six children and their spouses, and are thrilled to have 14 grandchildren who live nearby. Photography gives Bob joy – he delights in the wonders of nature. He loves mountain hiking and time by the ocean. Bob is deeply grateful for a life of hard work, service, and laughter with family and friends.

Eric S. Land

Eric S. Land was born April 3, 1951, the first of three children to parents June and Allan Land. He is a 1969 graduate of ZHS, where he was president of the ZHS Band and won the John Phillip Sousa Award his senior year. He also appeared in and helped produce “Bandwagon” productions. Eric graduated Ohio University in 1973 with a B.S. in Communications after being awarded a four-year tuition scholarship.

Eric followed his Dad’s broadcasting footsteps at age 13, sweeping the studio and cleaning the weatherboard

at WHIZ-TV for 50 cents an hour! His career in the television business has spanned 59 years since: producing, directing, and anchoring newscasts during college breaks on WHIZ-TV, anchoring the news for Ohio University’s WOUB-TV in Athens, Ohio, and then as a reporter/producer for WCPO-TV (CBS) in Cincinnati. Eric left the news side in 1974 to learn the business of television, holding sales positions at WCPO-TV, WEWS-TV (ABC Cleveland), and TeleRep. He became team manager at Seltel in Chicago before returning to the station side of the industry as a Local, then General Sales Manager at WAVY-TV (NBC Norfolk, Va.), and also GSM at WISH-TV (CBS Indianapolis) and KTSP (CBS Phoenix). Eric was appointed to his first General Manager position at WEYI-TV (CBS/NBC Flint, Mich.) in 1989. He accepted President/GM positions at WGRZ-TV (NBC Buffalo, NY), WIAT-TV (CBS Birmingham), and then WFLA-TV (NBC Tampa) before leaving television for the NFL.

Eric was recruited by the Glazer family to be the first Chief Operating Officer of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2005. He was recruited back to television after retiring from football, taking on the role as President/General Manager of WTLV/WJXX (NBC/ABC Jacksonville, Fla) and later his present position leading the team at Sinclair Broadcasting in Birmingham, Ala., where he oversees three TV stations (ABC, CW and MyTV).

The TV stations Eric has overseen through the years have received numerous Emmy and Edward R. Murrow awards.

Eric is married to his college sweetheart, Cindy (OU BsEd ’73), who is retired from special education. They have two grown sons: Garrett, living in Atlanta with his family, and Jordan, who lives in Tampa with his family. Eric is an avid pilot (airline transport rated), and Cindy is his intrepid co-pilot. He loves golf, travel, and spending time with their grandchildren. Eric and Cindy established the Allan and June Land Award (endowed) at Ohio University in 1976, which grants scholarships to students in the Scripps College of Communications.

Anthony Tabler

Anthony Tabler is a 1975 graduate of Zanesville High School. During high school, he lettered in football and baseball and served as President of National Honor Society. Anthony then attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and earned a Bachelor of Science in 1979. Later, he received a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, in 1987.

His military career spanned 22 years of active duty. Anthony served as a Tactical Communications / Acquisition Officer performing modeling and simulation of Army tactical radio networks. He wrote requirements for new communication technology and tested and equipped soldiers with modern radio technology. In Special Schools, he earned a Parachutist Badge/Jungle Training. Anthony retired from the Army in 2001.

Since retirement, he has served as a Defense Contractor. That career included 15 years with ITT Defense Business Development – equipping U.S. and international armies with tactical radios – and a year with Harris Corporation developing new tactical radio technology. Currently, Anthony is Director of Strategic Initiatives for Perkins Technical Services. He is responsible for negotiating opportunities to upgrade tactical radio ancillary products in military command posts that simplify the soldier’s ability to establish communications in a tactical environment.

With his family at his side, Anthony has served in various church ministries (Children’s Sunday School, Youth Church, Bus Ministry, Men’s Group Leader) while living in various locations. He has also volunteered at the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Rescue Mission for seven years, and as a group leader for Christian Focused Addiction Recovery.

Anthony’s family consists of his father, Cecil Tabler (deceased); his mother, Yvonne Tabler; a sister, Kathy Bullock; and brothers, Gregg (deceased) and Philip. He has been married to Jan (Morgan) Tabler for 40 years. They have a daughter, Sophia Tabler Tichenor (Gabriel), and six grandchildren: Kiya, Nathan, Emma, Vivianne, Charles, and Remiel.

Eric Zurbrügg, M.D.

Eric Zurbrügg was born at Good Samaritan Hospital in Zanesville to nurse, Mary Ellen Wyckoff, and physician, Earl B. Zurbrügg, MD.

Eric attended Westview Elementary and Roosevelt Junior High. At Zanesville High School, he was privileged to play Central Ohio League championship football for coaches George Vlerebome, Don Stahl, and Harold Slack, With Coach Ron Apperson, there was football, track, wrestling at the YMCA, and continuous encouragement. Majorie Supplee was a favorite among many fine ZHS faculty. In his senior year, he was co-captain of the football team, selected MVP of the track team, and qualified for the State Track Meet.

Eric believes that he was the first ZHS graduate to attend and be graduated from the United States Air Force Academy. He was in the first class at the Air Force Academy to attend medical school directly from the

Academy. At Washington University School of Medicine, he met and married his classmate, Jo Beamer. He served as an Air Force physician during the Vietnam era, then completed residency training and Board certification in Pediatrics and Child Neurology.

Eric and Jo raised their children and practiced in the Oak Park/River Forest communities of suburban Chicago for two decades. During that period, Eric was the medical director of the Illinois Deaf Blind School, the Marklund Home, and the Little Angels Home (residential schools for children with severe and profound neurologic disabilities). During this time, Eric taught pediatrics and neurology to Family Practice Residents and served as consultant to special education cooperatives for childhood neurologic conditions. Drs. Eric and Jo have made made medical mission trips to both Liberia and Kenya and have two children and six grandchildren.

Eric has practiced and taught at Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital of Atlanta, performed disability evaluations for veterans with traumatic brain injuries and is a physician reviewer for Georgia Medicaid.

For Eric, Zanesville was the kind of place where even the folks on his paper route and his customers at Kroger’s would give encouragement to a kid in his first job. He remains forever grateful for the blessings of growing up in Zanesville, Ohio!