Zanesville City Schools

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Class of 2011 / Biographies

Zanesville City Schools \ ZCS Hall of Fame \ Class of 2011 / Biographies

Mr. Tim Coffey

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A student member of Distributive Education Clubs of America during his days at ZHS, Tim went on to serve the group in many roles as an adult, eventually retiring from the national office as its Director of Corporate Development.

While in high school, Tim won the Ohio DECA Public Speaking event and competed in the national event. He also served as a district officer for Ohio DECA.

After graduating from Ohio State University, Tim served as a marketing education coordinator and DECA advisor in the Ohio public schools and received an MBA from Xavier University. He also served on the Ohio DECA Board of Directors.

Tim served as State Supervisor of Marketing Education and DECA advisor for South Carolina for more than 12 years, during which time he was elected to the national DECA Board of Directors. Tim then joined the National DECA staff and served for two decades. Upon retirement, Tim was awarded Honorary Life Membership, DECA’s highest award, and he was the first former DECA student to be so honored.

Tim was active in the church, serving on various committees and commissions, as a member of the Vestry and as Senior Warden for the St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church. For many years, Tim was active in the various Rotary Clubs in Virginia and South Carolina. He was also active in the Labrador Retriever Club of the Potomac and Lab Rescue. Tim continues to remain an active tennis advocate, serving as playing captain for four USTA league tennis teams.

PRESENTER: Rick Mangini

Mr. Trafford Dick

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A veteran of World War II and the Korean War, Trafford served Zanesville City Schools for 38 years, culminating his career in education as the district's superintendent from 1980 to 1984.

After graduating Lash High School in just three years, and then Muskingum University in three years, Trafford began his teaching career at Sheridan School in 1948. He taught briefly at Wilson School and then moved to McIntire Elementary before becoming principal of both McIntire and McKinley elementaries in 1960.

He also served as Elementary Supervisor, Director of Elementary Programs, and Assistant Superintendent before becoming the district’s Superintendent.

Trafford was also busy in his private life. A longtime football and basketball official, he was inducted into the Ohio High School Officials Hall of Fame in 1997.

Following his retirement from Zanesville City Schools, he served Muskingum Area Technical College (now Zane State College) as its Director of Foundations, raising money for student scholarships. Trafford has also been inducted into the Muskingum County Veterans Hall of Fame and was winner of the 1984 Bob and Delores Hope Award.

Trafford is also a member of the Shinnick Trust Board of Directors (scholarships) and the Genesis Hospital Community Board.

PRESENTER: Trafford Dick (son)

Mr. Clarence Jones

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A three-sport athlete at ZHS, Clarence made his mark as a professional baseball player and, later, as a hitting coach for the Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians.

Clarence – known as “Pee Wee” during his days at ZHS – played football, basketball and baseball for the Blue Devils. He was a two-way end for Coach George Vlerebome’s football team, and earned all-Central Ohio League as a defensive end in 1958. In basketball, he was a backup player on a 1958 ZHS team that won 24 straight games before losing to Cleveland East Tech in the state semifinals.

But baseball was Clarence’s best sport. After starring for ZHS as a sophomore and junior, he skipped his senior season and was playing semi-pro baseball when he was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies. He played for the Phillies, Dodgers, Cubs and Reds organizations, making his Major League debut with Chicago in 1967. He played in 53 games, and a few more the next season. The Reds released Clarence after the 1969 season to pursue playing opportunities in Japan.

From 1970 to 1977, he was one of the Japan League’s most prolific home run hitters. In 1974, he became the first American to win a home run title in Japan, and won it again in 1975. He completed his career in Japan with 246 homers in 961 games. Clarence retired after one more season playing in Mexico.

After a few years out of the game, he was hired as a hitting coach in the Braves organization and had a brief stint with the parent club in 1985. He became the team’s full-time coach in 1988 and served through 1998, one of the most successful eras in Braves history, which included one World Series title. Clarence then worked with the Indians from 1999 to 2001.

PRESENTER: Wood Hardcastle

Mr. Tom Lyall

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A former Blue Devils football quarterback, Tom has made his mark in banking and community leadership.

He began his career with Century National Bank (formerly Mutual Federal Savings Bank) in 1971 and steadily rose through the ranks. Tom has served as Century’s president and chief executive officer since 1998 – he was just recently elevated to CEO and Chairman of the Board – and has sat on its Board of Directors since 1980.

Among his many current community activities are the Bethesda Care System Board, chairmanship of the Downtown Zanesville Master Plan Committee, the Zanesville Downtown Association, the Muskingum County Community Foundation board, the Muskingum County Transportation Improvement District board, the Ohio University-Zanesville Regional Coordinating Council, and the Zanesville-Muskingum County Chamber of Commerce board.

Tom has also served as a past campaign chair and board member for the United Way of Muskingum, Perry & Morgan Counties and was a founding board member of the Zanesville-Muskingum County Port Authority.

For his many community efforts, Tom has been presented the Cole & Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award by the United Way, the Ohio University-Zanesville Regional Campus Alumni Leadership Award, the Zanesville-Muskingum County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Service Award, and the Bob Beam Award by the Muskingum County Community Foundation.

PRESENTER: Ron Bucci

Mr. Stanley Morse

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As a young and dedicated trombonist, Stanley put Zanesville on the map by winning a number of talent contests across the Midwest even before he graduated from Lash High School.

Utilizing a “triple-tongue” technique to play “Sabre Dance,” he won contests in 1948 sponsored by the Phillip Morris Tobacco Co. and Horace Heidt, of “Horace Heidt and his Musical Knights” fame. That December, he placed second in the national Horace Heidt Youth Opportunity Talent Program, playing “Hungarian Rhapsody.”

Stanley was also once offered a spot with the Duke Ellington Band, but turned it down in keeping with the ideals and morals he learned from his parents, the Rev. & Mrs. G.W. Morse.

After graduating ZHS, Stanley attended Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., where he earned a degree in Instrumental Music Education. He worked as a high school band teacher in Detroit before using his talents as a director and arranger for several groups. He was Music Director and Arranger for Youth For Christ International; the Spurrlows (a touring musical group sponsored by Chrysler to promote good, clean living among high school students); and America Music Productions (sponsor of several music troupes that perform on cruise ships, at special corporate events, etc.). Stanley was also Big Band music arranger for musical performances at Blossom Music Center in Akron, and at the Canton Music Hall.

Stanley served Trinity Gospel Temple in Canton as its Minister/Director of Music for more than 25 years. He continues to arrange, compose, direct and perform both regionally and across the U.S. with many Christian singers and musicians.

PRESENTER: Carlotta Workman

Mr. Norris Schneider

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A native of Lowell, Ohio, Norris came to Zanesville High School in September 1921 to teach English. With the exception of a one-year leave of absence to write one of his many works, he remained on the ZHS faculty for the next 42 years.

Norris graduated from Belpre High School in 1917, where his fondness for literature motivated him to become a teacher of English. He first attended Marietta College – he became a World War I veteran during this time – before earning a degree from Ohio State University in 1921. Norris also earned a Master of Arts from Columbia University in 1925.

Among his many influences at ZHS was the selection of the school's alma mater, advising the yearbook and starting the school newspaper. Perhaps more than anything, Norris was also known as a prolific writer, especially of local history. His sabbatical during the 1949-50 school year was to complete Y Bridge City: the Story of Zanesville and Muskingum County, Ohio, the most definitive historical work of the area.

Norris also wrote feature articles and short columns on local history for The Columbus Dispatch, The Zanesville News and – for more than 40 years – The Times Recorder. He also wrote some four dozen books and pamphlets on the history of Southeastern Ohio and was instrumental in establishing the National Road/Zane Grey Museum. Among his many awards are the 1984 Bob & Delores Hope Award, the 1987 Secrest Award for the Arts, an honorary life membership by the Ohio Historical Society, and an honorary Doctor of Laws from Muskingum University. Norris died June 5, 1993, just 15 days short of his 95th birthday.

PRESENTER: Monica Schneider
ACCEPTOR: Franz Schneider

Mr. John Simpson

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A prodigious athlete at both ZHS and the University of Pittsburgh, John has gone on to a successful career in media and management.

He made his mark first in sports, earning multiple letters in football, basketball and track for the Blue Devils. In his senior year, he was All-Ohio in football (he also played in the Ohio North-South All-Star Game), a starter on a three-loss basketball team that reached the regional tournament, and also Zanesville’s first individual state champion when he won the shot put title by nearly two feet. His school-record toss of 61 feet, 7 inches in the regional meet that year still stands today.

John was also an excellent student, graduating 18th in a class of more than 400. He was also vice president of his class.

He went on to Pitt on a full football scholarship, earning three letters and eventually becoming the school's first African-American team captain. He also found time to win two letters in track and two more in baseball. Passed over by the NFL, he played one season in the Canadian Football League before a chronic shoulder injury ended his playing career.

After earning a bachelor's degree in political science, John began his professional career with 20 years at NCR Corporation, holding several top management positions, including National Sales Manager at NCR’s Power Systems Group. His media experience began as an on-air personality at WHIZ Radio and TV in Zanesville.

John is currently a partner in Strategic Management Consultants LLC in Lake Mary, Fla., director of marketing and memberships for the National Black Golf Hall of Fame, and is co-founder of Central Florida Black Family Today, a magazine with a circulation of more than 20,000.

PRESENTER: Rick Simpson