After 75 years, Elyria Catholic's Dad's Booster Club still going strong

ELYRIA — Two years before Elyria Catholic even had any students or classes, a group of dedicated boosters started what has now been a 75-year tradition. On Sunday, the Dad's Booster Club board honored approximately 90 sellers with a banquet and celebration at the school's cafeteria. The organization also learned it will be honored by the school with the 2022 Exceptional Service Award by EC president Annie Heidersbach on May 22. "The founding fathers are the giants," she said. The club's original founders included Lorne Elbert Sr., Frank Fritz, Boyce Goldcamp, Bill Hartman, John Lydon, John Pluta, Sylvester "Buzz" Rothgery, Ted Seward and Dick Teasdale. Bill Ready was the club's first treasurer. They've all passed on but their legacy remains. The current board members are Dennis Bruck, Dan Hornbeek, Ron Zidek, Rob Zidek and Hal Minnich. Minnich, the club's spokesman and longtime treasurer, thanked his sellers, including 104-year-old Thelma Fritz, who couldn't attend but has been an active seller the entire 75 years. The boosters have raised well over a millions dollars for the school's athletic program. Among the many items they've been responsible for include funding such major projects as the cafeteria and Coliseum bleachers, the lights at the football field, the football fieldhouse and the baseball outfield fence and scoreboard. "It's meant a lot to me," said Minnich, a 1953 graduate of EC. "I've been doing it so long but when you see what it's done for the school, it makes you stay with it. "Every time I go by and look at it, I admire how well it's been kept and what we've done to make it that way. It makes you very proud." The club raises $800 to $1,000 monthly through the selling of 50/50 raffle tickets. "It's a great day to be a Panther," EC principal Suzanne Lester said. The original founders met on the second floor of the old Marshall Drug Store on Broad Street. The building was torn down this past year but the memories and tradition the original founders started have remained. The only thing missing Sunday was longtime coach Bob Guinta's rendition of Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York." Guinta, the Hall of Fame basketball coach, was unable to attend. Tom Taylor, the school's assistant principal, served as master of ceremonies. Deacon Patrick Humphrey did the invocation and the benediction. Athletic Director Jim Piazza also thanked the organization for its outstanding work. Contact Tim Gebhardt at 329-7135 or timothygeb@msn.com.