Tuesday April 21, 1998
TC Hall of Fame inductees
Five former star athletes and an entire football team will be inducted into the Columbian Athletic Hall of Fame during a ceremony scheduled for May 2.
Gary Coleman
An athlete with an uncompromising work ethic, Gary Coleman ('68) excelled in both football and track. While at Columbian, Coleman was undefeated in the Northern Ohio League in the 120 yard high hurdles and the 180 yard low hurdles, setting school and league records in the 120. Thirty years later his 180 school record still stands. On the football field, Coleman was a dynamic wide receiver.
Coleman continued his track career at Adams State College in Colorado where he was a standout decathlete and set school records in the low and high hurdles. During the 1969-70 NAIA Indoor National Championships, Coleman placed fifth in the high hurdles.
Coleman and his wife Melissa currently live in Oceanport, New Jersey with their two children.
Tony Simpson
A two-time NOL champion in the 440 yard dash, Simpson ('63) graduated with five varsity letters, three in track and two in football. He remains the co-holder of the 220 yard dash school record, and was the anchorman on the record-setting mile relay team.
Simpson was also a state qualifier in the 440 and the mile relay team his senior year. Recognized for his leadership qualities, Simpson was named track MVP his junior and senior years and co-captain his senior year.
While at Miami University, Simpson lettered in track. He and his wife Dorothy reside in Broadview Heights and are the parents of two sons.
Dick Rider
Only three sports were offered at Columbian when Dick Rider ('34) attended Columbian more than 60 years ago, and he earned letters in all of them &emdash; football, basketball, and track.
Rider was elected honorary captain of the 1933 football squad and by his 1934 classmates by being named the most popular boy in class. However, his greatest achievements came on the basketball court. He was a member of the historic 1933-34 team that was the first Tornado team to advance to the state tournament. Rider also became the first Columbian player to be named first team all-Ohio.
Following graduation, Rider worked at National Machinery until his death several years later.
Ronald Allen Martin
One of the finest track and cross country runners in school history, Martin ('71) earned three letters in both sports. His senior year he was captain of both teams and before he graduated he established the school record for the 880 yard run.
Martin attended Heidelberg, where he set nine school records in track and cross country. In 1973, he was presented with the Prugh Award given to the outstanding Heidelberg athlete in two sports. In 1975, he was a member of the marathon relay team that set the world's record for a 24-hour relay, a record that still stands. In 1992, he was inducted in the Heidelberg Hall of Fame.
In a stellar coaching career, Martin amassed 16 league championships and 15 district titles at Coldwell, Seneca East, and Columbian. Last year Martin wasinducted into the Ohio Track and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame.
Kelly Outcalt-Hershiser
Though only at Columbian for two years, it was plenty of time for Kelly Outcalt ('86) to make her mark. She earned letters in volleyball, basketball, and softball, and was named to the first team all-NOL in each sport her senior year. Outcalt received six of her 10 varsity letters while at Columbian.
Outcalt was the first Columbian basketball player, male or female, to score 1,000 points in a career.
A graduate of Miami University, Outcalt and her husband reside in Delaware county with their son.
The 1987 Columbian football team
A squad led by 18 close-knit seniors, the 1987 Tornadoes went on to post the only undefeated regular season (10-0) in school history. Along with the NOL championship came a No. 2 final state ranking in the Associated Press Poll and a No. 1 rating in the United Press International poll. The reward came with a home field contest and a victory against Anthony Wayne in the state playoffs.