Garrettsville – Two more distinguished alumni are set to enter the James A. Garfield Hall of Fame on Saturday, April 27. Tickets for the dinner and the presentation are still available by contacting Sheri Johnson at 330-527-5384.
This year’s honorees are Mark Manno, ‘74 and Martin Paul, ’61.
Mark was the classic, understated but highly-appreciated athlete in his years of participation in high school sports programs. He graduated with 11 varsity letters in football (3), wrestling (4), and golf (4), achieving first team recognition in the Portage County League in all three.
Middle guard was his football position and he garnered more votes than any other player in the PCL voting. The Akron Beacon-Journal accorded him similar recognition on its first-team selection for the area. He was an integral part of the 1972 PCL Championship team from Garfield.
Moving to wrestling for the winter season, he was never pinned in varsity competition and took first place at 175# in the PCL tournament, first place in the sectional tournament that year ( first Garfield wrestler to take a sectional crown).
Golf being a spring sport at that time, Mark closed out the competition year by setting a school record with a 34 (two under) and made the All-PCL first team for two years. He was the tournament medalist (1st place) with a 77 for the tournament championship Garfield team in 1974. Not too shabby!
Moving on to Hiram College, Mark played linebacker for the football team for two years then graduated in 1979 and moved on to the even real-er world of teaching history at Windham High School for 31 years.
Still a part of the sports scene, Mark coached jr. high wrestling at Garfield for several years then coached the varsity golf team to a PCL championship (Two of his players–Rado and Norton– later moved to join him in the coaching ranks).
Retirement is savored all the more with friends made at Garfield and two brothers–Dino,’70 and Matt, ’77–also Garfield graduates. They can share memories of their dad, Joe Manno, who taught and coached at Garfield from 1953 to 1964.
Similarly multi-talented is Martin Paul, an active and dedicated member of the community and the school district for much of his life, having been a coach in community youth sports, a supporter of the athletic boosters and all academic and athletic programs, a board member of the Robinson Memorial Hospital, the Huntington National Bank(Kent), the Middlefield Banking Co., the Hiram Community Trust, Do-It Best national board, as well as a fan and supporter for decades.
It all started on the field/floor/track.
Football–four-year letterman, all-PCL three years, captain
Basketball–three-year letterman, captain
Baseball–four-year letterman, part of the PCL championship team (’59)
Track–four-year letterman, high point scorer four years (100yd., 220yd., 440 yd., 880 yd. relay, pole vault), five firsts one second, two thirds in PCL championship competition.
Ohio Northern afforded opportunity to play football as a running back for two years, and compete as a sprinter for three years.
Marty’s selection for the Garfield Hall of Fame makes for the first father-son AND father-daughter combo on the photo wall. He will join daughter Lyndsey and son Dean for recognition of their contributions (“Duke” Pesicek and son Glenn share in their elevation).
He can point with considerable pride to a family tradition of accomplishment.
