Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1982
- Class:
- 1939
Russel Kennedy Doan Born Sept. 19, 1916 in Woodsfield, Ohio…Graduated from KSU in 1939 after majoring in Industrial Arts…Holds an M.A. degree in Physical Education in 1957…Retired in June 1979, after 40 years in the education field including the last quarter of a century in Elyria…In 1964, he was presented the Award of Merit by KSU in “recognition of outstanding achievement, inspiring leadership and dedicated service” in his chosen profession…Inducted into the Elyria Sports Hall of Fame in 1975…Attended Ravenna and Paris (now Southeast) high schools, graduating in 1935…Participated in wrestling, track, baseball, and basketball and were County champs in 1934-35…At KSU earned four varsity letters in wrestling (1936-39), three in baseball (1937-39), and played freshman basketball (1935-36)…On mats, he was Interstate Champion at 128 pounds in 1937, 1938, and 1939, and served as captain his senior year…Lost only two matches in four year career and was undefeated as a junior…Lettered in baseball three years and was captain as senior…Ohio Conference’s leading hitter in 1938…Began teaching and coaching at Wadsworth where wrestling team was undefeated for four years…His 1942 Wadsworth team won the state wrestling title…Served more than three years in U.S. Navy as an officer and instructed wrestling to pre-fight cadets…Collaborated on Navy wrestling book, Joe Begala was author…Married to the former Eileen Likens of Ravenna…Parents of a son, Terry, and a daughter, Susan…Russ Doan was an extremely highly competitive athlete…His son Terry is football coach at Elyria High and has brought a great deal of recognition to the team and town coming through with championships regularly…Russ was one of Joe Begala’s favorites.
