EAST HIGH HALL OF FAME | 2004 inductees

JOSEPH BERNARD | SPECIAL AWARD
Honored for coaching, Bernard is a 1945 graduate of Leetonia, where he was an outstanding football player. After graduation from Youngstown College in 1950, he was hired by Leetonia as a teacher and assistant football coach. Bernard stayed at Leetonia from 1951-53. In the fall of 1954, he began his career at East as an assistant football coach. Among his other duties at East, Bernard was assistant track coach, and athletic director for two years. Bernard coached football from 1955-1982, coaching the championship teams of 1955 and 1959. He also coached the City championship track team of 1960, coaching track from 1959-1980.
GLEN R. BROWN | BASKETBALL
Brown is a 1985 East graduate, playing varsity basketball all four years. He was a two-year All-City pick (1984-85) and was selected for the All-NEO team in the honorable mention category. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Brown became the team's clutch shooter as a sophomore. As a senior, at 6-6, 230, he was a force to be reckoned with. Following his high school graduation, Brown joined the Army and played All-Army basketball all over Europe in 1986 and '87.
THOMAS P. CASEY | MEMORIAL AWARD
Honored for football, Casey was a 1948 East graduate and member of the 1947 football team. He lettered in football and baseball and, in his younger years, was a member of the reserve basketball team. He played in the North-South football game his senior year. Casey had a great love of sports; he was an all-around athlete who enjoyed competition on and off the field. Casey passed away on March 18, 1968.
THEODORE A. D'ALESIO | MEMORIAL AWARD
Inducted for football, D'Alesio was a two-year starting tackle at East. He was selected to play in the 1950 North-South Annual All-Star Game. He blocked a punt and recovered a fumble that led to a 40-0 rout over the South team. D'Alesio was cited for his outstanding defensive play. He graduated in 1951 and received a scholarship to Marshall. He was a starting tackle at Marshall during his junior and senior years, serving as co-captain his senior year. D'Alesio passed away on June 15, 1989.
HENRY DEMAIN | BASEBALL
A 1967 East graduate, Demain started his baseball career as a three-year starting shortstop. In his junior year, 1966, the team won the district championship over Howland. He played summer league for the famed McAuley Awning team in the Class B league. In the summer of 1966 and 1967, the team was league champs both years and advanced to the national finals. The 1967 team lost to Detroit in the final game and finished the season as the second team in the nation.
BEVERLY PEARSON EVANS | TRACK
Evans is a 1989 East graduate. She ran track for five years there, beginning in eighth grade. Her sprinting skills were immediately evident to coach Claude Bentley, who depended on Evans to anchor the 4x100- and 4x200-meter relays. She also ran the 100 and 200. Evans' high school team won the City championship in four consecutive years (1986-89). During her senior year, she placed first in the 100 and both relays that she anchored. Evans qualified for state all four of her high school years in the 100 and the 4x100 relay.
GUS HLEBOVY | SPECIAL AWARD
Honored for coaching, Gus Hlebovy is a 1947 graduate of Woodrow Wilson. He was hired at East in 1956 to teach mechanical drawing and woodshop. He began coaching as an assistant with the football team from 1956-1960. During the '58-59 school year, the powers-that-be convinced Hlebovy to be head coach of the first East High track team. In 1960, his fledgling track team won the City Series championship. He coached track from 1959 through 1966. Then he became head football coach from 1968 to 1971 and again from 1977 through 1980. Hlebovy retired from East in 1984 after 28 years of teaching.
KEN E. LITTLE | FOOTBALL
Little was picked for the All-City football team of 1964 and was team captain. After his graduation from East in 1966, Little went to Michigan State where he was a three-year letterman in football and track. A high school knee injury came back to haunt him as a freshman, but he recovered enough to be a preseason pick for the All-Big Ten Conference as a sophomore and an All-American as a junior in 1968. He said his best college game was in 1968 against Syracuse when he had 21 tackles and seven sacks. Following his college career, Little played for the Buffalo Bills, the Ottawa Rough Riders and the Jets.
GARY R. MCCULLOUGH | FOOTBALL
McCullough was selected to the All-City defensive team of 1969 as a free safety. He served as team captain during his senior year and was selected as Defensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player that season. As a freshman, McCullough lettered in football, basketball and track. Graduating in 1970, McCullough accepted a football scholarship to Northern Michigan University. A knee injury ended his football career after one year.
BILL MEESE | FOOTBALL
Meese is a 1944 East graduate. He was drafted into the armed forces during World War II while still in high school. While at East, Bill was a two-year letterman and was picked for the All-City team in 1942. He was halfback and linebacker. Meese was drafted into the Navy during the summer of 1943 and served in the submarine service for two-and-a-half years, the duration of the war. He was discharged in 1946 and moved to California where he attended East Los Angeles Junior College, playing football, and was selected for the all-league team. He then attended Fresno State College where he again was selected for the all-county team.
CHUCK NELSON | SPECIAL AWARD
Nelson is a 1957 East graduate. He lettered in basketball and three years in baseball while starting two years. In football he lettered two years, starting as linebacker his senior year. Nelson boxed in the Golden Gloves. Nelson attended Youngstown College and entered military service prior to completing his degree. While serving in the Army, Nelson went undefeated by winning the Fort Jackson Post Championship with 18 straight knockouts. He was president of the Golden Gloves Association before founding and organizing the K.O. Drugs high school boxing tournament, which he has headed for the last 17 years.
ROCKY PAGE | BASEBALL
Page began his career at age 9, playing for Passarelli Brothers' Little League team. He was a four-year letterman, playing second base and shortstop for coach Art Flauto. He spent his summers, for four years, playing for Class B's McAuley Awning team. He played second base. After his 1961 graduation from East, Page played two years for the East Side Civics "AA" team as their second baseman. He went on to play slow-pitch softball for 15 years for Riordan Sports, Belleria Pizza and Farmers Pride teams.
TIMOTHY R. RUTLEDGE | FOOTBALL
He was an All-City selection five times, twice for basketball and three times for football during his last three years of high school. Playing football, Rutledge was an honorable mention All-City as a sophomore. As a junior, he was team captain, All-City and All-NEO. As a senior, at 6-feet, 175 pounds, he was team captain, All-City, All-NEO and was named to the Street & amp; Smith Magazine All-American Team. During his years at East, Rutledge was always a starter at free safety, but had the ability to play other positions and usually played both ways. He went to Ohio State where he played two years for Earl Bruce.
JUAN SANTIAGO |TRACK
Santiago is a 1984 graduate of East. His cross country team won the City Series in 1981, and he was named to the City Series All-Star team that year. The track team won the City title in 1983 and '84. The East boys won the City Series track meet in 1983, with Santiago earning an impressive 181/2 points. He won the 800, the mile and the two-mile and also helped his two-mile relay team earn the win. He was named the MVP of that meet. He set the school record for the mile (4:31) and the two-mile (9:49). As a senior, Santiago repeated his MVP award at the City Series meet, leading the East boys again to top honors.
JOSEPH C. SANTILLO |FOOTBALL
Inducted for football, Santillo graduated in 1966 from East where he lettered three years in football, playing center. He was selected as a first team, All-City center in 1965 and to the All-Northeastern Ohio second team the same year. Santillo entered the U.S. Naval Academy after high school and played football his freshman year, graduating in 1971 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.