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Dean
Shafer
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Bradford holds Hall of Fame Ceremonies
By Don Selanders
goroaders.com
MR. DEAN SHAFER
Our first inductee tonight is the late Dean Shafer. Accepting
Dean’s award is his son Ron Shafer. Dean is a 1958 graduate of
Bradford High School. During his athletic career at Bradford High
School, Dean participated in Track and Field and Basketball. Dean
was a member of the 1958 Stillwater Valley Conference Track and Field
Championship team. In 1958, Dean was the Ohio High School State
Pole Vault Champ. Dean is currently the only Bradford athlete to
win a state championship in Track and Field. In 1958, Dean set
the school record in the pole vault with a vault of 11’5”. Dean’s
Pole Vault record stood until 2013.
Following graduation, Dean joined his two sisters and four brothers at
NCR in Dayton. Dean was always competitive and looked at every
opportunity to play a game. It was not uncommon to see Dean on
breaks and during lunch at NCR, playing table tennis in the aisles
along the manufacturing floor. He was very good, which meant he
earned the right to continue playing until he was beat. The
practice paid off, when it evolved into competitions and many trophies.
Dean married Gloria Sanders, a fellow Bradford school mate and his next
door neighbor, in 1959. In the early years of their marriage,
they welcomed a daughter and son, Mindy and Ron. Dean stayed
active in the community and the school. He could be seen at every
home football game, as part of the “chain gang,” moving the yardage and
down markers on the sideline. This gave Dean a chance to enjoy
his sports passion for over 30 years, and to be right next to all the
action.
In 1974, Dean left NCR and was hired by Bradford Schools as a member of
the maintenance and facilities team. It was the perfect
job. Dean was then able to match his career with one of his
favorite pastimes: by day, taking care of the Bradford facilities,
including the field, track, court and diamonds, and by night, cheering
on the students who competed for Bradford, from Pee Wee through varsity.
Over the years, Dean was active with the Bradford Jaycees and Covington
Eagles, was a member of the Bradford Ohio Railroad Museum, and could be
found helping out at most any community event, especially the Pumpkin
Show. His interest in sports never waned. He was known to
ride a unicycle in the halls of the school, and often shamed much
younger athletes on the tennis court or by picking up a pole and
vaulting higher than the high school athletes. He picked up golf
later in life, to enjoy extra time with his wife. Dean just
couldn’t bring himself to serve Gloria a tennis ball she could return,
so golf was the answer. His favorite sport as a spectator was
watching Ohio State football.
Dean retired from Bradford Schools in 2005. He immediately
focused on building a new house, in anticipation of Gloria’s
retirement. Perhaps you have even seen the Club Seating he
created, just above the shrubs that line the end zone of the football
field. He calculated how big to make “Club Seating,” so four
adults could enjoy a game of cards, while watching Bradford play
football.
Dean passed away in 2009. This past year, his family chose to
honor his passion for Bradford sports and his competitive nature.
It seemed just perfect to help support the building of a new football
scoreboard, in the location with so much meaning. It stands just
feet from where he pole vaulted so many years ago, on the field where
his son played football, and where his daughter twirled her baton at
halftime. And best of all, it can be viewed from the Club Seating
atop the shrubs, where family and friends continue to enjoy Bradford
sports.
The phrase, “Play to Win,” is intended to describe how Dean played
sports: passionately, fairly, and ALWAYS with the intent to WIN!
It is our pleasure to present Mr. Dean Shafer to you as our newest
member in the Bradford High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
MS. SHELLY MILLER
Our second inductee tonight is Ms. Shelly Miller. Shelly is a
2003 graduate of Bradford High School. During her athletic career
at Bradford High School, Shelly participated in Volleyball, Basketball
and Softball. Shelly earned eight varsity letters during her
athletic career. Shelly currently holds the school record for
three pointers made in a season with 123, single season free throw
percentage at 79% and most consecutive free throw made with 26.
Shelly is also a member of the 1,000 point club with 1,125.
Following graduation, Shelly moved to Oxford, Ohio to attend Miami
University. While at Miami University, Shelly studied Journalism
and Communications and obtained a bachelor’s degree in December
2006. Shelly managed a coffee shop and interned at a local
newspaper for a few months. In May 2007, Shelly gathered what
would fit in the back of a pickup truck and traveled across the country
with her college flame. They purchased one-way tickets to Hawaii
and settled in. Shelly got a job at a local coffee shop, while he
pursued a position at the island’s newspaper. Shelly would bike
to work, along the Pacific Ocean, for three years, before realizing
that she wanted to pursue a different path. Shelly moved to
California in 2010 and transitioned into a management position with
Peet’s Coffee & Tea. Shelly has been with the company for
three years, and recently returned to school at California State
University. Shelly has two quarters remaining before becoming a
certified paralegal. In the meantime, Shelly has been exploring
the Bay Area with her boyfriend, learning to cook healthy meals,
traveling near and far, and posting photos of her cat to Facebook.
It is our pleasure to present Ms. Shelly Miller to you as our newest
member in the Bradford High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
MR. PHIL KOSIER
Our third and final inductee tonight is Mr. Phil Kosier. Phil is
a 2003 graduate of Bradford High School. During his athletic
career at Bradford High School, Phil participated in Football,
Basketball, Powerlifting and Baseball. Phil earned 10 varsity
letters during his athletic career. During his football career,
Phil was named Athlete of the Week in 2001 and 2002, Cross County
Conference Honorable Mention in 2001 and 2002, Best Defensive Back in
2002, Most Valuable Player in 2002, All Darke County Football team in
2002, Darke County Offensive Player of the Year in 2002 and lead the
team in receptions in 2002. During his Basketball career, Phil
was selected to the Cross County Conference Special Mention team once,
Basketball Athlete of the Week in 2002 and 2003, lead the team in
points, rebounds, field goal percentage, free throw percentage and
steals in 2003. During his Baseball career, Phil was selected to
the Cross County Conference Honorable Mention team in 2002, Junior
Class Male Athlete in 2002, the Cross County Conference First Team in
2003, Darke County Player of the Year in 2003, Darke County Top 3 Male
Athletes of the Year in 2003 and Baseball Athlete of the Week in 2000,
2001, 2002 and 2003. Phil lead his team in RBI’s in 2002 and
2003, had the second highest batting average in 2002. Phil also
lead his team in stolen bases, doubles, triples, home runs and batting
average in 2003. Phil currently holds the school records for
single season doubles with 12, single season batting average with .549,
single season stolen bases with 31 and single season fielding
percentage with .994. Phil has also tied the school records for
single season triples with three and single season home runs with five.
Following graduation, Phil attended Defiance College, where he
continued his baseball career for the Defiance Yellow Jackets. At
Defiance, Phil majored in Early Education and Wellness and Fitness,
obtaining his Bachelors of Science in 2007. In 2009, Phil
graduated from Mount St. Joseph with his Pre K – 3 Education License.
Phil currently lives in Springboro, Ohio. He has been working at
Imagine Charter School in Dayton, Ohio for five years. He was the
gym teacher for a half year, a third grade teacher for two years, the
curriculum coach for two years, and is currently the K-2 Dean of
Students.
Phil started his coaching career at Bradford, assisting the high school
baseball team, was the 7th grade boys basketball coach, assisting the
high school football team, and was the varsity baseball coach and 7th
grade football coach at West Milton Schools. Phil has coach
varsity football for a total of three years and varsity baseball for a
total of six years. Phil is currently the Head Varsity Baseball
coach at Northridge High School.
Phil has been married for five years this March to his wife Ali, and
they have one daughter, McKenzie, she will be three in May.
Phil is currently enrolled in Ohio University’s Masters of Athletic
Administration program and will finish in the spring of 2015
It is our pleasure to present Mr. Phil Kosier to you as our newest
member in the Bradford High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
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