The Trumbull County Sports Hall of Fame will induct 12 new members during enshrinement ceremonies on Sunday, October 30 at DiVieste’s Banquet Center, 754 North River Road, N.W., Warren.
The organization’s 19th class includes Brian Beinecke (football), the late George A. Bollas (wrestling), Vanness “Van” Brandon (football), Tony Davis (football), Bill Dreier (contribution to sports, official), Nia Grant (volleyball), Larry Kempe (football, coach), the late Richard Raidel (football), Tom Raphtis (football), Bob Todd (golf, coach), Dan Williams (football, coach) and Mandy Zolciak Willis (basketball).
One of two posthumous selections in this year’s class, he was a three-year letterman in both football and track and field where he was an All-Mahoning Valley selection as a senior in the former during a stellar scholastic career at nearby Austintown Fitch High School.
A 1950 AFHS alum, he enrolled at Kent State University upon graduation where he starred for the Golden Flashes, earning three letters as a member of its grid team from 1950-53.
Born March 8, 1933, he began his collegiate career at the ripe age of 17, was an All-Ohio and All-Mid-American Conference first-team selection as a sophomore, earning All-Ohio and second-team All-MAC laurels as a junior and as a captain his senior season, once again earned All-MAC second-team plaudits under the watchful eye of Golden Flashes head coach Trevor Rees.
Voted “Most Improved Freshman” after his initial collegiate season, he was a 16th round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns in the 1954 College Draft, a draft that included 29 selections and 10 players that eventually made the Browns’ active roster.
Upon graduation from KSU in 1954 (he earned his undergraduate degree in Industrial Arts, later earning his ME, also from KSU in 1960), he began a well-documented teaching and coaching career that included stops at Brookfield, Bristol and Lakeview High Schools in Trumbull County.
He coached football for nine years under head coach Tony Mason (along with Bob Shaw) at Brookfield H.S., later becoming the Warriors head coach (1958-62) where some of his best seasons included a 9-1 mark in 1958, 5-4 in 1959 and a 7-3 ledger in 1960.
After serving as an assistant principal at Brookfield, he moved over to the Bristol School District as its superintendent where he also served as president of the Trumbull County Superintendent Association.
While serving in the latter capacity, he was named a Buckeye Association Exemplary Superintendent, also earning Ohio Local “Superintendent of the Year” honors.
In 1978, he was bestowed the Ohio Exemplary Educational Leadership Award.
After serving 44 years in education, he retired as Superintendent of Lakeview Schools and upon his retirement was honored by Lakeview when they named the school’s auditorium the “Richard Raidel Auditorium.”
Despite retiring, his services were still in demand, serving as interim superintendent for both the Lordstown and Bristol School District’s.
He was a member of the Kent State University Alumni Association and the KSU Varsity “K.”
He was inducted into the Kent State Varsity “K” Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991, was a longtime member of the Trumbull County Coaches Association and many local school booster clubs.
He coached Little League for 12 years and was a member of the Cortland Rotary for many years where was presented their Outstanding Community Service Award in 2001.
He was also inducted into the Austintown Fitch High School Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012.
He passed away on February 12, 2020, and was survived by his loving wife, Adrienne and their children, daughter Robin (Tom) Hosler and sons Rick (Mary Ann) and Randy (Pam).
