The 55th Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame banquet, sponsored by Briarfield Health Care Centers and Ed and Diane Reese, is set for Sunday, May 5 with 12 new members set for enshrinement during ceremonies at Mr. Anthony’s Banquet Center in Boardman.
Former NFL official and current national network television rules analyst, Gene Steratore, will serve as guest speaker.
Linden was born May 13, 1954, the lone all-sports honoree in this year’s class.
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A 1972 graduate of East High School, Linden starred in both football and baseball for the Golden Bears where he earned five overall letters, three in the diamond sport.
A cornerback in football, he suffered a broken hand early in the season and was relegated to just punting duties where he proceeded to lead the City Series in punting average his senior season.
His star shone brightest on the diamond, however, where during his senior season he posted a 4-2 overall mound mark with a 1.85 earned run average, tossing a two-hitter against the Warren Harding Panthers.
In 1967, he was a part of the East Side Merchants squad that won the Youngstown Pony League crown and in 1971, helped lead Campbell A.C. of the local Class “B” League to the NABF (National Amateur Baseball Federation) national championship in Covington, Kentucky.
A proud Veteran who served in the U.S. Army (1977-80), he began his touch football career in the Youngstown Touch Football League with its inception in 1973, playing until the 2004 season – the only seasons he missed were during his military obligation and three other years while rehabbing as he recovered from serious injuries.
In 1980, along with his brother John (Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame, Class of 2015), his team became the first area team to win a state touch football championship, defeating Cleveland Non-Ferrous Metals in Marietta, a team that had won the previous five state crowns.
He scored the only two touchdowns in the game, tossed to him by none other than his brother.
In eight tries, he was a member of three national championship squads (1995, 1996 and 1997), earning All-America laurels on both offense and defense on four separate occasions.
A two-way starter, he helped his team to five City titles, played in multiple out of town tournaments and on seven occasions, led the YTFL in scoring and/or interceptions.
During a stellar touch football career, he coached his team on the defensive side of the ball.
Along with brother John, he helped his Cleveland touch football team to the Lake County title in 1984, often times playing in Cleveland in the morning then returning to Youngstown for an afternoon fray.
He was a member of seven, Youngstown Over 30 Touch Football League championship squads and in 2000, earned induction into the state of Ohio Touch Football league Hall of Fame.
From 2002-04, he joined his brother as they began playing ‘4-on-4’ flag football, winning the title two of the three years that they played.
From 1984-96, he fielded multiple teams representing the City of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley in the Ohio Police and Fire Olympics, playing quarterback and safety where he helped lead his team to state championships in 1985 (Cincinnati), 1988 (Cleveland), 1989 (Columbus), 1990 (Akron) and 1996 (Columbus).
In 1996 after winning the state championship, they qualified for the International Police and Fire Olympics, winning the title by coming out of the loser’s bracket to best teams from 41 states and 14 different countries.
Football was dropped from the Police and Fire Olympics shortly thereafter due to injuries sustained by its many officers participating so in 1990, he entered a pentathlon in the Ohio Police Olympics and won the gold medal at age 36 as the all-points leader in all age brackets, negotiating the mile run, individual swimming medley, shooting, golf and bowling categories in record time.
He was a part of two Steel Valley Slo-Pitch championship teams (Mario’s Restaurant in 1985 and Teenie’s Tavern in 1992) and has two holes-in-one as a golfer, the first occurring on July 19, 2008, on Hole #12, 165 yards at Bedford Trails and the second taking place on June 10, 2022, on Hole #16, 110 yards at Lakeside Golf Course.
In all, he has played for, with or against 44 Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame honorees.
A retired City of Youngstown Police officer, he and his wife, Elaine, reside in Canfield.
