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Two Inducted To Buckeye Local Ring Of Honor

YORKVILLE - A former football coach known for his winning ways on and off the field and an imposing defensive lineman who also has distinguished himself in industry were the latest to be inducted to the Buckeye Local Football Alumni's Ring of Honor on Friday, Aug. 28.

Nathan Schaal, a 2009 Buckeye Local graduate who holds his school's record for sacks; and the late Richard Thurnes, who led the former Buckeye Local South High School football team through four undefeated seasons; were recognized before the Panthers' first home game of the season.

Buckeye Local Football Alumni leader Dom Vinci who with Jeff Edzkowski organized a free tailgate party that evening at nearby Warren Township Memorial Park, said they launched the Ring of Honor several years ago to acknowledge Buckeye Local players and coaches who distinguished themselves on the gridiron.

He noted the induction of Schaal and Thurnes brings the number to 13.

Representing Thurnes, who died in 2019 at the age of 91, were his daughter, Kerry Fornick of Rootstown, Ohio, and granddaughter, Alex Quellhorst of Columbia, Md.

Thurnes and his wife of 66 years, Dorothy, who also is deceased, had three other children, Troy, Dean and Leslie Gloin; three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

They noted during his long career in schools, Thurnes drove a school bus and taught American history and physical education as well as gaining much success as football coach at Cameron High School and Tiltonsville Warren Consolidated High School, which later became part of the Buckeye Local School District.

He led the Cameron team through an undefeated 1955 season in which it was ranked second in the state, while his tenure at Tiltonsville Warren was marked by four undefeated seasons in the 1960s, ending his high school football coaching career with a record of 112-36-7.

For that success, he was named the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference's Coach of the Year four times and inducted into the OVAC Hall of Fame and Ohio Valley Coaches Association's Hall of Fame.

A graduate of Benwood Union High School, Thurnes had been a center on a West Liberty State College Hilltoppers team that won the Pythian and Smokey Mountain Bowls during two consecutive undefeated seasons.

He also served the Army as a military police officer during the Korean War.

Asked how her father would feel about being honored by the Buckeye Local Football Alumni, Formick said, "He'd be very happy and very proud but he'd also downplay it. But his players meant everything to him and he'd be proud to be honored for them."

She and Quellhorst said following his death, many former players attended his funeral or sent letters expressing their appreciation of him.

"No matter where we went, people knew him. And everyone called him 'Coach'," said Quellhorst, who added, "He put his heart into everything."

A previous commitment kept Schaal away from the induction, so his brother, Scott, accepted on his behalf.

In a telephone interview prior to the event, he said, "I'm very honored. I wish I could be there."

It was noted during the ceremony that Schaal, standing at 5'11 and weighing 175 pounds, was an imposing figure on the defensive line and his coach, Ron Poblish, was quoted as describing him as "borderline unblockable."

And in addition to setting a school record, he ranked third in the nation among high school football players for defensive sacks.

Schaal had high praise for Poblish, saying, "He pushed me to do better and better."

He said also strong influences were weightlifting coach Andy Bartolovich and wrestling coach Dan Davis. Schaal lettered in both football and wrestling while at Buckeye Local.

Following graduation, he worked in law enforcement for a time, serving as Rayland police chief and in the Yorkville and Bridgeport police departments. He also has been assistant fire chief of Yorkville.

Also a former steelworker, he has worked more recently as a regional environmental health and safety manager for SMS Mill Services, a position that has taken him to Spain and Belgium; and is currently director of environmental health and safety for Bill's Towing and Recovery of St. Clairsville.

He and his wife, the former Dana Brown, have a daughter, Emersyn, and he said he's proud to say she will be attending Buckeye Local High School next year.

Luke Parsons, principal of Buckeye Local High School, applauded the efforts of the Buckeye Local Football Alumni, who also have held an annual golf scramble and other fundraisers to support the football team.

"I think it's important for the district to remember the history that brought us to where we are today," said Parsons.