Being honored this year with the first-ever Redmen Spirit Award is The Charles Sabo Family – Charlie Sabo, sons Daniel, David, and Dennis, daughter Deborah Myers, and son-in-law William Myers.

Few families can claim as much community and school service as this family – from being instrumental to getting BAF Stadium constructed, to keeping team statistics, to announcing sporting events, to volunteering in Booster clubs and organizations, this family has set the standard for others to follow.

CHARLIE SABO – Born April 19, 1925 in Bradner, Ohio. Graduate of Bradner High School in 1943. Military duty in the U.S. Navy from 1943-45. Married Virginia Monarchi in 1949 and had five children, Daniel Mark (1951), Deborah Marie (1952), David Michael (1955), Dennis Matthew (1961), and Diane Margaret (1963).

Employed by Firestone from 1948-54, taking over as plant supervisor at A. Schulman Inc. in 1955, plant superintendent in 1957, and plant manager in 1959. He retired from A. Schulman in 1995.

Along with co-chairman Terry Ruppert, he began the campaign to fund BAF Stadium in 1966. He tirelessly raised the necessary funding to help realize the dream in 1968 when the entire project was paid for.

Community, church and school activities: Member, Immaculate Conception Church; chairman of church fund-raising 1962-69; chairman of church finance committee 1973; member of Church Council 1980-82; Knights of Columbus Council 752 member; charter member Bellevue Rotary Club; member of Bellevue Elks Lodge 1013, Eagles Aerie 490, American Legion Post 46, Club Amer-Ital.

Member of the Bellevue Redmen Athletic Boosters from 1966-present. The Bellevue Hospital Board 1968-74, chairman of the board 1971-72, chairman of corporate fund-raising for hospital drive in 1981; trustee of the Bellevue United Selective Fund, 1968-present; helped organize the Bellevue Baseball Commission in 1971; member of Mayor’s Committee, City of Bellevue Recreation Planning, 1973, instrumental in helping to secure land to construct the Bellevue Community Center; member of the Bellevue Track Committee in 1981; helped to secure a new field for the city men’s slo-pitch league in 1981; served on the Union Bank advisory board from 1975-88; was director of Mil’Lympic Swimming Pool from 1963-73; member of the Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce from 1955-81; named Who’s Who in Ohio in 1974.

Recipient of the Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award in 1982; named a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow in 1985; season ticket holder to Bellevue Redmen football for 37 years; and the top seller in the Redmen Boosters Reverse Raffle for the past many years.

“I have enjoyed all of the above activities because of love of family. Church and community,” said the Sabo patriarch. “I am very proud to be a citizen of Bellevue.”

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DANIEL –  Dan is a 1969 graduate of Bellevue Senior High School and a 1973 graduate of Bowling Green State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Education.  Dan taught fifth grade for the Bellevue City Schools for 30 years from 1974 to 2004, and he is currently employed by the City of Bellevue’s Recreation Department where he oversees youth programs for each sport season and the Nautilus Strength and Fitness Center.  Dan is married to Diane, and they have three children- Denise (Brenner), Derek, and Dustin.

Dan is a member of the Bellevue Elks, Lodge 1013, as well as the Bellevue Eagles, No. 490.  He is also a member of Club Amer-Ital of Bellevue and is an elected trustee to that organization.  Dan belongs to the Immaculate Conception Church of Bellevue and serves on the Liturgy Committee.  Dan is also a lifetime member of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity.  Dan is also a member of the Bellevue Alumni Association, the Bowling Green State University Alumni Association, and the Bellevue Redmen Athletic Boosters where he was a past trustee.  He is also a committee member of the Lowell Shaffer Memorial Track.

Dan is the president of the Bellevue Track and Field Association.  He has been an Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) track and field official since 1973.  He won the 2003-2004 OHSAA State Award for Exemplary Contribution and Service and was the 2001 recipient of the National Federal Officials Association (NFOA) Cross Country Official of the Year Award for Ohio.

Dan is currently (since 1981) chief statistician for the Bellevue Redmen Football Program and currently (since 1985) keeps the scorebook for the Bellevue High School Basketball Team. 

When Dan has free time, he enjoys watching movies, playing cards, weight training, and reading science fiction novels.

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DEBORAH MYERS – 1970 graduate of Bellevue Senior High School, 1974 graduate of Bowling Green State University with a degree in Education, and a graduate of the ER-DOC Paramedic Training Program. Married to William Myers. One daughter, Lynn Dwyer. Health & Physical Education teacher at Immaculate Conception School and part-time employee with Bellevue Recreation Department. Retired paramedic after 20 years of service with Bellevue EMS, 4-County EMS, and North-Central EMS.

Bellevue Redmen Athletic Boosters past president, Building Committee member, and current trustee; current statistician for Bellevue Varsity Football; current statistician for Bellevue Lady Red basketball; OHSAA track and field Class 1 official, three years; member, Bellevue Track & Field Officials Association; Immaculate Conception School Improvement Committee; ICS Reverse Raffle Committee; Elks Hoop Shoot volunteer; current treasurer and member of The Bellevue Hospital Auxiliary;

Member, Bellevue Alumni Association; member, Bowling Green State University Alumni Association; Member, Club Amer-Ital; served on The Bellevue Hospital’s Scholarship Committee; served on the ICS Accreditation Committee; member, Immaculate Conception Church.

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WILLIAM MYERS – 1965 graduate of Bellevue Senior High School. Contractor/Owner of Myers & Nicely Builders. Retired firefighter, City of Bellevue, after 27 years of service. Army veteran of the Vietnam Conflict. Married to Deborah Myers. Three children, Tracy Myers, Tammy Miarer, and Tim Myers. Grandfather of six.

Current president, Bellevue Redmen Athletic Booster, and past trustee; member of the Boosters Building Committee; member, Bellevue Alumni Association; OHSAA track & field Class 1 official, three years; member, Bellevue Track & Field Officials Association; member, Bellevue Elks Lodge 1013, Club Amer-Ital, and V.F.W. Post 1238. Past president and trustee at Club Amer-Ital.

Current videographer for Redmen and Lady Red basketball; member, Immaculate Conception School Reverse Raffle Committee; member, Immaculate Conception Church.

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DAVID SABO – 1973 graduate of Bellevue Senior High School and 1977 graduate of Bowling Green State University with a degree in Journalism. Sports Editor at The Bellevue Gazette in 1977. Employee of Union Bank/Croghan Colonial Bank since 1977. Current vice president of Commercial Loans. Married to Virginia Weilnau Sabo. Two children, Brittany and Trevor.

Vice president, Bellevue Rotary Club; Immaculate Conception School Endowment Fund Board of Trustees; director, Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce; Bellevue Recreation Board member; BSHS Athletic Hall of Fame committee member; volunteer counselor, Cleveland Clinic Foundation; member, Bellevue Alumni Association and Bowling Green State University Alumni Association; member, Bellevue Redmen Boosters; OHSAA track & field Class 1 official, 24 years; recipient, National Federation Interscholastic Officials Association Track Official of the Year, 1988; member, Bellevue Track & Field Officials Association; member, Bellevue Elks Lodge 1013, Eagles Aerie 490, Club Amer-Ital, and third degree member Bellevue Knights of Columbus Council 752;

Member, Immaculate Conception Church; member, Sons of American Legion; statistician, Bellevue Redmen football 14 years; scoreboard operator for BSHS basketball, five years; past treasurer, Club Amer-Ital, Redmen Athletic Boosters, and Bellevue Track & Field Officials Association; co-chair of the Athletic Boosters track and tennis court fund drive; past member, Northwest District Officials Committee, Secretary’s Association, and Board of Appeals, Northwest District; past ASA sanctioned umpire, 15 years; past president and treasurer, Bellevue Men’s Softball League; co-chair of Men’s Softball League field lighting project at Community Center fields.

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DENNIS SABO – 1979 graduate of Bellevue Senior High School and 1983 graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in Photography & Cinema. Staff photographer, The Bellevue Gazette, 1983-87, Sports Editor, 1987-91, Editor, 1991-99. Associated Press Award, best overall sports pages, State of Ohio, 1988. Computer teacher, Immaculate Conception School, 1999-02; currently employed in the Marketing Department of The Bellevue Hospital. Married to Karen Abbott Sabo. Two children, Ashley and Dylan.

Current president, Bellevue Alumni Association. Life member, The Ohio State University Alumni Association. Member, Bellevue Redmen Athletic Boosters. Member, Bellevue Elks Lodge 1013, Club Amer-Ital, Eagles Aerie 490, 4^th Degree member, Knight of Columbus Council 752, Optimist Club of Bellevue, Bellevue Rotary Club.

Two-time past president, Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce; past president, Bellevue Public Library Board of Trustees; past trustee, Club Amer-Ital; two-time past Exalted Ruler, Elks Lodge 1013; North-Central District Elks Board, eight years; past Activities Chairman, Elks North-Central District; Past District Deputy, Elks North-Central District; current Ohio Elks Association state chairman for Elks National Foundation; current state secretary/treasurer, Ohio Track & Field & Cross Country Officials Association; member, Bellevue Track & Field Officials Association; OHSAA track & field Class 1 official, 15 years; district and regional track official, 13 years; state track official, 1996-present; head announcer, state track meet, 2004-present; recipient, National Federation Interscholastic Officials Association Cross Country Official of the Year, 2002.

Committee member, Redmen Boosters track fund drive & Boosters Building Committee; committee member, Bellevue City Schools levy drives, 1991-present; committee member, Bellevue Recreation Department levy drives, 1991-present; committee member, Immaculate Conception School Capital Campaign; committee member, The Bellevue Hospital Capital Campaign project; member, Immaculate Conception Church; member, Bellevue Civil Service Commission, 1999-present.

Sideline photographer, Redmen football, 1983-present; scoreboard operator, Bellevue Redmen & Lady Red basketball, and Lady Red volleyball, 17 years; current public address announcer, Bellevue Lady Red volleyball, Redmen & Lady Red basketball, and Redmen and Lady Red track and field, 1991-present.

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