One of the most successful football players to graduate from Bellevue High School was none other than Wayne Warden, a 1963 graduate. Wayne earned a total of eight varsity letters but certainly excelled in the sport of football, continuing his fine high school career at Miami (OH) University, where he was awarded dozens of football honors.

For the Redmen, Wayne earned three varsity letters in football at a time when the high school was comprised of three grades. He was a member of two undefeated and Northern Ohio League championship teams in 1961 and 1962. He was the starting fullback his junior and senior seasons and scored all 16 points in a 16-0 Homecoming win over Shelby to help give Coach Lowell Shaffer his first NOL football title. Wayne was named honorable mention All-NOL his junior season in 1961 and was first team All-NOL on both offense and defense the following year. He was also co-captain as a senior and rushed for 1,040 yards on 117 carries (8.8 average) with 10 touchdowns during his senior season. He was named Most Valuable Football Back his junior and senior seasons and was named All-Ohio on defense in 1962.

Wayne also earned two varsity letters in basketball and added two more letters in track and field, where he set the school record in the shot put in 1963 with a toss of 50-feet, 7-inches. He was also a member of the 880-yard relay team that broke the school record at 1:34.2 and qualified for the state track meet in both the shot put and 880-relay in 1963.

Wayne was named the 1963 Gazette Award winner as the top male athlete, was inducted into the BHS National Honor Society, and was class president both his junior and senior seasons.

At Miami of Ohio, Wayne continued his football career while earning a full scholarship to play for Coach Bo Schembechler. Wayne earned three varsity letters and was three-time Miami Defensive Player of the Year in ’64, ’65, and ’66. He was also named All-MAC honorable mention in 1965, was second team All-MAC linebacker in 1966, and was Academic All-MAC in 1965, 1966, and 1967.

Wayne and his wife, Susan, reside in Chandler, Arizona during the winter months and make their summer home in Lakeside, OH.