Supporting the Blue Devils Community, Independence Ohio
The Alumni Association, promoting educational memories one class at a time.
Independence High School Alumni
Happy Hour 2024
A couple dozen Alumni attended our Fall Happy Hour on October 11, 2024. There were several pot luck goodies to choose from and attendees brought their beverage of choice to provide the chaser. Thanks to all who attended!
Alumni Basketball Tourney 2024-25
Alumni Basketball Tourney Continues to Run
(As In Run the IHS Court)
The IHS Alumni B-ball Tourney has been going on annually in early spring for 35yrs. The 1st tourney took place in 1988. The numbers don’t add up because of a couple yrs off due to the pandemic. The most teams/classes that participated in a particular year was seventeen in one of the years around the turn of the century. That years tourney actually had to run over four days(Thurs-Sun) in order to get all the brackets in. These days we get 8-10 teams participating including a ladies game(one of the most fun games – wish we could get more participants) so all the brackets are completed over a Friday evening and Saturday morning/afternoon.
The tourney was the idea of Tom Chodzin(‘77) back in ‘87. With the help of Mark Spann(‘69) & Mark Suhay(‘75) it premiered in 1988. Many other more recent grads have pitched in over the years after they graduated and vied for bragging rights on the court. The 1st tourney featured grads from ‘65-’87. Nowadays it features grads fr the mid 90’s to the 2020’s.
There is a donation per player of $20 to participate with the net proceeds going to the IHS Hall of Fame Committee to help with expenses for their annual luncheon/induction ceremony(the IHS Booster Club has also been a recipient in some past years). The tourney normally nets around $1000 after expenses for refs, and t-shirts or gift cards for the champs. Have to mention that due mostly to Mark Spann’s relentless(Mark was an imposing figure at 6’5”) fundraising through ads in a program and the number of classes/teams particpating at that time, the tourney netted $4000-5000 for a number of years.
If everything stays on track, #36 should happen in early April ‘25. One new idea suggested is to add a 3-on-3 bracket in addition to the full-court action. Could make a lot of sense for the older classes since it can be hard for those alumni to commit to full court 5-on-5 for a variety of reasons(family, health, etc).
It’s been a fun run for a school the size of IHS. In Independence, it has been – if u have it, they will come! Sound sort of familiar?? A tribute to all the IHS alumni who have and still do participate. One last thing – don’t have to have played b-ball at IHS to particpate. It’s an ALUMNI tourney, not an ex-IHS basketball player tourney.
Mark Suhay(‘75) mmsuhay@yahoo.com
Origins of the IHS mascot, rivalry and colors?
Do you know we are approaching the 100th Independence High School graduating Class – the Class of 2025!
The Alumni Association has recently been asked about the origins of the “Blue Devil”, the rivalry with Cuyahoga Heights and the origins of our Blue and Gold colors. We don’t have those answers! Can you help? Do you have the answers or suggestions as to the origins?
Pictures of earlier mascots with dates are certainly welcome. Please email images or alternately replies may be emailed here: websiteindyboosters@indyboosters.com. We look forward to hearing from you!
Marching Band Alumni Night
Friday October 4th, 5:30 p.m.
Meet in the IHS cafeteria
The date for the Alumni Band (on Homecoming, Friday, October 4th) is just around the corner! Interested Alumni should fill out the form linked below so the Music Department can get the music ready, as well as obtain any school instruments that may be needed. You can also RSVP at bit.ly/2024IHSAlumniBand
Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Joseph Patrick O’Brien (1930 – 2024)
Joseph P. O’Brien age 94 of Independence, faculty member at Independence High School, passed away September 15, 2024.
Joe was passionate about many things in his life: his faith, his family, his friends, his students, his jokes, this town, his country, his politics…and his Honey Hut ice cream! He may have been your Dad, your Opa, your sweetheart, your Uncle, your neighbor, your Coach, your guidance counselor, your CCD teacher, fellow Knight of Columbus, your Senior lunch buddy, your parishioner or your friend. You may have had loving and fabulous conversations with him or you may have had spirited and heated arguments with him (you know who you are!). Whatever the situation, Joe exhibited his true and passionate nature in all he did.
Joseph Patrick O’Brien was born in Alliance, Ohio on July 1, 1930 to George and Freda O’Brien. He was the fifth of their six children and it was this large family, with loving parents at the helm, that shaped the man young Joe became. (One should mention the loving parents also had a paddle that would influence Joe in his coaching and fatherly duties!) Joe’s parents believed in the power of a Catholic education as he attended Catholic schools wherever he lived, as his family moved from Alliance to Columbus before settling in Canton, Ohio. He graduated from Canton Central Catholic High School and attended THE University of Notre Dame (Go Irish!). It was during this time he attended a dance and was swept off his feet by the beautiful Hedy Morath. They married and danced together for 48 years! They had 4 undeniably fabulous children who are grateful every day that they called Joe and Hedy “Mom and Dad”.
After serving his time in the Army after college graduation, Joe, Hedy and their toddler son, John, attended THE Ohio State University where his takeaways upon graduation were a Master of Arts in Education, a friendship with the incomparable Woody Hayes, a handball history with All-American football player Gene Fekete and a memorable meeting with his hero and OSU’s 1st African All-American football player, Bill Willis. …Read More Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Our September Alumni Meeting
Monday, September 9, 7:00 p.m.
Meeting at the High School, Professional Development Room
(Adjacent the Media Center Room)
Ron Shadrach (’75), provides interesting details that led up to the White House Medal of Honor Presentation this past July.Our September meeting will feature Alumni guest speaker Ron Shadrach ’75, who was invited to attend the recent Medal of Honor Award Ceremony on July 3, 2024, at the White House honoring Ron’s ancestor, Pvt. Philip G. Shadrach. Pvt. George D. Wilson, was also honored at the same time.
On March 25, 1863, Secretary of War Stanton awarded the first Medals of Honor to members of the Andrews Raid that had been repatriated to the United States in a prisoner of war exchange. It occurred following deposition of the excursion behind enemy lines to capture Chattanooga in what has become known as the Great Locomotive Chase before Judge Advocate General Joseph Holt of the United States Army. The award ceremony was completed with a visit and discussion with President Abraham Lincoln. At the time that Secretary of War Stanton awarded those first medals he declared that as they become known, all men of the party shall receive this award. However, at that time, Private Wilson and Private Shadrach continued to be overlooked to the present day even though 2008 legislation had authorized the President to make the award. Attendees at the meeting will learn about this piece of history and how it has been corrected through the efforts of Ron.
We look forward to Ron’s presentation and hope to see you at the meeting Monday, September 9, 7:00 p.m.
Alumni Homedays Photos 2024
Alumni Breakfast in the Park
The IHS Alumni Breakfast in the Park is an annual event held the Sunday of Homedays weekend from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., at Elmwood Park Kiwanis Pavilion. All are welcome to attend. Bring family and friends. Reacquaint with old school chums and review the offering of gift baskets to be raffled. This casual event has become an annual class gathering point and reunion social. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Advance sales guarantees a reservation. A limited number of tickets will be available the day of the event. Contact Bob Wagner (’66), via Email goawagner@aol.com.
