2022 Memorial Scholar-Athlete: Don Sicafuse, SHS ‘58
Don Sicafuse has been named the 2022 Memorial Scholar-Athlete and will be honored at the fifth annual Scholar-Athlete Memorial Golf Outing on August 4 at Reserve Run Golf Course. The Golf Outing is the sole fundraiser for the Heldman Scholar-Athlete Scholarship awarded to a graduating senior at Struthers High School.
Mr. Sicafuse was selected by the Scholarship Committee as a former SHS scholar-athlete who had at least a 3.5 GPA in college prep courses over four years, membership in the National Honor Society based on scholarship, character, leadership, and service, and at least two Varsity letters in an OHSAA-sanctioned sport. Don won three letters in basketball and four letters in baseball.
A natural leader, his classmates voted him a class officer and the members of the Varsity “S” Club elected him as Vice President. A student of Latin, he was a member of the Latin club for three years.
Don served his country for three years in the U.S. Army and became an expert marksman, chosen to participate in annual competitions with his Navy and the Air Force counterparts.
Choosing to return home, Sicafuse joined the Struthers Police Department in 1964 and served 34 years. He was chosen to participate in ongoing training from the FBI, the Ohio State Patrol, and the Mahoning County Association of Police Chiefs. In 1974, he was hired to teach in the new Criminal Justice Department at Youngstown State University.
Upon retiring, he enjoyed boating and water skiing and competed in the “Greatest Golfer” tournament, taking 3rd in 2013 and 1st in 2020 in his division. He and his wife Heidi continue to live in Struthers and have a son Bill in Pittsburgh and a grandson Quinn.
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Lest we forget . . . .
2021 Memorial Scholar-Athlete: Marty Booher, SHS ‘52
The late Marty Booher, SHS Class of 1952, has been named the 2021 Heldman Memorial Scholar- Athlete. He will be honored at the annual Scholar-Athlete Memorial Golf Outing on Tuesday, June 1, at Reserve Run Golf Course in Poland. All proceeds benefit the Heldman Scholar-Athlete Scholarship at SHS.
Marty Booher exemplified the enduring qualities of the Scholar-Athlete because he excelled both in academics and in athletics. As a junior, his outstanding academic record and sterling character earned him induction into the National Honor Society. As a senior, fellow members elected him president.
He was also an excellent athlete, earning letters in football, basketball and track. He was voted co-captain of the 1951 SHS Varsity football team who were the 1951 District OHSAA champions coached by the late “Howdy” Heldman.
Marty Booher received a full scholarship to the University of Wisconsin, where he played under legendary Wisconsin coach Ivy Williamson. While at Wisconsin, as a scholar-athlete, he also committed to four years in ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corp) and was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant upon graduation when he was awarded a B.S. degree in Finance.
Invited to tryouts by the NFL Green Bay Packers, Marty suffered a knee injury that ended his football career.
After his 1956 graduation, Booher spent two years in service to his country overseas as a member of the 510th Engineering Co. and was discharged as a 1st Lieutenant.
In 1959, he moved to New York City to join Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company as an investment broker, where he later became a vice-president.
In 1987, Marty died unexpectedly of a heart attack at the age of 53 in New York City.
“This recognition of a past scholar-athlete at Struthers High School,” stresses Megan Dubos, guidance counselor, “reminds us of the long tradition Struthers has for excellent academics and athletics. Today, the late Marty Booher serves as an inspiration to our current students to commit to excellence in both academics and athletics.”
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Lest we forget . . . .
2020 Memorial Scholar-Athlete: John Siskovic SHS ‘49
The late John Siskowic has been named the 2020 Scholar-Athlete Honoree for the 3rd annual Scholar-Athlete Memorial Golf Outing on May 27 at Reserve Run Golf Course. All proceeds benefit the Heldman Scholar-Athlete Scholarship at Struthers High School.
Known as “Johnny,” the oldest of 4 brothers, Siskowic graduated from Struthers High School, Class of ’49, as the valedictorian with a perfect 4.0 grade average and was elected into the National Honor Society. He was the son of the late John Siskowic, SHS history teacher, and Martha Willaman Siskowic, who was inducted into the Salem High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2018.
An all-around athlete, Johnny excelled at football and was a member of one of the greatest backfields in SHS history. With Ray Yurich at quarterback, Tony Clemente at fullback, Siskowic paired with Bernie Skavarka at running back. Skavarka went on to Ohio State and was named a captain his senior year by Woody Hayes. Siskowic accepted a scholarship to Vanderbilt University and played a year before transferring to the College of Wooster.
A graduate of Wooster, Siskowic was named All-Conference for three years in the Ohio Athletic Conference. He then taught and coached football at Boardman High School for several years and earned a M.A. degree from Kent State University before moving to California. He was inducted into the College of Wooster Hall of Fame in 1995.
John taught and coached football at West High School in Torrance, CA until his retirement, when he moved to San Diego where he passed away in 2016. He is survived by his wife Shirley in Columbus, a son John in California and a daughter Julie in New England.
A true role model for SHS students, past and present, he set an example for his younger brothers: Sam, Class of ’51 Salutetarian, Dave ’54, and Paul, ’57: all were top students elected into National Honor Society, Varsity Football players, and graduates of the College of Wooster.
As the 2020 Memorial honoree, John Siskovic is remembered as a Struthers High School Scholar-Athlete who contributed to the school’s proud tradition of excellence in both academics and athletics.
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Lest we forget . . . .
2019 Memorial Scholar-Athlete: Eddie Carcelli SHS ‘63
The late Dominic Edward Carcelli has been named the 2019 Memorial Scholar-Athlete and will be honored at the annual Heldman Memorial Golf Outing on May 25 at the Bedford Trails Golf Course.
This honor is awarded to a late Struthers High School alumnus who exemplified the criteria of the Heldman Scholar-Athlete Award and $8,000 scholarship. The honoree will have been a top scholar, selected into the National Honor Society, and earned at least two Varsity letters in an OHSAA-sanctioned sport.
Known as “Eddie,” Carcelli was a member of the Struthers High School Class of 1963. Carcelli was a top student in the classroom, graduating 5th in his class with a 3.72 GPA in college preparatory courses. He was elected into the National Honor Society in his junior year, exemplifying the required criteria of “Scholarship, Leadership, Character, and Service.”
He was also elected class president his freshman year and to the Junior-Senior Prom Court his junior year and was a member of the Inter Act Club, Varsity S, and the yearbook staff.
As a stand-out athlete, Carcelli was a member of the track team his freshman year, played basketball for two years, baseball for three years, and football for four years, serving as team captain his senior year. After graduation, he attended and played football at Mount Union College, joining fellow SHS scholar-athletes Ron Lynn and the late Tom Grischow. He graduated in 1967 with a B.S. degree in Business Administration and Accounting.
Moving to California in the early 1970’s, he was employed as Chief Financial Officer for Calstrip Steel in 1980 and later joined Black Box Inc. in Pittsburgh. He also worked as the assistant compliance officer for WRP Investments. He passed away Feb.12, 2015 at his son Todd’s home in Chicago. He was married to the former Sharon Macejko, also of Struthers, who died in 2014.
The 2019 Scholar-Athlete Memorial Honoree was remembered by family and friends, including his son, Atty. Todd Carcelli from Chicago, and his grandson, Bison Carcelli, a junior at the University of Wyoming, who attended the event.
A tribute to Eddie sent by Ron Lynn, SHS ’62, retired NFL and Stanford football coach, brought laughter and tears as it was read at the dinner. Their 65-year friendship began as six-year-olds in Little League and continued as teammates at SHS and Mount Union College.
As the 2019 Memorial honoree, Eddie Carcelli is remembered as a Struthers High School Scholar-Athlete who contributed to the school’s proud tradition of excellence in both academics and athletics.
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Lest we forget . . . .
2018 Memorial Scholar-Athlete: Tom Grischow SHS ‘62
The late Tom Grischow, SHS Class of 1962, has been named the first Memorial Scholar-Athlete and will be honored at the annual Scholar-Athlete Memorial Golf Outing on Tuesday, June 1, at Bedford Trails Golf Course.
All proceeds benefit the Heldman Scholar-Athlete Scholarship for a qualified senior at SHS who meets all the criteria in academics and athletics listed for the award and four-year scholarship.
“This recognition of a past scholar-athlete at Struthers High School,” explains Sandy Ross, Guidance Counselor, “reminds all of us of the long tradition SHS has for excellent academics and athletics. Tom Grischow also serves as an inspiration for our current students.”
Tom Grischow exemplified the enduring qualities of the Scholar-Athlete. He excelled both in the classroom and in sports. With a minimum 3.5 GPA in college prep courses and exhibiting outstanding character, leadership, and service, he was inducted into the National Honor Society. Among other activities, he was a member of the Latin Club for three years.
Tom was also an excellent athlete. He played football for four years and received a scholarship to the University of Mount Union, where he played football along side his close friend and high school teammate Ron Lynn. He graduated in June 1966. He married Lynn, a fellow Mount Union alumnus, and had two sons. He returned to the area, where he owned and operated Bedford Trails Golf Course.
At the dinner following the golf, a moving tribute to Tom, Lynn, and his sons was read. It was written and sent by his lifelong friend Ron Lynn, a retired coach living in California.