Byron Cato – (2000)

As defensive linemen go in this age of college football, Lorain’s Byron Cato at 6-feet 2-inches and weighing 240 pounds was not exactly blessed with great size. He was considered “average,” perhaps even slightly less than average. But what he lacked in bulk, he more than made up for it with quickness, desire and a powerful work ethic.

A 1975 graduate of Admiral King High School, Cato not only was a football standout, he also excelled in wrestling and in track and field. He still holds the school’s shot put record in track and field. It was, however, for his gridiron ability that helped redefine the position of defensive tackle in the 1970’s that he would become most acclaimed in his scholastic career. But just as he was a virtual monster on the gridiron, he was a quiet, unassuming individual off the field.

Cato is often referred to as one of the finest defensive linemen to ever come out of the Lorain County scholastic ranks. His football jersey, No. 74, has been retired at AKHS. He was a three-year starter for the Admirals, winning several state and local honors. Among those were: All-Lorain County his junior and senior years; First Team UPI All-Ohio his senior year; First Team All-Buckeye Conference his senior year. His final scholastic highlight was starting at defensive tackle for the North team in the annual Ohio North-South All-Star Game in 1975.

With his scholastic football reputation firmly established, Cato received a full ride four-year football scholarship to Ohio State University where he would play under the legendary Coach Woody Hayes. He became a two-year starting defensive tackle under Hayes, and earned second team All-Big Ten honors his junior year. In his senior year, Cato’s teammates chose him as one of their co-captains in 1978, which turned out to be Hayes’ final year as coach. While starring for the Scarlet and Grey, he played in the Rose, Sugar and Gator Bowls (1975-78).

Following his OSU career, Cato was drafted by the Winnepeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League in 1979, but called it a career after playing two years (1979-80) in the professional ranks. After returning to Columbus and his alma mater at OSU, Cato died of a heart attack on July 1, 1992 at age 35.