Jesko, Howard
| Howard Jesko – (1992) |
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HOWARD JESKO
A premier offensive and defensive left-end on Lorain High’s 1942 eleven and the undefeated 1943 aggregation, Howard Jesko would have been placed at first team left-end on our city’s All-Time All-Star Football Team. Had he remained in Lorain, Howard most likely would have been an All-Star in our Business World and in Community Activities.
After attending Lincoln Elementary and Whittier Junior High, Howard reached Lorain High in 1941. His high school career included junior and senior letters in football and track. He was a member of Senate Council, Vice-President of the Varsity “L” Club and Vice-President of the 1944 graduating class.
Howard’s track competition was in the shot-put-discus-220 yd. dash and the 880 yd. relay. His name was liberally sprinkled through the meet results in the papers, but he preferred the weight events in which he usually placed in the one-two or three slot. Placing third in the discus and shot in the Lake Erie League meet his senior year, Howard went on to the state meet. His favorite event was the “Shot-Put Team” which consisted of three team members heaving the shot and total distance determined the winner. No wonder it was his favorite event – with Joe Bartos and Bob Nolan as teammates, the team won every relay and invitational meet entered throughout the state when they were seniors.
Lorain’s 1942 football team had been a solid squad with great promise for the 1943 season. With returnees such as Jesko-Bartos-Baum-Mitro-James and others, LHS fans eagerly awaited the 1943 opening whistle. They were not disappointed—unless it be at season’s end when the Massillon Tigers did not accept Lorain’s challenge for a post-season bowl game. Be that as it may, Lorain’s 1943 record, with only one close contest, was a sterling 9-0. The point disparity was 248-69. Howard Jesko led the team in post season honors as follows:
AP First Team All-Ohio
UP First Team All-Ohio
INS Second Team All-Ohio
Cleveland All-Scholastic First Team
Lake Erie League First Team
The honors were not surprising. Not only a favorite with the local press, Howard was featured in the opposition’s local papers. Quotes from these chronicles included:
“Jesko was a 5th man in our backfield all nite. There were times when he almost took the hand-off.”
“At 6’3″ and 192 lbs. he has deceptive speed and change of pace.”
“Bone crushing tackler – teeth rattling blocks – a sure fire All-Ohio.”
“No wonder they call him “Cowboy, ” he rides herd on everyone.”
Graduating in 1944, Howard matriculated at Bowling Green during the 1944-45 school year. He left to join the U.S. Navy in July 1945 and wound up at the Great Lakes Naval Station playing first team left-end. Under Paul Brown and staff, at 19 he was one of the few players without college experience. Playing under Paul Brown was an experience in itself. Howard learned many of the finer points of the game and, although, in high school he wanted to be a professional footballer or boxer one point he learned at Gt. Lakes — Get out and use your brains before your brains are beaten in. And so, Howard enrolled at Ohio State in January 1947 and graduated in December 1949 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration.
In 1956, Howard moved to Salem, Ohio where he resided with his wife, the former Eleanor Arndt from Elyria and four children; Howard Jr., Thomas, Jane Marie and Robert. Professionally, he was treasurer and later vice-president of Hunt Valve Co. 1956 to 1961. Executive vice-president, treasurer and co-founder of Salem Valve Company in 1961. Vice-president, treasurer and co-founder of Salem Republic Rubber Company, Sebring, Ohio 1972-1983. Howard served on the Board of Directors of each company and was with Salem Republic Rubber until his death Sept. 27, 1983. He had served as president of Salem Manufacturers Assoc. and had served as a board director of the following:
Society Bank, 1st Nat’l Bank Salem, Salem Golf Club, Salem Manufacturers Assoc.
Salem Chamber of Commerce, Youngstown N.A.A., Community Chest Campaign
