Gary R. Krause – (1997)

When it comes to finding descriptive words of praise his many admirers lavished on Gary R. Krause, even the dictionary is, ahem, at a loss for words.

Krause was truly a remarkable man, from his stellar days as an outstanding lineman and kicker at Lorain High School (1951-54) under Head Coach Art Lave, as an all-around two-way player and kicker at the University of Dayton (1956-59) and as an exceptional hitter and center fielder in Lorain’s sandlot baseball program, right up to his all-too-brief career as a father, community leader and “captain” of industry in his hometown.

Away from the athletic field, he was a devoted family man, president of the Lorain Board of Education, was plant manager and personnel director at Gould Inc. in Milan and served on the Lorain Recreation Board and Lucy Idol School board. Krause was a Democratic candidate for 4th Ward councilman and was being highly touted as a potential mayoral candidate when, on Oct. 2, 1977, he died at home of natural causes at the young age of 41.

Although a member of the 1952 LHS football team enshrined in the Sports Hall of Fame in 1990, Krause established his own credentials that would result in his own enshrinement tonight. At 5-9 and 165 pounds, he was a starting offensive guard as a junior and shared placekicking duties with Earl Price on that ’52 Steeler team. Krause earned three varsity letters in football at LHS and was voted the team’s Outstanding Lineman his senior year. His LHS line coach, Tony Misko, fittingly is a fellow enshrinee tonight.

Active in school off the gridiron, Krause was elected senior class vice president in 1954. In addition, he was president of the LHS Varsity “L” Club, sports editor of the school newspaper, The Hi Standard, and was a recipient of the Lorain Kiwanis Club’s Achievement Award in 1954.

Upon graduation from LHS, Krause admitted being influenced by Msgr. James J. Duffy, pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church, in choosing Dayton University (1955-59) for his college education. He would earn four football varsity letters with the Flyers during his outstanding college football career.

More mature and fully grown up to all of 5-10 and 197 pounds—considered “small” by college standards—Krause became an outstanding two-way performer at Dayton, playing guard on offense and linebacker on defense. He also was the Flyers’ kicker on kickoffs and extra points. Coincidentally, he had an excellent college roommate to “talk football” with: quarterback Gerry Faust who would one day become head football coach at the University of Notre Dame and later Akron University.

When he enrolled at the University of Dayton, it was on money loaned to him by Msgr. Duffy. But once Krause displayed his football talents on the freshman team in 1955, he was given a full ride four-year athletic scholarship. He moved into the starting line-up at offensive guard his sophomore year.

His list of football awards at Dayton, which were numerous, included the school’s coveted and prestigious “Lt. Andrew Zulli Memorial Award” which goes to the senior who best exemplifies exceptional leadership, sportsmanship and character. The award was established in memory of Lt. Zulli, a former Dayton gridder and U.S. Air Force pilot who was killed in the line of duty.

Other college honors bestowed on Krause included being voted by his teammates as president of the Monogram Club. He was named the second winner of the Coach’s Award as the Most Versatile Lineman while only a sophomore following spring practice in 1957. Coach Bud Kerr initiated the award which he brought with him from San Francisco University where he was an assistant under legendary Coach Joe Kuharich. He said, “The award best exemplifies the attitude and characteristics looked for in a team member.” Co-winner of the matching award to a backfield member was Gary’s roommate, Gerry Faust.

Following his junior year as Dayton’s offensive guard, Krause was selected one of the guards on the 1956 All-Ohio College Team second team picked by International News Service. Perhaps his personal most memorable game was a 13-7 upset victory of neighboring Miami (Ohio) of the strong Mid-American Conference. Krause, who called defensive signals from his linebacker position, was credited by his coach and teammates with calling the offensive play in which he and center Bill Korutz opened the hole on Miami’s one-yardline enabling quarterback Butch Zimmerman to score the winning touchdown.

The Canadian Football League opened the door to a possible professional football career, but Krause had his sights set on his hometown, and when he was drafted by the CFL, he declined. After acquiring his degree in industrial management, and a stint of military service, he returned to Lorain where he became an outstanding community leader.

Krause married his high school sweetheart, Sally Ann Furdyn, while in college. They had three children: daughter Terri Roule and sons Gary A. and Daniel, all of Lorain. His wife died in 1989.