Yuricich, Matt

Matt Yuricich – (1998)

 

While many Lorainites are proudly aware of Matt Yuricich for his skill as a landscape artist, or readily brag of the “hometown kid” who made good as a master of special effects in some of Hollywood’s most memorable motion pictures—he won a coveted Oscar for his special effects designs in the movie “Logan’s Run” to prove it—he did have his athletic side.

Actually, it was more than just another “side” to him. Yuricich excelled as an end on Lorain High School football teams (1939-41) coached by the late Hal Pryor, a 1996 Lorain Sports Hall of Fame inductee. After graduation in 1941, his next three years were occupied by the U.S. Navy and World War II. At war’s end, Yuricich enrolled at Miami (Ohio) University where he played end, earning three varsity letters, under legendary Coach Sid Gillman.

Among his most cherished highlights, other than being a teammate of two future college football coaching legends, Paul Dietzel (LSU) and Ara Parseghian (Northwestern, Notre Dame), was playing in Miami’s 13-12 Sun Bowl triumph over Texas Tech in 1948.

But while his football credits alone merit LSHOF recognition, it was in a far difference field of sports that Yuricich reached the ultimate heights. He became an expert archer and, in his very first professional competition, won the Professional Archers Association National Indoor Championship in 1962.

Yuricich actually gained his first national archery title by winning the Castaways Tournament in Las Vegas as an amateur in 1961. Upon turning pro the following year, he became what is known as a “freestyler” (using a pin sight) in winning the 1962 Sahara-Colt-NFAA Indoor National Tournament in Las Vegas. They were called “Money Shoots” and top prize was usually around $700.

With dozens of state (many in California where he then lived) and national archery titles to his credit, Yuricich now permanently resides in Henderson, Nev., near Las Vegas. Although retired from Hollywood, he still competes in archery tournaments. Incidentally, some of Yuricich’s other motion picture special effects credits were for: “The Robe,” “Towering Inferno,” “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” “Mutiny on the Bounty” and “Ben Hur.”