Above) Dubenion Drive sign at Bentley and Augsburger roads, Dubenion family and friends; Gene Long, Carolyn Dubenion, Jim "Spike Berry and Ron Lora.

By Paula Pyzik Scott

Some 80 friends, family members, teammates and fans of Elbert Dubenion–who was a collegiate athlete at Bluffton College in the 1950s and a professional football player for nine seasons with the Buffalo Bills—attended an October 4 ceremony dedicating a portion of Bentley Rd. as Dubenion Drive.

Bluffton alumni and residents Ron Lora, Jim “Spike” Berry and Gene Long led the ceremony attended by Dubenion’s daughters and son-in-law as well as other family members. They represented an ad hoc committee that brought the idea of naming the road for Dubenion to the Village of Bluffton. A sentiment repeated throughout the morning was that the honor was long overdue.

The program and conversations reflected vivid and warm memories of a man who was admired for his impact on and off the field. The event took place at the Emory Sears athletic complex–but the actual scene of Dubenion’s home game heroics is Harmon Field, which was home turf for the Bluffton Beavers when he led the football team through three undefeated seasons.

The ceremony brought Dubenion’s relatives to Bluffton for the first time and revealed the lasting impact he had on the Bluffton community. His Bluffton teammates knew him as Dube. Voted the most popular student on the Bluffton University campus in 1959 (the year he graduated), some classmates formed lifelong friendships with Dubenion, who passed away in 2019.

Lora characterized Dubenion as the greatest football player in the institution’s 125-year history. He thanked the Village of Bluffton for its positive response to the committee’s request. Mayor Richard Johnson read a proclamation that included personal and athletic highlights from Dubenion’s lifetime. The proclamation also recognized that as a professional football player, Dubenion “put Bluffton on the map” of national awareness.

Berry, a highly successful football coach at Cory-Rawson High School, spoke of his friendship with Dubenion and the mentorship provided by his classmate. He recalled that on the first day of practice, Dube told him, “You take the ball and throw it as high and as long as you can and I’ll be there.” And he was, almost every time, said Berry.

The audience also learned about Dubenion off the football field: they heard about his love of popcorn, that he disliked cold weather so much he passed on a full ride scholarship to the University of Minnesota and that he hated running long distances. Berry told his listeners that Dobe considered anything over 200 yards a marathon. Bluffton College was participating in a Mid-Ohio League track championship when Coach Kenny Mast pressed him into service as the anchor leg in the mile relay--to help the team beat Wilmington. After Dobe secured the win, he kept running and threw the baton at the coach’s feet, saying he’d never do that again.

The microphone was offered to all who attended. Daughter Caroline Dubenion introduced the extended family which includes her sisters Susan and Debbie, down to two great grandchildren who wore Dubenion jerseys in his honor. Caroline said “I know Dad would be so proud, we all are.” She added, “It’s nice to hear that … a town that he loved, really loved him back.” She noted that her parents met at Bluffton, leading to the creation of their family.

Comments from the audience reminded Ron Lora of the days when the Bluffton football team traveled and when sometimes the black players on the team, including Dubenion, were refused service. With tears in his eyes, Lora recalled teammates leaving a restaurant in protest. He said “those were straws in the wind, that the Civil Rights movement was going to make headway, but [during their years together] this was Jim Crow country in many places.” 

Gene Long closed the program with comments about the lifelong friendship he and his wife Dottie had with Dobe and Marilyn Dubenion, saying that he thanked God for the privilege of knowing Elbert “Dobe” Dubenion. He thanked Fred Steiner and Mary Ramseyer for keeping the project going and thanked those present for witnessing the first phase of honoring Dubenion for his contributions to Bluffton College and the Bluffton community.

Dubenion’s career highlights will be commemorated sometime next year when a marker will be installed near Dubenion Drive. They include:

• For Bluffton College: 4,735 yards career rushing, total 53 touchdowns, 4 years all mid-Ohio first team. Charter member of the Bluffton College Hall of Fame. 
• In the NFL: Dubenion caught 296 passes for 5309 yards, made 35 touchdowns and is in the Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame.

Editor's note of October 19: Planning committee members were Mary Ramseyer, Tom Benroth, Jim Benner, Jim "Spike" Berry, Jim Buffenbarger, Charles Buroker, Larry Copeland, Everett Collier, Don Hostetler, Gene Long, Ron Lora, Richard Ramseyer and Fred Steiner.

Village of Bluffton Elbert Dubenion Proclamation

WHEREAS, the citizens of Bluffton, Ohio, place great value upon the athletic accomplishments of its past and present community residents; and

WHEREAS, Elbert Dubenion, a 1959 Bluffton College graduate, is the only Beaver athlete to play professional football; and

WHEREAS, in 1955 he was a Village of Bluffton employee on the village street crew; and

WHEREAS, he was a beloved student, in 1959 elected Most Popular Man by Bluffton College students in its May Day ceremony; and

WHEREAS, in 1958, was named to the UPI All-Ohio football team as a first team halfback; in 1958 named to the Williamson All-American Team; in 1959 selected as one of the 33-member national All-Star college football team in a game versus Baltimore Colts; and

WHEREAS, from 1960 to 1968 was a member of the Buffalo Bills, in 1963 set and holds the record for longest reception in AFL playoff history of 93 yards for a touchdown; in 1964 was selected to the Pro Bowl, and named first-team AP All-Pro; and in 1984 was selected as a member of the Bills Silver Anniversary Team as a wide receiver; is a member of the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, the Village of Bluffton has designated the portion of Bentley Road, which borders the Bluffton University football field as Honorary Elbert Dubenion Drive; and

WHEREAS, as a result of his college and professional football achievements, he is fondly remembered by his Bluffton College teammates and citizens of Bluffton who watched him play, recognizing that during his football playing days he put Bluffton, Ohio, on the national map.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Richard Johnson, Mayor of the Village of Bluffton, do hereby recognize and celebrate with all Bluffton residents the achievements of Elbert Dubenion.

PROCLAIMED this 4th day of October, 2024 

RICHARD JOHNSON, Mayor