Columnists

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See parts 1 Rick Shaner and 2 Dennis Lee

By Bill Herr

In my opinion one of the greatest ever coaches in any sport at Bluffton High School is Mr. Steve Bruskotter. His parents were Charles and Marilyn Bruskotter. His father worked at Phillips Factory (made television tubes) in Ottawa. His mother was a homemaker, raising seven children. Steve and his wife Mary have four children, Matthew, Emily (James) Keaney, Kathryn, and Christopher. Steve was a graduate of Ottawa-Glandorf High School, Bowling Green State University, and the University of Dayton.

Sadly, Steve passed of an illness at age 73 on April 20, 2024. I asked his wife, Mary, some questions on Steve's background. In high school Steve worked regularly at a meat market after school and only went out for one sport, track, for one year. After college, Steve coached track and field and cross-country and taught social studies, and for a time freshmen science and history, for 35 years at Bluffton High School.

After retiring from teaching, he continued coaching track and field for Pandora-Gilboa High School and Ottawa-Glandorf High School. He also coached the pole vault team for the University of Findlay. In 2015 he was inducted into the Ohio Association of Track and Cross-Country (OATCC) Hall of Fame.

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ABOVE) Dennis Lee in 2000 with the girls Varsity Basketball page spread from the Buccaneer yearbook.The yearbook is online at BHS Wall of Fame

By Bill Herr

In my opinion, one of the greatest ever coaches in any sport at Bluffton High School is Mr. Dennis Lee. Coach Lee's parents were Gene and Sue Lee. His father was a full time farmer and his mother worked at a hospital. Dennis and his wife Cindy have two children, Matthew and Andrew.

Dennis grew up helping with all the things that go on at a farm: baling hay and straw, milking a dairy herd, chores. I am a farmer and also taught at BHS. When we would eat together, we would talk farming. When we met for my interview with him for this column, it was a wet, cool summer morning. The first thing he said to me was, "Not a good day for corn to grow, is it?"

Coach Lee's siblings have been or are still involved in coaching. Mike was principal and basketball coach at Minster, and is now boys' basketball coach at Pandora High School. Greg coached boys' basketball at Value and has been an official. Now he runs the golf course at Arlington. Kathy was the women's basketball coach at Adrian College in Michigan. ▶︎

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ABOVE) Rick Shaner in 2000 with Varsity basketball page spread from the Buccaneer yearbook. The yearbook is online at BHS Wall of Fame

By Bill Herr
Bluffton Icon columnist

Who was the greatest coach of any sport at Bluffton High School? I don't claim to be the best qualified to make that choice, but I am one of the oldest, having seen most sports teams at the high school since 1946 when my brother Don played football and basketball. I attended Bluffton Exempted Village Schools for 21 years and after college came back and taught at Bluffton for 19 years. I love Bluffton Schools and I have a shirt I wear proudly that has the words, "Pirate Pride is Forever."

Who was the greatest coach? Was it Darlie Stuckey? She coached the 1927-1928 girls basketball team, which was undefeated at 18-0 and Allen County champions. Was it Dwain Murray? He coached the 1928-1929 boys basketball team. The team won their first 23 games–the longest winning streak in BHS history–before losing by one point to Akron St. Mary's in the Class B state championship game. ▶︎

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By Bill Herr

Did a legendary sports figure once appear in a Bluffton school? The answer is yes. I know because I sat behind him at a basketball game in our gym. His name is Rufus Brassell. He was originally from Lima. In the late 1970s he moved his family to the Bluffton area to live. His kids went to Bluffton schools.He was a Lima legend in two ways. This column is his story. 

Rufus was born in Mississippi to Freeman and Carrie Ward Brassell, Jr. They moved to Lima. Rufus had no siblings.He attended South High School and graduated from Lima Senior High School in 1963. 

He became interested in boxing while in junior high. He liked it and became very skilled. ▶︎

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CORRECTION In 1991 the Bluffton School Board president was Nancy Schweingruber.

PHOTO Page 3 of the 1992 Bluffton High School Buccaneer. View the yearbook in its entirety on the Bluffton Schools website HERE.

Bill Herr taught high school mathematics and science for 32 years. Next, he served as chaplain at a nursing home for 24 years. In this column, he returns to a favorite subject, Bluffton sports.

By Bill Herr

What is the greatest Bluffton High School football team ever? A very interesting read is "A Century of Pirates," a compilation of stories, photographs and records of Bluffton High School championship athletic teams and players of the 20th century. Included are photos and player names of 20 outstanding football teams that played between 1929 to 1998. Fred Steiner compiled this amazing record. It is a treasure to read for those that follow Pirate sports.

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Bill Herr taught high school mathematics and science for 32 years. After retiring from teaching, he began a nursing home ministry, first as a volunteer and then as a nursing home chaplain. He has written columns for the Icon on Bluffton sports history and on being a chaplain.

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