[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 156 (Saturday, November 8, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2254]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE TO NOTED MASSILLON BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL COACH

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                           HON. RALPH REGULA

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 7, 1997

  Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a special 
person, Carl Frederick (Ducky) Schroeder who died on November 1, 1997 
after a brief illness. He was born on March 25, 1905 in Canal Fulton to 
Elizabeth nee Ruehling and Frederick Schroeder. He lived in the 
Massillon area most of his life. It was said that as a young boy, he 
spent much of his time swimming in the Ohio Canal and the Tuscarawas 
River, and that he used to ``walk like a duck on land'' hence the 
nickname ``Ducky.''
  Ducky began his athletic career in Canal Fulton and Massillon where 
he was a standout in baseball and football. Upon graduation, Ducky 
played football at Kings College in Tennessee but subsequently 
transferred to Wittenberg University where he was a standout pitcher 
for three years. He also was a football star and still holds the record 
for most carries in one game--44 times for 176 yards while also playing 
linebacker on defense. After graduation Ducky went on to obtain a 
Masters Degree in Physical Education from Ohio State University.
  Starting in 1930 Ducky embarked on a long illustrious career of 
public service as a teacher and coach. For example, up until he began 
his career at Washington High School, Ducky was head football and 
basketball coach at the Ohio Military Institute, Newcomerstown, Logan, 
and Salem High School and was Athletic Director for both the 
Springfield YMCA and High School.
  On the collegiate and military level Ducky was assistant football and 
basketball coach at Mount Union College and was head football and 
basketball coach at Wittenberg University. For the WWII war effort, 
Ducky trained more than 700 Air Force cadets who later went on to 
become pilots.
  However, it was his career in public service at Massillon for which 
he will be most remembered. In 1948, Ducky returned to Massillon High 
School where he taught and coached until his retirement in 1971. As 
head coach of the baseball team, he took the team to the state finals 
in 1955 and the state semifinals in 1960. During his 23 years as 
assistant football coach, the Tigers won 13 state championships and it 
was Ducky's job to supervise the winter conditioning program. He also 
coached several professional baseball and football players.
  Ducky selflessly gave of his free time to promote sports. He was on 
the Big 33 Committee which led to five Ohio-Pennsylvania all star 
games. He was Secretary/Treasurer of the Ohio High School Football 
Coaches Association and was inducted into the Ohio High School Coaches 
Hall of Fame. Ducky was a past president of the Professional Football 
Hall of Fame Club in Canton. He also served as sales representative for 
the Rae Crowther Blocking Sled Company. In recognition for all his 
service to Massillon Athletics, he had one of the best high school 
baseball facilities dedicated to him--The Carl ``Ducky'' Schroeder 
Field.
  In 1935, a group of athletics at Newcomerstown High School wrote 
Ducky upon his leaving that school. Their letter reads as follows: Dear 
Coach: On behalf of the colored boys of Newcomerstown High School, 
permit me to bid you a fond adieu. We regretfully say that you must 
leave us, because we consider you equal to or better than any coach who 
had been or shall be here. We admire you for showing no discrimination 
whatsoever, and we hope your future career of coaching will be onward 
and upward. Though our conduct at times was not commendable, we feel 
that your instructions were for the best. Though we have nothing to 
offer you as a remembrance of us, we hope you will sometimes think of 
us. The colored boys of NHS bid you farewell. Signed Matthew Scott, 
Booker Russell, Sidney Jones, Buster Cohen, Ed McCall, ``Fat'' Jones, 
Killie Sterns, Osie Dansby.
  Ducky is survived by his wife of 63 years, Gertrude, his sister Helen 
Ellis, and numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and 
great great nieces and nephews. He was a longstanding member of St. 
John's Lutheran Church of Canal Fulton.

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