Ralph & Pat Cleaves

104. Ralph Eugene¹¹ CLEAVES (Franklin Arthur¹⁰, Herbert⁹, John E.⁸, Israel⁷, Eaton Jr.⁶, Eaton Sr.⁵, Robert⁴, John³, William², William¹) (#204) was born in Defiance Co.,, OH. 11 NOV 1930. Ralph died 15 APR 2012 in Toledo, Lucas Co., OH, at age 81. Toledo Hospital

When Ralph was age 21 and Patricia Audrey BRECHT DAZEY was age 20 they became the parents of Max Eugene CLEAVES 16 AUG 1952 in Defiance, Defiance Co., OH. When Ralph was age 24 and Patricia Audrey BRECHT DAZEY was age 23 they became the parents of Pamela Sue CLEAVES 4 MAY 1955 in Defiance, Defiance Co., OH. When Ralph was age 31 and Patricia Audrey BRECHT DAZEY was age 30 they became the parents of Janette Marie CLEAVES 12 JUL 1962 in Defiance, Defiance Co., OH. By Pamela S. (Cleaves) Barber: Ralph watched Greg Johans, Fort Wayne 21 Alive sports anchorman, on his program "Challenge Greg" every Tuesday evening. Ralph, prompted by his past participation in basketball, wrote a letter challenging Greg to several basketball contests. Greg accepted the challenge and invited Ralph to be filmed for a special segment to be aired during the sports section of 21 Alive. Ralph met his basketball challenge with Greg on Feb. 3, 1988. Ralph's history of basketball had started more than 49 years earlier. Ralph E. Cleaves was born Nov. 11, 1930. His parents, Frank and Florence Cleaves, lived on a homestead 160-acre farm in Defiance County. He started to play basketball at age nine. Ralph recalled, "I took old gloves and tied and knotted them into a ball." He used a door casing in the house for a back-stop. Ralph's mother use to see him in his sleep going through the motions of shooting the basketball. Ralph later on shot his rag ball through a rim of a metal drun attached to a tree. In the sixth grade Ralph purchased his first basketball hoop through the school athletic catalog. He attached it to the grain barn and, by this time, had a rubber ball. A teacher-neighbor, Ruel Kennedy, accompanied Ralph, to the local basketball games at Ayersville Local School. At age of 11, his mentors and older neighbors, Paul and Bill Cowle, played on the school basketball team. Basketball became his life throughout junior and senior high school. Ralph said, "Ayersville had the only regular gym in the league at the time." Other schools had gyms that everyone called "cigar boxes" because of their size. Ayersville played local schools such as Tiffin, Sherwood, Mark Center, Ney, and Jewell during his high school years, 1945-1948. "With World War II going on it was hard to get basketball shoes and uniforms," said Ralph. He remembered the spring before his ninth grade when the school ordered size 7 black, high-top basketball shoes. He needed a size 9 shoe by fall. "I can't recall what they did," Ralph said, "but I probably wore them even if they hurt." Ralph made the varsity squad as a sophomore. During his senior year he and co-captain Ralph Iler lead the team to district. In the 1948 Defiance County Tournament, Ayersville first defeated Ney 34-32 in double overtime. In their second game Ayersville defeated the league champions, Farmer 32-30 in overtime to garner Ayersville's first County Basketball Championship. In district tournament at Leipsic High school, they beat Ft. Jennings 44-21; and their win over Swanton assured them a trophy place in the tournament. Holgate, having been defeated during the season by Ayersville, beat them 41-36. Ayersville lost their consolation game with Ottawa Hills 46-34, making Ayersville fourth in the district in 1948. The season had been the best in the history of the school. "Twenty-five points was a good game," Ralph said. "You tried to keep them under 10 points." Ralph remembered one seasonal game with Sherwood when he scored 15 points. "The Cresent-News made a big head line about my high scoring that night," he said. "I only missed one shot the whole game." He hit 7 out of 8 from what is now the three-point range. He had one foul shot chance which he made. Ralph graduated from Ayersville Local in 1948 and married Patricia Brecht, Leipsic, in August, 1950. He served in the army in Germany during 1952-53, where he made his company's basketball team. He received tempory duty leave to participate with the team. Ralph also received 2nd. place in MI rifle sharp-shooting out of about 400 in his company. Ralph said "Patricia found out about the honor in the Cresent-News that carried an article on me." Seeing his wife again and seeing his 17-month-old son for the first time was an emotional event for Ralph upon returning to the states. Ralph hung up his basketball uniform for a uniform at the General Motors Corporation in Defiance but he never put his basketball completely away. Ralph retired from the General Motors Corporation in June, 1986 after 32 years as a metallurgist. He farmed the 160-acre home place and 20 acres of his own. He continued to play basketball in his leisure time. Ralph retired, but he didn't slow down. His retirement gave him time to pursue other interests. Ralph now owns three horses, has been to Alaska twice, and began a new hobby, running. Ralph, 58, recently ran the Columbus Marathon, completely 26 miles, 385 yards in four hours and 15 minutes. He runs 6-65 miles a week, which he records faithfully in his log book. He participated in 10k runs in Toledo and Defiance the past two years. Ralph has not forgotten his basketball. Since his retirement he has entered "Senior" Olympic Basketball competitions. He placed first in his age group, 55-60, in Toledo, shooting 23 out of 25 free throws to place him in state competition two years in a row. In competition he placed second in his age group in Berea in 1987, and third in Akron in 1988. Ralph's renewed interest in competition brought him to challenge Greg Johans. For the contest on Feb. 3, they agreed to shoot 10 free throws worth one point each and five three-point shoots worth two points each. The person with the most points would be the winner. The camera was rolling. Greg shot first, making eight of 10 free throws. The camera make Ralph nevous, he shot only 6 of 10 free throws, which is below his usual 80 percent mark. Greg then made one shot of his five attempts at the three-point range making his total points only 10. Ralph eyed the basket and swished in one, two, three straight 3-point shots to win with "12". The contest was over. In high school in 1948 Ralph had made "15" to make head lines in the newspaper. This glory was relived for Ralph forty years later this time on television with the magic number "12".

Ralph Cleaves

Published: April 17, 2012 12:00PM

Ralph E. Cleaves, 81, of Defiance, passed away on Sunday, April 15, 2012, at the Toledo Hospital, Toledo, Ohio.

He was born on November 11, 1930, to Frank and Florence (Wight) Cleaves in Defiance, Ohio. On August 20, 1950, he married Patricia Dazey-Brecht and she survives.

Also surviving him are his children, Max (Judy) Cleaves of Defiance, Pam (Bill) Barber of Bowling Green and Jan (Jim) Brown of Defiance; grandchildren, Christin Cleaves, Karen (John) Renner, Alan Barber, Julie (Kyle) Gustwiller, Brad (Mindy) Barber and Jason Brown; great-grandchildren, Logan Renner, Avary Gustwiller, and another great-grandchild on the way.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Glen Cleaves and Merle Cleaves; and a sister, Ruth Miller.

Ralph graduated from Ayersville High School in 1948, where he played basketball. He farmed most of his life but worked as a lab technician at GM Powertrain for 33 years, retiring in 1980. He was a member of the Defiance Area YMCA, where he continued to play basketball. After retirement he took up running and ran the Boston Marathon. Ralph also enjoyed cycling. He also ran the Glass City Marathon and won his age bracket, and was an avid Ayersville sports supporter. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War. He was a lifetime member of VFW Post 3360.

Visitation will be today, April 17, 2012, from 2-8 p.m. and one hour prior to the funeral in the Hanenkrath-Clevenger-Schaffer Funeral Home, Defiance. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 18, 2012, at 11 a.m. in the funeral home with Rev. Clarence Dinnen officiating. Burial will be Riverview Memory Gardens.

Memorials are suggested to the YMCA. Online condolences can be given at www.HCSFuneralHome.com.

ALL Leukemia, agressive, short duration.

Ralph Eugene CLEAVES and Patricia Audrey BRECHT DAZEY had the following children:

+ 133 i. Max Eugene¹² CLEAVES was born 16 AUG 1952.

+ 134 ii. Pamela Sue CLEAVES (still alive).

+ 135 iii. Janette Marie CLEAVES (still alive).

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