Class of 2011
Doug Adams
Xenia HS - 1967
Football, Track
Selected as XHS MVP in 1966, MVP in Western Ohio League in 1966, selected to WOL, Southwestern, and All-Ohio All-Star teams. Selected as 1st Team Scholastic All-American and as a High School All-American in 1966. Earned a scholarship to Ohio State University. Chosen as an OSU Captain in 1970. A starting linebacker for 3 years. A member of the 1968 OSU National Champions. Played for the Cincinnati Bengals from 1971-74
John Barry Clemens
Xenia HS - 1961
Basketball, Track, Cross Country
Class Salutatorian 1961. 1st Team All-MVL in basketball in 1961. Selected All-District 1st Team 1961. XHS teams amassed 64-5 record in his three years as a starter. Chosen to 2nd Team Division III All-American at Ohio Wesleyan. Played 11 years in the NBA after being drafted by the New York Knicks. Selected into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame and the Ohio Wesleyan Basketball Hall of Fame. Selected into the Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame.
Bill Knisley
Xenia Central HS - 1939
Football, Basketball, Track
1st Team All-Ohio in basketball, 1939. Selected to 3rd Team All-Ohio basketball , 1938. Selected to 2nd Team All-Ohio in football, 1938. Led Xenia Central to first Sweet 16 round in the basketball tournament in 1938-39. Played and lettered in football, basketball, and track at the University of Dayton from 1939-1943 and was inducted into the UD Hall of Fame in 1962. Holds record for the longest punt return (93 yards) in UD history.
Dave West
Xenia Central HS - 1957
Football, Basketball, Track
3rd Team All-Ohio in football, 1956. 1st Team All-MVL football 1956. Three-sport star at XHS. Competed in 1956 and 1957 State Track Meet. Received football scholarship to Ohio State University, 1957. Ended football career at Central State University. Inducted into Central State University Hall of Fame. Played professional football with the New York Jets, 1962.
George (Bud) Geyer
Xenia Central HS - 1940
Football, Basketball, Track
One of the greatest sprinters in Xenia history. Held the individual records in the 100, 220, and 440 yard dashes and with the 880 relay team for decades. Played on the 1938 and 1939 MVL football champions and the 1938-39 MVL basketball champions. Received All-MVL football honors in 1938 and 1939. Played football for Miami University, 1940-41. Drafted into military service for WW II in 1942.
Jack Wilson
Xenia Central HS - 1943
Football, Basketball
1st Team All-Ohio and leading scorer on the 1942 State Championship basketball team. Formerly leading scorer in Xenia history. Served our country in the U.S. Marine Corps during WW II. Accepted a football scholarship to Ohio State University after his tour of duty. The Captain of the 1950 OSU team that finished 7-1-2 and won the Rose Bowl against the University of California. Drafted by the Detroit Lions.
Monty Dagley
Xenia HS - 1986
Wrestling
State Wrestling Champion in 1985 in 138 lb. weight class. State Wrestling Champion again in 1986 in the 145 lb. weight class. Chosen as 2nd Team All-American, honored on 1st teams All-WOL, All-District, and All-Regional. Achieved 97-6 career wrestling record. Won National AAU title in freestyle wrestling. Received wrestling scholarship to Ohio State University.
Ted Day
Xenia HS - 1960
Basketball
All-Ohio basketball team, 1959-60. Three-time All-MVL selection and a three-time member of MVL championship teams in 1958-59-60 which amassed perfect league records and accomplished an overall record of 59 wins and only 8 losses. Held individual career points and rebound records at XHS. Holds single game (33) rebound record. Played for Central State University 1965 NAIA National Champions.
Ted Detty
Xenia Central HS - 1953
Football, Basketball, Baseball, Track
One of the few outstanding 4-sport athletes. 3rd Team All-State football, 1952. Held Xenia record for career TD's (50) and 19 TD's in one season in 1952. All-MVL in football and basketball. Scored six TD's in two different games. MVL Shot Put Champions, 1953. Played football while serving his country for the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg and with the Dayton Triangles smi-pro team.
Wendell "Butch" Cultice
Xenia Central HS - 1941
Football, Basketball, Track
1941 Captain and an All-Tournament 1st Team and Class A Basketball Semifinalists. All-District and All-Regional 1st Team, 1941. All-MVL center and MVL scoring leader in 1940 and 1941. Coached football, basketball, and track in Ferndale, Michigan. Former President of the Alaska HS Activities Association which introduced football to Alaska in 1970. Served on the Connecticut HS Athletic Commission. Author of nearly a dozen books. Served his country in WW II.
Tom Blackburn
Xenia Central HS - 1935-1943
Football and Basketball Coach
Coached Xenia teams to three Miami Valley League football championships and six MVL basketball championships. Coached the 1942 State Champions basketball team and the 1941 State Semifinalist team. Coached at the University of Dayton from 1947-1964 and coached in 10 National Invitational Tournaments (NIT). Won the NIT in 1962. Inducted into the UD Hall of Fame in 1969. Established a 352-141 record at UD.
Dr. William T. Ungard
Xenia Central HS - 1927-1952
Team Physician
Practiced medicine in Xenia from 1927-1952. Gave physicals to thousands of athletes and Selective Service recruits in Greene County. Graduated from Grove City College and the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine. Member of the first Board of Directors of Greene Memorial Hospital. Coached basketball at Carnegie HS. Two of his sons, Mike and Nick, are also in the Xenia Athletic Hall of Fame.
1942 State Champions
Xenia Central High School
25 Wins 1 Loss
First Row: Carlton Smith, Roger "Rocky" Thomas, Paul Huston, Bob Winter, Jack Wilson, Tom Adair
Second Row: Coach Tom Blackburn, Tom Kuhn, Kenneth White, Bud Luttrell, Ken Boxwell, Bob Shaw, Paul Long
Celebrated as the only State Championship team in Xenia school history. This great basketball team finished with a record of 25-1 and culminated the greatest of seasons with a resounding 51-33 victory over Toledo Central Catholic in the state championship game. There were many great athletes on this team. Paul Huston, Bob Winter, and Jack Wilson all attended Ohio State University. Huston played on three Final Four teams, Winter was the leading scorer on the freshman basketball team and received both football and basketball scholarship offers to OSU, and Wilson was the Captain on the 1950 victorious Ohio State Rose Bowl team. Rocky Thomas attended the University of Dayton before entering WW II and losing his life for his country in France. The Rocky Thomas Scholarship has been given annually for decades to the top scholar-athlete. Many of these athletes from this State Championship team served their country during WW II.