Don was interviewed at his home in Groveland, FL on January 22, 2008. He lives at 8933 Courtyard Lane
in Groveland, FL 34736, and can be reached by email at dwedge@embarqmail.com or 352-394-0147.
The Early Years
Don’s early days were spent in Carey, Ohio … a small farming community about an hour and a half or so north of Delaware. As a small Midwestern community of slightly over 3900, Carey residents enjoy many benefits of a slower pace of life, as well as the advantages of larger surrounding neighbors. Located in Northwest Ohio, Carey is the 2nd largest community in Wyandot County, located halfway between the state capital, Columbus, to the south and Toledo to the north. The county name, Wyandot, taken from the name of a Native American Chief, is but one indicator of the rich history of the area.
Don’s father was a trucker and his mother, a housewife. They raised six children with Don the oldest, along with Bobby (whom I met as he was staying with Don for a visit during our interview), John, Tom, Sybil and Shirley. Before his graduation from Carey High in 1947, Don demonstrated his athletic skills in both football and basketball and was named to honorable mention All-Ohio in both sports.
Highlighting his football career with Carey High was an undefeated season his senior year … marred only by a tie with Upper Sandusky … 7-7 … with the star of the Upper team Bob Snelker, later of the Cleveland Browns and with whom Don developed a warm relationship in his later career as an NFL referee.
Off To College
Early college choices included both Kenyon and Ohio State. However, Ohio Wesleyan came into Don’s life as a result of a recommendation by his high school sweetheart, who later became his first wife. He was also introduced to OWU through meeting Dean Sommerville and George Gauthier. At the time, Gauthier was the football coach and as anyone who ever met him, he was a very convincing recruiter and Don was taken by Gauthier’s personality and charm. Most importantly, Don received an offer of both an academic scholarship and a job to help defray expenses. As a result, Don signed on the dotted line and was off to Delaware to play football. By the time he arrived as a freshman, Glenn Fraser had been appointed head football coach and Gauthier continued as Athletic Director.
BETA THETA PI
Through the Sommerville contact, (a Beta and OWU Dean of Men) he was soon introduced to the Beta house at 54 W. Lincoln and to the charisma of Bill Littick ’50, a great OWU Beta whose leadership touched the lives of many brothers. Soon, Don was pledged and after living in the V-5 barracks for his freshman year, moved to 54 W. Lincoln for his sophomore year. To cover expenses, he washed dishes at “Sty” and cooked for his roommates at the house.
His Beta memories included a pledge trip to Oxford to obtain something from the Beta Campanile to return to Delaware to prove that he and his pledge brothers, as a team, had completed the mission. The trip, of course, was one of those “drop them off at Stratford with no money, hitchhike to and from Oxford, Ohio, obtain the assigned item and return to 54 W. Lincoln by Sunday night …”.
Fraternity highlights for Don included his fond memories of Mama Linn whom he described as “wonderful”. Also, the late Joe Neds ’50 was his close friend, roommate and fellow football player. He recalled fondly that Joe later became a fighter pilot in the Korean war. He was also close to the late Keith Gaspich ’50.
Don was asked to put into words what Beta did for him, and without hesitation he said “ … it taught me the importance of discipline as well as to respect and be respected by others …”
Gridiron Highlights
Soon after coming to OWU, Don quickly showed his prowess and leadership on the football field as he and fellow player, the late Jud Milhon ’51, were named co-captains of the freshman team. (Although a fine football player, Jud soon chose basketball for the remainder of his OWU athletic career, and was such an outstanding star he was named Little All-American for his accomplishments on the basketball court). The freshman, led by Wedge and Milhon, highlighted their season by defeating the 2nd varsity team, much to the chagrin of the upper classmen.
His sophomore year soon came with many more highlights, including his selection as starting fullback for the varsity. On the down side, the team had several losses that year. His junior year saw the peak of his OWU prowess, as he set a single game record of five touchdowns (not broken to this day), 15 touchdowns for the season … a record at the time, and his selection as a “Little All-American”. Starring on the same team were such standouts as the Beta brothers Wayne and the late Bob McFarland. The team, however, did suffer two osses … Baldwin Wallace and Case. His senior year started off with a bang … an 88-yard TD but later suffered an ankle injury which cost him playing time for most of the year. He was, however, named to the All Ohio College team.
Don was mentored by both Gauthier, the AD, and Bob Strimer who was the football backfield coach and head basketball coach. From Gauthier he learned what it meant to work hard and achieve goals on the football field of play … and from Strimer, he was challenged to “do his best” and to set goals. Further, it was later Bob Strimer who mentored Don into a career officiating in the Mid-American, Big 10, NFL and NBA (with all his officiating achievements it certainly couldn’t be called a “hobby”).
Strimer was a real world challenge for Don during his senior year. It was then that Don demonstrated his skill as a handball champion when he won the intramural singles handball trophy. As was his custom, Strimer soon challenged Don to a match, and of course Don knew that he could handle Bob easily. Not so!! Strimer showed the young kid and defeated him handily … 11-0. And so ended another myth!
OWU Memories
Outside of football, there were the academics. Don recalled professor Ben Arneson who became a father figure to him. Ben’s classes were difficult, but Don found that he could succeed with academic challenges equally as well as challenges at Selby Field. Although Professor Arneson served as one of his staunchest critics, he was also one of Don’s strongest supporters and always sat in the stands loudly cheering Don during Saturday’s games. Goldie McCue was also a favorite and after a low test mark, Don received her kind counseling and soon raised his grades in that course as well. Gray Chapel, of course, was noted by Don as a three-timesa-week chore at the time, but looking back, a very rewarding part of his campus life.
The Real World
Following graduation and marriage to his high school sweetheart in 1951, Don took an interview for work at Lazarus in Columbus where his wife was working. Soon he was introduced to Dick Hindman who in turn introduced him to his brother, Hugh, an assistant AD at Ohio State. That contact led to meeting Woody Hayes, then head football coach at OSU and with Bill Hess who at that time was football coach at Ohio U. As a result, Don was offered and accepted the assistant football coaching position at Portsmouth High School in Ohio.
Trying to raise a family on high school football coaching salaries, however, proved to be a challenge and when an opportunity came along, with three times the pay at a startup Atomic Energy plant in nearby Waverly, Don quickly moved on from the coaching business.
Later, after further career moves with Joston’s Jewelry and Hobart Manufacturing, Don finished his working career with Miller-Valentine of Dayton, a company involved with the development of industrial sites. During these business career stops, Don developed another very significant career which was triggered by his motto of “have whistle, will travel”.
The NFL World
Beginning with appearances in and around the Ohio high school football and basketball programs, Don was soon recognized for his knowledge and skill in officiating. About 1956, Dave Reese, a Denison Beta, hired Don to referee in the Mid-American Conference. By 1966, he had been recognized by the Big 10 for his work and was hired by them as a basketball referee (they had too many Ohio boys for football at the time). By 1968, he also covered Big 10 football, and this period was highlighted by a call to officiate the Rose Bowl in 1970 (UMinnesota v. USC). This trip to California was most memorable to Don as he had remarried and the planned honeymoon was changed from a trip to the Caribbean to a trip to Pasadena.
By 1972, Don moved up to the “big time”, the NBA and the NFL. His career in the NFL began with an interview with Art McNally in Cleveland and lasted until 1996 when he retired. Of all his NFL games, the one to remember was the Super Bowl of 1988 between the Washington Redskins and the Denver Broncos. The Redskins, under the quarterbacking of Doug Williams, defeated the Broncos who were led by quarterback John Elway.
To this day, Don proudly wears a large ring on each hand, one for his 25 years with the NFL and one for the 1988 Super Bowl. In addition to these accomplishments, Don refereed three Pro Bowls in Honolulu and one college all star game in Chicago. Not to be forgotten, was his officiating at the one and only Dayton Aviation Bowl which featured N. Mexico v. W. Michigan.
Deserved Accolades
Among the many awards bestowed on Don, he especially cherishes his election to the OWU Athletic Hall of Fame and his most recent award as the Robert Strimer Award for outstanding contributions to college athletics. He also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the city of Dayton, awarded by the Dayton Agonis Club.
Don’s family includes daughter, Laura, who has presented him with two grandchildren, Ashley and Carrie; his son Chris, who has grandchildren Cole and Kenna; and his wife Rose Ann.
From the Brotherhood … A Well Deserved Salute
Don Wedge epitomizes the heart and soul of Beta. He has long been recognized for his athletic prowess, but beyond that, Don has been a true friend of many Beta brothers and OWU friends. Whenever his name is mentioned, there is always a smile on those who know him and nothing but kind words and praise for the kind of man he represents. From all his many Beta brothers who cherish their relationship with him, we all say, with a rousing cheer, “here’s to Don, he’s alright, and thank God he’s a Beta”.
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