GROWING UP
Hal A. Fausnaugh was born in North Baltimore, Ohio, in 1925 at the home of his maternal grandparents and only two blocks from his father’s parents. His parents, Ruth E. Tarr and Kirby Fausnaugh, who were living in Cleveland at the time, frequently moved as Hal’s father pursued his Swift & Co. career. They moved from Cleveland to New Philadelphia, to Zanesville and then on to Delaware where they lived at 61 N. Liberty. Hal graduated from Delaware Willis High School in 1943 where he lettered in basketball, baseball and track.
Interestingly, Hal’s parents had moved from Delaware just months before his high school graduation. Through his high school friendship with Jim Johnson ’47 and Jack Pocock ’47, he moved into the Beta house at 54 W. Lincoln where he lived for several months until his high school graduation in 1943. “Mama” Linn was at the house and added the stability all of the young men needed. It was at this time that Hal gained a lasting friendship with the Betas and became an “unofficial” pledge.
WORLD WAR II
Following high school graduation, Hal was inducted into the Navy’s V-12 program at Baldwin-Wallace in Berea, Ohio. For those too young to remember, the V-12 program had been established by the Navy to prepare candidates for commissioning into the naval officer corps. Hal completed four semesters at BW and then was sent to midshipman training at Northwestern U where he was commissioned in March 1945. Following training at three Florida naval bases, Hal was sent to Johnson Island, a small island 700 miles southwest of the Hawaiian Islands, which was used in WWII as a refueling maintenance base. He was discharged July 11, 1946.
OWU AND BETA THETA PI
By the fall of 1946, Hal had enrolled at OWU. Hal’s selection of OWU was enhanced by several factors. First, he had spent his high school years in Delaware and had developed a deep friendship with a number of classmates who had gone on to attend OWU. Secondly, his several months of living at the Beta house in 1943 had exposed him to the outstanding men of the chapter and to the ways of the OWU campus life. Thirdly, and most important, OWU was the alma mater of his mother, Ruth, and her sister, Florence. Ruth Tarr had graduated from OWU in the class of 1921 where she starred in women’s athletics. Hal noted that his 5’ 2’’ mother lettered in basketball, baseball and field hockey. A highlight of her basketball career was scoring 50 points in one game.
While at OWU, Ruth was a classmate of Al Long Sr. ’21, a Delaware and OWU football great, a Beta and father of three Betas, Tom, Bill and Al Jr. Ruth also became acquainted with another famous OWU alumnus, Norman V. Peale ’20. Ruth’s accomplishments were recognized in 1976 when she was the first woman inducted into OWU’s Athletic Hall of Fame for Women. For Hal, this was a very proud moment.
As Hal entered OWU as a junior, he very quickly became the first to pledge in his Beta class. He lived two blocks from the Beta house with Dick and Jim Johnson, of the class of ’46 and ’47 at their mother’s (Peg) home (both now deceased). Peg was the Sigma Chi housemother at the time. Although he never lived at the Beta house during his junior and senior years he ate all meals there and joined in all of the camaraderie of sports, dances, singing and social events.
Campus life in the ’40s was a very “active” life for Hal. He was the Beta sports pledge coach his senior year and “we won almost everything” in freshman intramural sports. Lettering in track for OWU, Hal ran against three Olympic gold medal winners while representing OWU, but you guessed it — he lost.
More than 90 percent of the campus was“Greek,” “Vetville” was across from the hospital, freshmen wore “dinks,” social life and dating were focused at the Beta house at 54 W. Lincoln. Each spring Gray Chapel’s bells rang in “spring fever” canceling classes for the day, the Sulfur Springs was quite an attraction and the Beta Stand at Gray Chapel was the place for the brothers to meet between classes.
It was in this setting that young Hal found Agnes “Aggie” Helene Park, a Kappa Kappa Gamma two years his junior. Their private retreat was the corner of the basement lounging room at the Beta house. Their favorite Beta tune refrain was “…. put her in a corner ….” which they have always felt was especially written for them.
Fraternity life brought back fond memories for Hal. Highlighted were his pledge class and pledge experiences including the “put out the fire” drill which continued on into the ’50s and ’60s as a special tradition. Very close friendships have developed for the Fausnaughs and include a 30+ year tradition of regular get-a-way weekends twice a year with several other brothers and wives. Included in this special friendship with Hal and Aggie are Hugh and Phyllis Troth, Ed and Renee O’Day, Bob and Evelyn Long Mauck, Bill and Ann Long, and Jim and Jane Johnson (both now deceased).
CAREER
Following graduation from OWU in 1948, Hal received his LLB degree from Cleveland Marshall Law School and was admitted to the Ohio Bar Association in 1952. He was employed from 1955 until his retirement in 1991 at Prescott, Ball & Turben, now First Union Securities, where he was named Senior Partner in 1973.
OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Hal Fausnaugh has been a loyal alumnus of Ohio Wesleyan University for many years and has provided his alma mater with meritorious service in many ways. He is the past president of the Letterman’s Association, the National Alumni Fund Council, The OWU-Cleveland Alumni, and past chairman of the OWU Cuyahoga County Alumni Fund Raising and the Cuyahoga County Capital Gifts Campaign. A member of the OWU Associates, the Board of Trustees 1968-1983 and 1985-93, President of the National Alumni Association of OWU from 1966-68 and a Life Trustee 1993-present. A member of the OWU Trustee Endowment & Finance Committee, he was honored as its “Outstanding Alumnus” in 1973.
While reminiscing over his years as an OWU trustee, Hal recalled many of the “greats” who served with him, and in particular recalled “Branch” Rickey and George Gauthier enjoying their spirited hours of playing “hearts” after trustee meetings. Hal noted that the competitive nature of both men were more than obvious at these heart games.
When asked by Hal “who was your most valuable, talented pitcher,” Rickey answered without hesitation, “Sandy Koufax,” a hall of fame Dodger pitcher from Cincinnati. Fondly remembered is Rickey who graduated from OWU in 1904, had coached baseball and been athletic director in the early 1900s — and in 1946 broke baseball’s color barrier when, as the Brooklyn Dodger general manager, he brought Jackie Robinson into the Dodger organization.
Gauthier, of course, was the revered OWU athletic director during the ’30s, ’40s, and ’50s who had replaced the likes of Rickey and Lynn St. John (later of Ohio State fame).
The Fausnaughs are members of the Rocky River Methodist Church. Hal has served as a member and treasurer of the Cleveland District Methodist Union for over 25 years.
Among Hal’s dedicated community service has been his service to the Cleveland Goodwill where he has served on the board for over 25 years. During this time he has served as vice president four years, president four years and Chairman of the Board three years. He is a founding member of the Goodwill Foundation where he served as president 1989-1999.
Summering at Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, N.Y., for 20 years, Hal has served on the Chautauqua Property Owners Association. He was a member of the Institution trustees 1986- 1994 and on its Foundation Board 1990-1994.
FAMILY
Married on August 20, 1949, to his college sweetheart “Aggie,” the Fausnaughs are blessed with two daughters, Janine Obee of Hudson, Ohio, and Nan Johnson of San Diego, Calif., and with two grandchildren.
At the time of their 50th wedding anniversary, the Fausnaughs decided to celebrate their milestone by sending a crisp new $50 bill — a dollar for each year of their marriage — to friends and relations and ask them to use the money to do a “good deed.” Their only stipulation was that they be informed of the “good deed” so that they could keep a “treasure chest” full of stories of how the “good deeds” have helped others. The Fausnaughs now have their treasure chest full of stories, events and memories of how they have touched the lives of so many others …. and the letters keep coming.
The Fausnaughs live at 20126 Westhaven Lane, Rocky River, OH 44116, 440-331-3099; during the summer they can be reached at 97 N. Lake, Box 1147, Chautauqua, NY 14722, 716-357-8462.
Hal Fausnaugh represents all that is great about Ohio Wesleyan and Beta. We are better for knowing Hal, and are privileged to call him a brother. He has set high standards and continues to positively affect and influence the lives of others. To him we say … “Hal, thank God you are a Beta.”
(Editor’s note … This is the seventh in a series of articles featuring Beta personalities … make sure you look for these future articles and see who is tapped for the next “hot seat!” Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.)
Hal A. Fausnaugh ’48
Hal at home with his treasure box of letters
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