SIDNEY — Lehman Catholic’s Schlater Gymnasium was transformed for the 38th Annual Foundation dinner Saturday, Feb. 6, for an evening full of life, laughter and a bit of baseball. Lehman welcomed Marty Brennaman, longtime voice of the Cincinnati Reds baseball club as the keynote speaker for this evening of gratitude.
Brennaman, a native of Portsmouth, Virginia, began his broadcasting career in High Point, North Carolina, upon graduating from the University of North Carolina in 1965. He joined the Reds radio team in 1974 and has been broadcasting Reds baseball for more than 40 years.
With his signature statement and love for the game, Brennaman touched many lives over the years with his commentary and on-air personality, including those individuals who were lucky enough to be in the audience on Saturday night.
“The opportunity for my wife and I to meet with Marty was special. I’m a Marty fan and I love him on the radio. The thing about Marty is that he is straight-shooter and I have a lot of respect for him for that. We also shared a lot of laughter at our table!” said Dave King, Lehman baseball coach.
Brennaman spoke of his long-running career, debated sports with the crowd and also reminisced about his memories with Hamilton native and long-time Fairfield resident, Joe Nuxhell, who also broadcasted for the Reds from 1967 through 2004.
“Joe and I’s broadcasting run is the longest of any two radio guys in the history of baseball. I cried on-air the day he retired,” Brennaman said.
Also a part of this evening of gratitude was the recognition of those individuals who make an education from Lehman Catholic possible. New to the Gold Fellow awardees included Mechanical – Galv Plating Corp.
Silver Fellow inductees included Ed and Mary Cubick, Freytag and Associates, Benny and Stacy Scott, the American Society of Ephesus, and the Oscar and Charlotte Bushman Fund of The Troy Foundation.
Bronze Fellow awardees included Nick and Mary Bensman, Jay and Elaine Sargeant, Chris and Susan Conkey, The Dr. Charles and Jane Gariety Estate, William and Marilyn Kingseed and Jim and Karen Schlater.
Also included as Lehman Fellows were Doug and Kate Lins, Wilson Health, T.J. and Karen Baker, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Mike and Stacey Earhart, Ruese Insurance, Harold and Mary Schmiesing, Frank and Roberta Tebbe, Ken Geimer, Helen Mikolajewski, Janice and Nick Sharkey and Francis and Joan Pax.
