Contributed RECOGNITION — Maintenance officials from the Buckeye Local School District hang signage for the new Ron Pobolish Field located at World War II Memorial Stadium in Yorkville. The field was formally dedicated Friday prior to the Panthers’ game against Shadyside and the evening also included Alumni Night inductions into the Buckeye Local Ring of Honor, while it also marked the 75th season for the stadium.

YORKVILLE — Buckeye Local paid tribute to its winningest football coach with the dedication of the Ron Pobolish Field during festivities Friday.

Officials recognized the late sports leader as part of Alumni Night activities at World War II Memorial Stadium in Yorkville. Buckeye Local Sr. High School Principal Luke Parsons said the Panther Football Alumni Club gathered at Warren Township Park and events continued at the stadium prior to the Panther’s matchup against Shadyside.

Pobolish, who died last year, began as a top athlete at Dillonvale High School and carried on that success throughout his 40-year coaching career. He spent much of his time at his alma mater, but also served at Cadiz, Harrison Central and John Marshall high schools with a stint at West Liberty State College. He spent two years at Buckeye South and earned a 9-11 record and another two years at Buckeye SouthWest that yielded a 14-6 result. Following the district’s final consolidation in 1990, he led the Panthers for six seasons and held a record of 53-13.

Under his tutelage, the team became runner-up at the OHSAA Division II State Championship. He left Buckeye Local but returned for a final time, coaching for five years and reaching the playoffs twice in 2008 and 2009 before officially retiring. The Panthers won three OVAC Class 4A championships, five River Valley League titles and one Buckeye 8 distinction.

His athletic prowess gained him many an accolade as a three-time Eastern District Coach of the Year and Ohio Valley Football Coach of the Year with more inductions into the Ohio Valley Football Coaches Hall of Fame and the Buckeye Local Wall of Honor, plus Pobolish received a posthumous induction into the 2025 OVAC Hall of Fame in August.

The school district’s maintenance department added new signage to the scoreboard and Parsons expressed his gratitude to sign sponsors, including Jefferson County Court Judge Michelle Miller, Nathan Kendjorski of Strive-To-Be Custom Screening, the Panther Football Alumni Club, Shaheen Law Group, Indian Club and Don Stephens State Farm Insurance.

Superintendent Coy Sudvary said Pobolish not only had celebrated sports seasons, but his efforts also helped the community unite upon the consolidation of the school district.

“We’re appreciative of all the teaching and coaching years that Coach Pob dedicated to the Buckeye Local School District and we’re honored to be able to recognize such a special person for his achievements with the success of the teams he had here during the consolidation,” Sudvary added. “His success brought the community together to rally for the students and the schools.”

Also recognized Friday were the latest inductions into the Buckeye Local Ring of Honor, which included Rodney Roe, Dan McCain, Shane Bishop and Tom Yakubowski.

“The football alumni wanted to start a hall of fame and our first year (in 2021), we inducted Billy West. The second year, they decided to recognize a modern player, an original 1990s player and one or two members from the schools prior to consolidation. Tom Yakubowski is an Adena Golden Wave and Dan was a player in the 90s, while Shane was from the 2000s and Rodney has been a longtime supporter,” Parsons continued. “It’s a big deal this year because the Pobolish family will be here and it’s also our 75th year for World War II Memorial Stadium.”

More signage has been erected on the field honoring high schools who took part in the gridiron matchups through the years, including Yorkville, Buckeye South, Buckeye SouthWest and Buckeye Local.