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Baseball stadium carries KSU booster's name
By Stephanie Storm
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Wednesday, Jan 16, 2008
They called him ''Coach Hal,'' because it seemed no matter what he was doing — in athletics, business, church and even life — Harold W. Schoonover would ultimately end up teaching something — whether or not those around him wanted to learn.
''There was no gray area with Hal,'' said Don Ursetti, president of the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame. ''When he wanted something done, he'd tell you about it in no uncertain terms, then he'd get it done.''
A longtime supporter of his alma mater, Kent State University, and an active Summit County leader, the 87-year-old died Saturday after a yearlong battle trying to recover from a fall.
Mr. Schoonover was born in Huntington, W.Va, in 1920, and his family moved to Akron by the time he was 1 year old. He attended Betty Jane Elementary School before moving on to East High School, where he lettered in baseball all four years.
Mr. Schoonover didn't have to go far to attend college. Continuing his higher education at Kent State University, he lettered in baseball from 1947-49, while serving as the team captain his senior year.
After college, his ties to the Kent and Akron communities began in earnest. There were 15 organizations in which Mr. Schoonover ultimately would serve as president, including: Kent's Blue and Gold and Varsity K Clubs, the West Akron Kiwanis Club, the Akron Touchdown Club and the Summit County Hall of Fame.
Throughout his life, Mr. Schoonover was honored with many awards, including the Kent State Alumni Association's Distinguished Service Award in 1993. That same year, the school's Blue and Gold Room at the M.A.C. Center was named in his honor. He had also been enshrined in the East High, Greater Akron Baseball, Summit County and KSU halls of fame.
''Hal played a key role as president and general chairperson of the Summit County Hall of Fame for two consecutive terms, but his greatest contribution was as our banquet chairperson,'' Ursetti said. ''For 16 years he made that role his own. But in a larger sense, Hal's greatest hallmark was his ability to accept a position and lead. I think that's why so many people looked to him. It's a rare person who can keep all those plates spinning.''
With the straight-forward Mr. Schoonover having such a wealth of knowledge, longtime KSU athletic director Laing Kennedy had an even more affectionate nickname for his close friend.
''Very quickly after I met him, I began calling him 'Uncle Hal,' '' said Kennedy, who is in his 14th year as the Golden Flashes' director of athletics. ''The first day I started at the university (in 1994) he came by to welcome me then promptly took me around to introduce me. As time went on, he and his wife were always introducing (Kennedy and wife Saundra) to people in the community.''
The rare times when Mr. Schoonover wasn't at KSU sporting events in person, he'd often give Kennedy a call when something weighed on his mind.
''We talked on the phone off and on over the years,'' Kennedy said. ''And it was always like talking to my uncle. Sometimes I didn't want to hear what he had to say, but I always knew he had what he thought was best for the university at heart.''
In 2003, the Schoonover Family Foundation made a donation to KSU's baseball program, money that went to renovating the baseball stadium that now bears the family name. In 2005, Schoonover Stadium was dedicated in honor of Hal Schoonover and his wife, Julia.
Mr. Schoonover's energy often seemed endless, as he also found time to serve at the Westminster Presbyterian Church. For 57 years, he served in various capacities as a trustee, deacon, head of stewardship and treasurer.
''What Hal and his family have done for Kent State and the surrounding communities is a legacy that lives on,'' Kennedy said. ''His was a celebration of a wonderful life.''
Stephanie Storm can be reached at sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com.
They called him ''Coach Hal,'' because it seemed no matter what he was doing — in athletics, business, church and even life — Harold W. Schoonover would ultimately end up teaching something — whether or not those around him wanted to learn.
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