Ohio

Lawrence J. Dolan (1931–2025), Cleveland Guardians owner

Lawrence J. Dolan was an attorney best known as the longtime owner of the Cleveland Guardians baseball team, formerly known as the Cleveland Indians.

Dub Jones (1924–2024), NFL player who scored six TDs in one game

William “Dub” Jones was a NFL halfback and Cleveland Browns veteran best known for scoring six touchdowns in a single game.

Jim Donovan (1956–2024), voice of the Cleveland Browns 

Jim Donovan was a sportscaster best known for his long tenure as the radio play-by-play announcer for the Cleveland Browns.

David Hobson (1936–2024), former U.S. representative from Ohio

David Hobson represented Ohio’s seventh congressional district as a Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1991 to 2009. 

Freddie Salem (1954–2024), former guitarist for Outlaws

Freddie Salem was a rock guitarist best known for his time with the Southern rock band Outlaws. 

Nick Mileti (1931–2024), founder of the Cleveland Cavaliers

Nick Mileti was an attorney, author, and businessman who was founder of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and former owner of the MLB’s Cleveland Indians. 

Phil Donahue (1935–2024), TV talk show icon

Phil Donahue was a longtime talk-show host whose signature program all but created the template that daytime TV would follow for years to come.

Evan Wright (1964–2024), Generation Kill author 

Evan Wright was a writer and journalist whose work often explored dark themes, most notably in his 2004 book on the Iraq War, “Generation Kill,” which was adapted into an HBO miniseries.

Bill Cobbs (1934–2024), actor known for Night at the Museum

Bill Cobbs was an actor known for many of his nearly 200 roles on film and TV, including parts in “Night at the Museum,” “Demolition Man,” “The Bodyguard,” “The West Wing,” and "I’ll Fly Away.” 

Tom Kent (1954–2024), founder of the TKRN radio network

Tom Kent was a longtime radio host and former label executive who founded the TKRN radio network, which provides syndicated radio shows for over 600 stations.

Bob Schul (1937–2024), America’s sole 5,000m Olympic champion

Bob Schul was a renowned long-distance runner who was the U.S.’ only ever 5,000m Olympic champion, winning the gold in 1964.

Mary Wells Lawrence (1928–2024), legendary advertising exec

Mary Wells Lawrence was a groundbreaking advertising executive who founded Wells Rich Greene and was known for quotable ad slogans like “I ♥ NY” and “Plop, plop, fizz, fizz.” 

Frank Wakefield (1934–2024), bluegrass mandolin virtuoso

Frank Wakefield was a bluegrass mandolinist and songwriter who innovated new techniques on his instrument.

Sydell Miller (1937–2024), founder of beauty brands Matrix, Ardell 

Sydell Miller was the entrepreneur behind the successful and influential beauty brands Matrix and Ardell, co-founding them with her husband, the late Arnold Miller.

Gerald McGinnis (1934–2024), inventor of the CPAP machine

Gerald E. “Jerry” McGinnis was a biomedical engineer who invented the CPAP machine and founded several medical technology companies, including Respironics and Lanz Medical Products.

Echo Brown (1984–2023), young adult author

Echo Brown was the author of the young adult novels “Black Girl Unlimited” and “The Chosen One.” 

Fred Lewis (1951–2023), drummer for funk band Lakeside 

Fred Lewis was the drummer for the funk band Lakeside, known for their 1981 hit “Fantastic Voyage.” 

Ron Sexton (1970–2023), comedian known for The Bob & Tom Show

Ron Sexton was a stand-up comedian, radio personality, and regular performer on The Bob & Tom Show. Fans also knew him as Donnie Baker, a show character who told stories about the boat he perpetually had for sale.

Mark Boudreaux (1955–2023), Star Wars Millennium Falcon toy designer

Mark Boudreaux was a longtime toy designer for Kenner and Hasbro, Inc., who designed the original “Star Wars” Millennium Falcon playset and all that followed, along with many other toys in the “Star Wars,” “Batman,” and “Jurassic Park” lines.

Tom Sawyer (1946–2023), longtime Ohio politician and former mayor

Tom Sawyer was a longtime Ohio politician who served as mayor of Akron, and who was also a U.S. Congressperson, Ohio State Senator, and member of the Ohio State Board of Education. 

John Adams (1951–2023), Cleveland Indians’ drumming superfan

John Adams was a Cleveland Indians (renamed the Guardians in 2021) superfan known for playing the bass drum at home games for decades.

Harold Brown (1924–2023), U.S. Air Force officer, Tuskegee Airman

Harold Brown was a U.S. Air Force veteran who flew missions in World War II and the Korean War. He was one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen, the group of primarily Black pilots who earned an outstanding combat record despite military segregation.

Sue Thomas (1950–2022), pioneering FBI lip-reader

Sue Thomas was the first deaf person to work with the FBI as a lip-reader and inspired the TV show “Sue Thomas: F.B. Eye.”

Andy Detwiler (1969–2022), “Harmless Farmer” YouTube star

Andy Detwiler was better known as “Harmless Farmer” on YouTube, where he chronicled his life as an amputee.

Rance Allen (1948–2020), gospel music legend

Rance Allen was the lead singer of the popular gospel band the Rance Allen Group.

Bonni Lou Kern (1941–2020), original Mouseketeer

Bonni Lou Kern was an original Mouseketeer who appeared on the first season of the popular Disney  ‘The Mickey Mouse Club.’

Leslie Edwards (1924–2019), one of the last Tuskegee Airmen

Leslie Edwards was one of the last remaining Tuskegee Airmen, the African-American pilots who served in the U.S. military during World War II.

Howard “Hopalong” Cassady (1934–2019), Ohio State football legend

Running back won the 1955 Heisman Trophy.

Toni Morrison (1931–2019), Nobel Prize-winning author of “Beloved”

Toni Morrison was the Nobel Prize-winning author of best-selling novels including “Beloved,” “Song of Solomon,” and “The Bluest Eye.” Her critically acclaimed books told powerful stories of black lives in America, from the time of slavery through modern days. “Beloved” (1987) won the Pulitzer Prize and the American Book Award, while “Song of Solomon” (1977) had the distinction of being the first book by a black author chosen as a main selection of the Book of the Month Club since Richard Wright’s “Native Son,” 37 years earlier. Her most recent work was “God Help the Child” (2015) and she also wrote non-fiction, children’s literature, and plays including “Desdemona.” When she was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993, Morrison became the first black woman to win a Nobel Prize. She was recognized with many other honors including the National Humanities Medal in 2000, the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction in 2011, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, presented to her by President Barack Obama in 2012.

Damon Keith (1922–2019), federal judge promoted equality

Damon Keith was a federal judge with a long and prolific career, serving on the U.S. Court of the Appeals for the Sixth Circuit for more than 40 years. Presiding over courts in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee, Keith never retired, serving until his death at 96. His most notable decision was in a 1971 case regarding the Nixon Administration. Nixon's Justice Department was wiretapping people suspected of conspiring to bomb a CIA office, and they were doing it without court orders. Keith ordered them to cease wiretapping without warrants. The Justice Department appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which upheld Keith's decision 8-0. Keith was also known for a 1971 order to desegregate schools in Pontiac, Michigan via bussing, as well as for upholding the affirmative action policy in the Detroit Police Department.

Bill Isles (1941–2019), co-founder of legendary R&B group The O’Jays

Bill Isles was one of the original members of soul music hit-makers The O’Jays. He formed a singing group called the Mascots with friends in his hometown of Canton, Ohio, in 1958. They changed their name to the Triumphs and released their first single in 1961. In 1963, they changed their name to The O’Jays and released a successful single in 1965 titled “Lipstick Traces.” Shortly after, Isles left the group and would get married. The O’Jays went on to greater fame in the 1970s with the hit songs “Back Stabbers” and “Love Train.”

Chuck Harmon (1924–2019), first African American to play for the Cincinnati Reds

Chuck Harmon was the first African American to play for the Cincinnati Reds, taking the field in 1954, seven years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier. Harmon was a star baseball and basketball player for the University of Toledo. He was a utility player for the Reds for three seasons, hitting .242, than played for the Cardinals and Phillies. He retained close ties to the Reds and was often seen at games and events.

This Man’s Obituary Respects His Wife As Much As He Did

We're cheering Toledo man Freeman Hudson after reading his extraordinary obituary.

Simeon Booker (1918–2017), first full-time African-American reporter at The Washington Post

His courageous coverage of the civil rights movement brought it national attention.

Jon Hendricks (1921 – 2017), innovative jazz vocalist

Time Magazine called him the "James Joyce of jive”…

Keith Wilder (1951–2017), singer for 1970s disco/funk hit-makers Heatwave

Keith Wilder, singer for 1970s disco/funk hit-makers Heatwave, died Oct. 29, 2017, his daughter Lisa Wilder announced in an Instagram post Monday.

Barbara Blaine (1956–2017), founded Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests

Ohio native launched the largest support group for clergy sex abuse victims.

Otto Warmbier (1994–2017), U.S. student imprisoned in North Korea

American student who was imprisoned in North Korea for more than 17 months.

Everybody Loves Dean Martin

We're celebrating versatile entertainer Dean Martin and all the things he did so well.

Greater Than Heroin: Battling Ohio's Opioid Epidemic

In the state hardest hit by opioid deaths, the community is fighting back.

Roger Wilkins (1932–2017), Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist

Roger Wilkins, a civil rights activist, historian, and journalist who won a Pulitzer Prize, died Sunday, March 26, 2017, according to multiple news sources. He was 85.

Walter "Junie" Morrison (1954–2017), Parliament-Funkadelic keyboardist

Walter "Junie" Morrison, a keyboardist and producer who performed with George Clinton's Parliament-Funkadelic as well as the Ohio Players, has died, according to multiple news sources. Morrison was 62.

Konrad Reuland (1987–2016), NFL tight end

Konrad Reuland played in the NFL with the New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, and Baltimore Ravens.

John Glenn (1921 - 2016), astronaut and senator

NASA astronaut John Glenn earned everlasting fame when he becamethe first American to orbit the Earth.

Elijah Pierce | The Book of Wood

Whittled. Carved. Handmade. Self-made. These words describe the remarkable life and art of Elijah Pierce.

Steve McElvene (1995 - 2016), University of Dayton basketball player

University of Dayton basketball player Steve McElvene died May 12, according to ESPN. He was 20.

Yeh-Yeh's Red Roast Pork Shoulder

In Legacy.com's series, celebrity chefs and food bloggers share how recipes preserve our life stories and connect us to those we've lost.

Alexa McAllister (1984 - 2016)

Alexa McAllister, a former contestant on the reality television show "The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love," has died. She was 31. McAllister, who appeared on the program's 14th season when Jake Pavelka was the bachelor, apparently took her own life, according to multiple news reports. McAllister was among 10 contestants who were eliminated after the first week.

Kevin Randleman (1971 - 2016)

Former UFC heavyweight champion and two-time NCAA champion wrestler Kevin Randleman has died, according to multiple news sources. He was 44. Randleman, a Las Vegas resident, died Thursday of heart failure after being admitted to a hospital in San Diego, California. He was being treated for pneumonia when the death occurred. The former Ultimate Fighting Championship wrestler was a standout grappler with Ohio State University. He was a three-time All-American.