JIM ROUTSON
1975 Graduate/Teacher/Coach
Nominated by: Bill Lee, ‘57

After graduating from Clay Senior High School, Jim’s career began when he attended Bowling Green State University on a basketball scholarship. Upon graduation in 1961, he accepted a math teaching position at Clay, and in 1964 he became the Clay High Basketball Varsity Coach.

Jim left teaching in 1967 to attend graduate school at the University of South Carolina. After receiving his masters’ degree in Mathematics, he returned to teach math at Clay in 1968. Jim’s dedication to teaching also included advanced math, tutoring students and introducing the first computer program class. At the time he also became reserve baseball coach and advisor to the student council and chess club.

In 1971, Jim and fellow teacher Duke Ziebold started the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Jim’s career continued as the Clay girls varsity basketball coach from 1973 to 1984. Retiring in 1994, he worked until 1996 at Vallet Paint Company. He taught math at the University of Toledo and at Davis Business College from 1996 to 2001. Returning to work at Clay with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes from 2001 to 2005.

DOUGLAS ENSIGN
Attended 1953-1957
Nominated by: Ray Walendzak ‘59

When Doug attended Clay, he was a prominent member of the championship basketball and baseball teams for three years, a member of the marching band, and on the bowling team. Doug started the first Clay girls’ fast pitch softball team along with Ed Schiavone where they won their game over Findlay and went 9-6 for the season in 1958. Doug’s participation was strictly on a volunteer basis since it was not a varsity sport for girls and there was no faculty representative who was interested in starting the sport. 

Beginning in 1961, Doug coached at the Oregon Recreation Center with the Clay Cubs Pee Wee and the Clay Rocket Pony baseball leagues for five years as well as basketball and pee wee football for Clay Elementary. Every year Doug was involved at Clay High School they had a winning record. Coaching the girls in the Oregon/Toledo summer leagues, he took them to their first state tournament in 1983. Doug stayed in the program for ten years as an assistant to Jeff Lee who was the first coach after Clay declared it a varsity sport. 

Doug had two daughters and they were both involved in Clay athletics (volleyball, basketball and fast pitch softball), with his daughter Kris being all league in all sports. In 1997, Kris became head coach of the softball program at Cardinal Stritch and she asked her dad for help. He agreed and they were league champions for the next three years. As director of the Clay High Boosters for ten years, he worked with the group to plan the season ads in the programs. In 1995, he was awarded the Clay High Athletics Super Boosters Award. Knowing the importance of athletics in his life, it is not surprising that Doug worked diligently toward developing a cooperative relationship between the Oregon Rec. and the Clay Athletic program. 

With all of these activities, you have to wonder how Doug managed to find the time to work 42 years in the railroad industry (now retired). Doug has always been a true Oregon booster. Through the years he has touched many lives and has devoted himself to helping young people experience the challenges and excitement that comes from working hard to grow and overcome through participation in athletics.