The newest Springfield High School Hall of Fame inductees are:
Allen ‘Butch’ Macbeth
(North High School Class of 1961)
Allen “Butch” Macbeth graduated from North High School in the school’s first graduating class in 1961. While a student at Springfield High, Butch was a member of the basketball team and a varsity letterwinner in golf. As a senior at the new North High School, Butch earned varsity letters in basketball, cross country, and golf.
Macbeth was a mainstay on the Springfield HS golf team that won the District Championship in 1960. As a senior, the North High School team advanced to the State Tournament, where they finished in 6th place. Butch was also voted by his classmates as the “Peppiest Guy” in the senior class.
Butch went on to play 2 years of varsity golf at Wittenberg University and was named the team MVP in 1965. He was runner up at the Ohio Wesleyan Invitational. He won numerous JayCee and K of C age group tournaments, including the Knights of Columbus Junior Amateur Championship. Butch also won the Springfield City Amateur Open in 1970 and finished as the runner up in 1971.
Following graduation from college, Butch began his career with Security National Bank, where he retired as Vice President in 2003 after 37 years at Security National Bank. He also served as a Junior Achievement Advisor, a UW Pacesetter Coordinator for several companies, Treasurer of the Central Methodist Church, and the Fiscal Officer for Green Township in Clark County.
Butch and his late wife Connie are parents to 2 children, Scott and Kelly, and have 7 grandchildren.
Jim Maxwell
(North High School Class of 1994)
Jim Maxwell graduated from North High School in 1994 where he played in the number 1 singles position for the Panther tennis team.
He was a 4 time All WOL First Team Selection and a 4 Time MVP for the Panthers under coach Teresa Dillon.
Jim was a 3 time OHSAA State Qualifier and capped his senior season by finishing 4th at the OHSAA State Championship in Singles competition. An outstanding student as well, Jim was a member of the National Honor Society and earned the Presidential Academic Fitness Award in 1994.
Upon graduation, Jim attended the United States Air Force Academy where he was a 2 year starter on the Varsity Tennis team. During his Sophomore year, Jim was selected as a soaring instructor pilot, teaching students the fundamentals of military flight necessary to earn their solo wings. He was also heavily involved in student leadership programs, and served as commander of his squadron of 100 peer and underclass students during his senior year.
Jim earned his commission as an Air Force officer in 1998 and went on to be a combat decorated pilot with more than 1,600 flight hours in the F-16 and F-22. He is a graduate of the US Air Force Weapons School and continues to serve as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force Reserves. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in General Engineering from the Air Force Academy and a Masters of Business Administration with Honors from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
Jim lives in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife and 2 children.
Steven Morgan
(South High School Class of 1981)
Steven Morgan graduated from Springfield South High School in 1981, where he was a 3 year varsity letterwinner in Football, Basketball, and Baseball. He was one of only a few South High School athletes to earn 9 varsity letters over a 3 year high school career.
While he was a gifted multi-sport athlete, it was on the football field where Morgan truly shined. As a senior for fellow Hall of Famer, coach Mickey Hannon, Morgan helped lead the Wildcats as the top running back in the Western Ohio League. He was selected as a First Team All City choice, First Team All County, First Team All WOL, and First Team All Southwest District. He was named the Wildcats Most Outstanding Offensive Player and WOL “Back of the Year”. A member of the National Honor Society as a student, Steven capped his senior season by being named Honorable Mention All Ohio.
Steven accepted a full scholarship to the University of Toledo, where he would enjoy a recording breaking career for the Rockets football team.
After earning the Norm Cohen Award, as Toledo’s top freshman player,
Morgan would go on to become a First Team All Mid American Conference performer. As a Senior for the Rockets, Steven set Toledo records for most rushing yards in a season and in a career. Behind Steve, the Rockets won the 1984 Mid American Conference Championship. They advanced to play in the California Bowl, where they were defeated by UNLV. In that game, Steven would overshadow future NFL greats Randall Cunningham and Ickey Woods by setting a California Bowl rushing record. Steven would cap his career by being a nominee for the Jefferson Award, given to the MAC’s most valuable player, and by receiving Honorable Mention on the AP All American Team.
Morgan was drafted by the Arizona Outlaws of the USFL and signed a free agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL. He was inducted into the University of Toledo Hall of Fame in 2009, and still occupies many spots in the UT Football record books. He graduated with a degree in Computer Systems and Business Administration from UT and is currently the Vice President of Wyandot Snacks Inc. in Marion Ohio. Steve resides in Delaware with his wife Barbara and is a father to 3 daughters and a grandfather to 1 granddaughter.
Rachel Lee Sanders
(South High School Class of 1992)
Rachel Lee Sanders graduated from South High School in 1992 where she was a 4 year varsity letterwinner in both Volleyball and Softball.
In Volleyball, Rachel was selected to the All County First Team during both her Junior and Senior seasons. She also served as the Team Captain.
In Softball, Sanders was a 2 time First Team All WOL pitcher for fellow Hall of Famer, Coach Greg Newland. She was chosen to pitch in the Southwest Ohio All Star tournament as a junior and was named First Team All Southwest District and Honorable Mention All Ohio as a Senior. Rachel was also named Academic All Ohio.
Rachel also received the Jack Huelsman Channel 7 Athlete of the Week Award and was also the recipient of the Delores Billhardt Memorial Scholarship and the Rae Burick Women in Sport Award.
She earned a degree in Biological Sciences at Urbana University and a Master of Science Teaching degree from Wright State. Rachel has previously taught Biotechnology at Springfield High School and served as a teaching associate for Wittenberg University. She is currently teaching and developing science courses in the Ag Bioscience Pathway at the Global Impact STEM Academy.
Rachel’s professional accomplishments include:
• Recipient of the Innovative Educator Award in Bioenergy and Bio-products through Cornell University.
• Awarded the Sinclair Community College’s Big Read Humanitarian Award.
• Springfield Rotary Excellence in Teaching Award
• The Larry K. Zerkle Excellence in Education Award
• Recipient of the Wittenberg University Aspire Grant
• Exemplary Employee Award from the Springfield City Schools
Rachel also serves as the BioTech Instructor for the Ag BioTech Academy sponsored by the DuPont/Pioneer Corporation and serves as a Teacher Leader for the Ohio Soybean Council. She resides in Springfield with her 2 children, Zachary and Allison.
Daniel Smith
(North High School Class of 2004)
Daniel Smith graduated from North High School in 2004 where he was a 3 year starter in both Football and Wrestling for the Panthers.
On the football field, Daniel was a team captain for coach Jon Rommel and was an anchor of the offensive and defensive lines. As a Senior, he was named First Team All County and First Team All Area. He would also be named First Team All Greater Western Ohio Conference and First Team All Southwest District.
On the wrestling mat, Smith had similar success as a heavyweight for the Panthers under coaches Joe Cochran and Elliot Shuman. Daniel was a 2 time GWOC Champion, a 2 time Sectional Champion, and a 2 time OHSAA State Qualifier. He was twice selected to the All County and All Area Wrestling teams, in addition to be selected to the All Greater Miami Valley First Team. As a Captain for the Panthers, Daniel was named the News Sun All County Wrestler of the Year as a Senior. He finished his career with a record of 120 wins and 23 losses.
Smith went on to attend Wittenberg University where he became a standout for the Tiger football team under coach Joe Finchum. Daniel would serve as a team captain for the Tigers and earn First Team All North Coast Conference honors as the Tigers won the NCAC Championship. During his Wittenberg career, Daniel would be named the team’s Most Improved Player and also be the recipient of the Tigers’ Bill Edwards Golden Helmet Award, which is one of the top awards in Wittenberg Football. Also noteworthy is the fact that Daniel never missed a snap in Football during his entire HS and college career.
Upon graduation, Daniel joined the Wittenberg family as an employee at the physical plant and a member of the football coaching staff, where he has helped the Tigers win 5 North Coast Conference Championships.
Daniel resides in Springfield with his wife Ann and son, Deacon.
1952 Boys Golf Team
Springfield High School
The 1952 Boys Golf Team from Springfield High School was the first Springfield High team to win the District Championship in Golf.
Under the direction of Head Coach Jim McDonald, the team, comprised of Louis Meeks, Bob Hulsizer, Bob Crist, and Billy Graham, were Champions of the Southern Ohio League, and won the Southwest District Championship. The squad finished the season win a record of 11 wins, 3 losses, and 1 tie. They became the first Springfield High Golf team to ever participate in the OHSAA State Championships.
Their team score of 295 recorded against Piqua at Snyder Park is still believed to be a School, City, and County record for scholastic Boys golf.
Following graduation, many of the team members remained active golfers. Bob Hulsizer, who was the medalist of the SOL tournament, entered the Air Force, where he was a 3 time Champion at Craig Air Force Base in Alabama. Bob also won several local tournaments in the Springfield area. Bill Graham was a member of the University of Miami varsity golf team and won the South Florida Junior Championship.
Team members Bob Crist and Lou Meeks also remained as active golfers for many years following their graduation.