Heidelberg Athletics Hall of Fame
Born September 24, 1929, in Youngstown, Ohio, John L. "Nubs" McKenna was a man destined to excel on and off the athletic field.
When one of his friends asked to use a word to best describe McKenna he responded, "Quality."
He was never a man who liked to take credit. Even today, he says his professors, coaches (especially Paul Hoernemann) and classmates were the key to his success in life.
Playing basketball, football and baseball for Youngstown East High School before graduation in 1947, McKenna came to Heidelberg and dazzled his teammates and their opposition with his athletic ability.
He lettered three years in football at a time when freshmen were ineligible. He was co-captain of the team his senior year. In three years of varsity competition. McKenna was named three times to All-Ohio Athletic Conference teams, once as honorable mention and twice as first-team.
A lineman, McKenna was noted for his strong defensive play for the Student Princes. The 1950 season had Heidelberg holding the opponents to just 63 points in nine games.
Three more letters were earned in baseball, plus two in basketball at Heidelberg where he served as the Junior Class President.
A guard in basketball, McKenna liked the two-hand underhanded shot and his talent with the bat in baseball kept the Student Princes in gear throughout contests. McKenna was president of his senior class. Graduating in 1951 from Heidelberg College, McKenna was listed in Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities.
In 1951, McKenna left Heidelberg to serve in the Army, being discharged in 1953. After receiving his master's degree from Indiana University, he returned to Tlffin to teach and coach at Tiffin Junior High, Columbian and Heidelberg. As assistant football and head baseball coach at Heidelberg in 1955-56, he was part of the football program that lost only one game in two years.
McKenna left Tiffin to move on to Cleveland's John Adams High School, where he served as head football and baseball coach. His baseball squad there won the city championship in 1959. He also taught at James Ford Rhodes High School.
In 1963, McKenna began working for the Cleveland Work Study Program (a drop-out program for inner city kids), later being named supervisor of the entire project. He served in this capacity until 1979. During this tenure, he received his master's degree from Kent State University and felt his time was well spent in the work study program helping disadvantaged kids get through times of turmoil and aiding them in overcoming many obstacles.
McKenna's last venture in public education came between 1979-84 as an assistant principal and softball coach at Kenston High School. He retired with 36 years of high school teaching and presently resides in Chagrin Falls.
"Nubs," as he is called by his teammates and friends, is presently the women's volleyball coach at Youngstown State University.
His wife of 40 years, Jean Buchanan, also is a Heidelberg graduate. They have five children.
(This profile appeared in the 1991 Hall of Fame Banquet program. Â Mr. McKenna has since passed away.)
