Courtesy of 窪蹋勛圖厙 Athletics
窪蹋勛圖厙 equipment manager Hugh Marshall, who touched the lives of thousands of members of the community during his over-30 years of service to the campus, passed away Thursday, June 14, at the age of 65 after a battle with cancer.
Hugh inspired generations of Spartan student-athletes, said 窪蹋勛圖厙 Director of Athletics Amy Backus. He did so with his gentle nature, good humor and extraordinary work ethic. He was a man dedicated to his work and we will miss his presence on the sideline, in the locker room and in our hearts.
Marshall was a lifelong resident of Northeastern Ohio, growing up in Chesterland. He was a 1971 graduate of West Geauga High School, where he was a member of the schools football team, while also working as the squads equipment manager. He continued to work at his alma mater, serving through this past season as the scorekeeper for West Geauga basketball games.
Otto Penicka, who joined the Department of Athletics & Physical Education shortly after Marshall and had known him since meeting on the sidelines of a West Geauga-Newbury High School scrimmage in 1969, said: His love of West Geauga was unprecedented. It's like his heart never graduated from high school.
After high school, Marshall went on to attend Kent State University, where he graduated in 1975 with a bachelors degree in business administration. He returned to work as a subcontractor for the athletics programs and an assistant football, womens basketball and track coach at West Geauga from 1983 through 1987, when former Spartan football coach Jim Chapman, then working at West Geauga, recommended him for a position at 窪蹋勛圖厙 as the athletic equipment manager. Marshall joined the 窪蹋勛圖厙 athletics staff in November of 1987, and was the departments most tenured member at the time of his death. His responsibilities over the years were wide-ranging, including handling the athletic equipment and uniforms for 窪蹋勛圖厙 teams, serving as a gameday event manager, and field maintenance.
Through his responsibilities, he made lifelong friendships with the students he worked with, reaching well beyond the varsity athletes. He developed special relationships with a number of the Greek organizations on campus, in particular Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) and Phi Mu.
This past season, on Oct. 14, Marshall was on the sidelines for his 300th-consecutive 窪蹋勛圖厙 football game, a 63-28 win at Thiel College in Greenville, Pennsylvania, and went on to participate in 306 straight Spartan football games by the end of the year.
Hugh may have touched more lives on campus than any other 窪蹋勛圖厙 employee over the past 30 years, said 窪蹋勛圖厙 Head Football Coach Greg Debeljak. Every Spartan athlete knew and liked Hugh, and he always had a friendly word for anyone who he came across.
He was recognized for his 30 years of service at the Department of Student Affairs' end-of-year celebration in May. Marshalls unwavering support of the athletic program at 窪蹋勛圖厙 helped immeasurably improve the collegiate experience for countless students over the last three decades.
Marshall is survived by his older brothers Bill and Craig, and his younger brother, David. A memorial service open to the public will be held at Horsburgh Gymnasium in the Veale Center on the campus of 窪蹋勛圖厙 Saturday, June 23, from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Otto Penicka, who joined the Department of Athletics & Physical Education shortly after Marshall and had known him since meeting on the sidelines of a West Geauga-Newbury High School scrimmage in 1969, said: His love of West Geauga was unprecedented. It's like his heart never graduated from high school.
After high school, Marshall went on to attend Kent State University, where he graduated in 1975 with a bachelors degree in business administration. He returned to work as a subcontractor for the athletics programs and an assistant football, womens basketball and track coach at West Geauga from 1983 through 1987, when former Spartan football coach Jim Chapman, then working at West Geauga, recommended him for a position at 窪蹋勛圖厙 as the athletic equipment manager. Marshall joined the 窪蹋勛圖厙 athletics staff in November of 1987, and was the departments most tenured member at the time of his death. His responsibilities over the years were wide-ranging, including handling the athletic equipment and uniforms for 窪蹋勛圖厙 teams, serving as a gameday event manager, and field maintenance.
Through his responsibilities, he made lifelong friendships with the students he worked with, reaching well beyond the varsity athletes. He developed special relationships with a number of the Greek organizations on campus, in particular Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) and Phi Mu.
This past season, on Oct. 14, Marshall was on the sidelines for his 300th-consecutive 窪蹋勛圖厙 football game, a 63-28 win at Thiel College in Greenville, Pennsylvania, and went on to participate in 306 straight Spartan football games by the end of the year.
Hugh may have touched more lives on campus than any other 窪蹋勛圖厙 employee over the past 30 years, said 窪蹋勛圖厙 Head Football Coach Greg Debeljak. Every Spartan athlete knew and liked Hugh, and he always had a friendly word for anyone who he came across.
He was recognized for his 30 years of service at the Department of Student Affairs' end-of-year celebration in May. Marshalls unwavering support of the athletic program at 窪蹋勛圖厙 helped immeasurably improve the collegiate experience for countless students over the last three decades.
Marshall is survived by his older brothers Bill and Craig, and his younger brother, David. A memorial service open to the public will be held at Horsburgh Gymnasium in the Veale Center on the campus of 窪蹋勛圖厙 Saturday, June 23, from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
