This drawing of "Mr. Ram" has been used by Upper Sandusky sports teams for almost 40 years. It was drawn by Coach Swankhouse.

Click here for a report on the funeral by Bevo.

Born 9-28-1930

Died 6-16-2002

Gerald (Jerry) E. Swankhouse was 71 years old and lived in Upper Sandusky.

DIED: Sunday, June 16, 2002 at 9:25am at Wyandot Memorial Hospital.

Gerald Swankhouse was born September 28, 1930 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania to Eugene (Bud) and Zetta (Urbach) Swankhouse. He graduated in 1949 from Uniontown High School. He married Lois E. Martin September 17, 1956. He graduated from Findlay College in 1958 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and earned his Masters Degree from Bowling Green State University in 1973. He was in the US Air Force for 4 years as an MP. He worked for U. S. Steel in Pittsburgh for 1 year after getting out of the Air Force. His wife passed away May 9, 1989. He then married Rosalind Rhonden Harer December 30, 1992.

He started his sports career in his youth through the military as an amateur Golden Glove boxer and played football for the US Air Force. In 1956 he received a draft card to play with the Baltimore Colts professional football team. He played football for Findlay College for 4 years and in 1992 was inducted into the Findlay College Sports Hall of Fame.

He began his teaching and coaching career at Marseilles Township School where he taught and was head basketball coach. After consolidation he taught for Upper Sandusky Schools at Salem and later at the Union Building. In 1995 he retired after 37 years, teaching English, History, Health, Physical Education and Drivers Education. His dedicated coaching career consisted of head track coach for 32 years at Upper Sandusky High School where he coached several state champions and state record holders and a world record holder. He coached Junior High football and wrestling. His Junior High football coaching career record is 125 games won, 22 games lost and 4 games tied. He was also coached as a high school football assistant, girls summer softball, and the Wyandot Chiefs Semi Professional Football. He also established the Upper Sandusky Summer Track Club which he coached as well as participated. The Gerald Swankhouse Jr. High Relays were named after him and he was also inducted into the Upper Sandusky High School Sports Hall of Fame in October of 1996. He will be remembered for his dedication to the sports programs at Upper Sandusky High School for his coaching and competitive nature. He designed and painted the Upper Sandusky High School Crest as well as many sports figures on the walls of the sports buildings.

He supported the Upper Sandusky Police Athletic League. He was a member of the Wyandot County Retired Teachers Association and State Retired Teachers Association, BPOE #83, American Legion Post #225, AmVets #777, Findlay College and Bowling Green State University Alumni Association. He liked nice cars, watched athletes compete on all levels, enjoyed working on his lawn, landscaping and flower gardening, taking daily walks at Stepping Stone Park in Upper Sandusky, listening to music, lifting weights, visiting and sharing humorous stories with friends at Tasty Pastry. He traveled to Pennsylvania, Las Vegas, Nashville, Tennessee and Branson, Missouri. He attended the Church of the Nazarene in Upper Sandusky.

Gerald Swankhouse is survived by his wife: Rosalind, 1 son: Joseph E. Swankhouse of Tiffin, 1 daughter: Diana L. Swankhouse of Upper Sandusky, 1 step-son: S. David Tong of Masco, Idaho, 1 step-daughter: Candace J. Ferrante of Watauga, Texas, 12 grandchildren and step-grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren, 2 half-brothers: Hal Larson of Boardman and James Larson of Youngstown.

Arrangements are being handled by Bringman Clark and Company Funeral Home. Funeral services will be Thursday, June 20, 2002 at 11am at the funeral home with Rev. Ben Gregory officiating. Burial will be in Old Mission Cemetery. Friends may call Wednesday, June 19, 2002 from 2pm until 4pm and 6pm until 9pm at the funeral home. Military Graveside Rites will be conducted by local Veteran Organizations. Memorial contributions may be made to the Upper Sandusky High School Sports Complex or the Ram Boosters Track and Field Fund.

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This is a report on the funeral as seen by Bevo, a poster on J.J. Huddle.

With strains of We are the Champions and I Did it My Way, Swank was given a send off today worthy of...Swank. Robbie Lee and Dale Wheeler told Swank stories and sang the praises of a man who coached three generations of Upper athletes. The stories were classic Swank; Wheeler told one about a Jr. High football game with a school from Marion. The Rams were dominating and a Marion fan started to yell: "Give Toby the ball!" This went on for two or three series with the fan continuing to plead: "Give Toby the ball!" Swank finally turned toward the fan and the crowd and yelled: "Toby DON'T want the ball!!"

The procession left the funeral home and drove downtown with traffic stopped everywhere; the officer at the main square saluted as the processional went by. We proceeded out to the athletic complex where all of the cars parked - except for the hearse which entered the track area and proceeded to drive slowly around the perimeter. (One last lap for Swank!) The entire time it made its way the victory bell tolled out a final goodbye. Then it was on to the cemetery for a proper military burial. I saw floral arrangements from high jumping great, Steve Schertzer and state champion pole vaulter, Paul Treadway, was in the crowd.

The obituary stated the well known but eloquent verse that sounds like it was written for Swank:

"One hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of car I drove or what kind of clothes I wore.

All that will matter is that I made the difference in the life of a child."

Goodbye Swank from all of us who loved who you were and what you stood for. You will be missed.

One last lap for Swank.	Dale Karg rings the victory bell during Swank's last lap. Dale was asked by Swank to be a football manager and has striped the fields for 36 years.
	Pallbearers for Swank: (L to R) Robbie Lee-played for and coached with Swank Jim Clifford-coached with Swank Pete Miller-coached with Swank Ralph Smith-coached with Swank Mike Walton-played for and coached with Swank Dale Wheeler-coached with Swank Lee Hollanshead-played for Swank Irvin Stoneburner-friend

We Are The Champions

I've paid my dues

Time after time

I've done my sentence

But committed no crime

And bad mistakes

I've made a few

I've had my share of sand

Kicked in my face

But I've come through

And we mean to go on and on and on and on

We are the champions - my friends

And we'll keep on fighting

Till the end

We are the champions

We are the champions

No time for losers

'Cause we are the champions of the World

I've taken my bows

And my curtain calls

You brought me fame and fortune

And everything that goes with it

I thank you all

But it's been no bed of roses

No pleasure cruise

I consider it a challenge before

The whole human race

And I ain't gonna lose

And we mean to go on and on and on and on

We are the champions - my friends

And we'll keep on fighting

Till the end

We are the champions

We are the champions

No time for losers

'Cause we are the champions of the World

We are the champions - my friends

And we'll keep on fighting

Till the end

We are the champions

We are the champions

No time for losers

'Cause we are the champions