Building the Stadium

The Building of Sulsberger Stadium / 1964

Ground is broken. From left, board of education business manager Robert Archibald;
ZHS principal James Burrier; ZHS athletics director and head football coach George Vlerebome;
board of education president Charles Moody; board of education clerk Robert King;
and schools superintendent Wallace Blake.

Excavation begins on the main grandstand area.

From behind, the main grandstands begin to take shape.

Construction workers lay the foundation for the grandstand locker room entrances.

Workers tend to the field construction.

Reminiscences

Back in 1994, for the 30th anniversary of Sulsberger Stadium, then-WHIZ radio personality Don Matthews recorded a series of interviews with people who were part
of the Stadium's history (MP3 files; left-click name to listen [may take time to load!]
or right-click to download):

* JIM BURRIER, who was principal of ZHS when John Sulsberger was a student and when the Stadium was dedicated (now deceased).
Runtime -- 3:48

* GEORGE VLEREBOME, John Sulsberger's high school football coach and the school's director of athletics (now deceased).
Runtime -- 5:31

* JIMMY ALLEN, who coached the archrival Newark Wildcats the night of the Stadium dedication.
Runtime -- 7:23

* MIKE JACKSON, a former teammate of John Sulsberger who later wrote a book in tribute to his friend, "His Name is John."
Runtime -- 7:03

* NANCY STARNER, former classmate of John Sulsberger and Blue Devils mascot.
Runtime -- 3:44

* MAHLON ROUCH, former Blue Devils radio play-by-play announcer for WHIZ.
Runtime -- 8:57

* JIM WORKMAN, who played for the Blue Devils in the dedication game in 1964.
Runtime -- 4:34

* STEVE HAYES, the son of legendary Ohio State coach Woody Hayes.
Runtime -- 5:21

* LIZ BURRIER, former cheerleader coach and speech teacher at ZHS.
Runtime -- 8:25

* RICK BONIFIELD, former teammate and close friend of John Sulsberger (now deceased).
Runtime -- 7:34

John D. Sulsberger

Memorial Stadium