News Summary

OXFORD — Miami University's baseball team wanted to do something special for Clarence Wheeler's birthday.

Wheeler, a Hamilton native believed to be the oldest living Miami baseball alumnus, celebrated his 100th birthday Saturday, April 26, and a day later threw out the ceremonial first pitch of the RedHawks' game against the Bowling Green Falcons at McKie Field.

As a student, the 1932 Miami grad came into contact with two of the school's biggest sports legends, a pair of Pro Football Hall of Fame coaches.

"I went to school with Paul Brown and did my student teaching under Weeb Eubank," Wheeler remembered.

Brown turned the Cleveland Browns into a dynasty and founded the Cincinnati Bengals; Eubank coached the Baltimore Colts to two NFL championships and the New York Jets to a Super Bowl victory.

On Sunday, Wheeler, who has five great-great grand-children, rode a golf cart to the Miami dugout. Following his pitch — a two-bouncer just off the plate to RedHawk senior catcher Nate Halm — Miami's players and coaches gathered around him to shake his hand and wish him well.

"Outside of my vision, I feel I'm in very, very good health," said Wheeler, who has macular degeneration, but who also played golf until he was 96

"He partied all day yesterday," said Wheeler's son, Dave Wheeler, of Fairfield. "He went to three parties."

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.

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