Norwalk's own '$6 Million Man'

World champions in anything are pretty hard to come by for a city the size of Norwalk. The city did have one. His name, Steve Austin, or as many called him, The "$6 Million Man."On October 29, the Norwalk Reflector ran a picture and story on the 225-pound World Seated Arm Wrestling Champion. It told of his weekend wins in Cincinnati where he won the Ohio stand-up titles in both the 201-220 and super heavyweight divisions, his 20th and 21st career titles.Austin, an employee of Hug Concrete, is going to have to travel all the way to Calcutta, India to defend his world title.Austin is hoping to raise funds for the Calcutta trip. The plain fare alone will cost him over $2,000.Oct. 30, 1980NHS Team CompetesThe Norwalk High Academic Challenge Team will take on Richmond Heights and Tallmadge this weekend on the Channel 5 Ohio Edison and CEI sponsored challenge program. On the Norwalk team is Doug Stewart, Michelle Griffiths, Dean Wiseman, Judy Allton, Steve Carleton, Brett Mason and Chris Fries. The adviser pictured with the group is Suzanne Jump.Oct. 31, 1980It Wasn't JerichoBut the wall did come tumbling down. It was the rear wall of the First Baptist Church and it did come tumbling down as three workers watched in awe.It was during the process of underpinning a small room at the rear of the church when the wall gave way. When what said to be "the explosion" was over, several rooms, a stairway, and part of a pipe organ were visible.The church is 104-year's old.Knob Hill Construction were the contractors.It was a shifting of the earth explained Charles Effinger, the architect for the project.Nov. 1, 1980Dr. Thomas Has a Right To RelaxHe was known as Dr. C.B. Thomas. Very few people knew his first name. It was Clellan.Dr. Thomas and his long-time partner in practice, Dr. Alex Kimmel, were honored at a surprise party, one attended by Norwalk Mayor Wayne Goodsite who proclaimed it Doctor Thomas Day in Norwalk. It was the 50th Anniversary of his graduation from Ohio State University's School of Medicine. He has been practicing in Norwalk for 44 years.Dr. Thomas has delivered 4,383 babies.Nov. 1, 1980Whit Is DoneEdison's long-time and highly-successful football coach announced his retirement to the team before the game against St. Paul on Friday night, one the Chargers won, 54-0. He will stay on at the school as its athletic director.The Ansonia, Ohio native has a 56-17-4 record in nine years at the Erie County school. He is 78-41-6 overall in 13 years.He coached an undefeated team in 1976 and with the win over St. Paul now has two perfect seasons.He makes no bones about saying that he will trade his whistle for a rod and reel as he is an ardent fisherman.Nov. 5, 1980Judge Brown On Supreme CourtAn appellate court judge for 15 years, Norwalk resident Clifford Brown's life-time dream became a reality yesterday when he won a seat on the state supreme court. He defeated Republican incumbent David Dowd of Massillon by a narrow 51 to 49 percent margin.The win ended 15 years of frustration. He lost by two percentage points on his first try at the high court position but then lost by 50,000 votes on his next bid, this time to Thomas Herbert. Then in 1966, he lost to incumbent Justice Lou Schneider.Judge Brown is a graduate of St. Paul High School and the University of Notre Dame.Other Local RacesThe shocker was what was called "The End of the Livengood Dynasty". It came about when Larry Heit won by a narrow margin over Urban Livengood, Jr., 9,277 votes to 8,662 in the race for County Engineer. The outcome ended 27 years of Livengood's in that officeHeit lost to Livengood, Sr. in 1976 by 194 votes.In the commissioners race. Incumbent Thomas Carabin was a 4,000 vote winner over Norwalk city councilman Robert Williams while another incumbent, Roy Palm, who almost made a fatal slip of the tongue when he made the statement that "the commissioner's office is no place for a lady", retained his seat beating a lady, Pauline Bedford, but not by much, 9,370 to 8,209.Incumbent Ardeth Chupp retained her seat as County Auditor, winning handily over Jo Pastula, 11,341 to 6,413.In the race for County Recorder, incumbent John Elmlinger carried 67 county precincts but not his home precinct, New Haven Township. In winning his second term as a 25-year-old, he defeated David Moll, 12,453 to 5,493.In other races, it was John Ashbrook, Don Pease and Marie Tansey winning. And so did Hollywood's Ronald Reagan as he defeated Jimmy Carter and the nation's first man in space, John Glenn.Nov. 10, 1980Western Goes On, Lady Truckers OutIn Class A district volleyball action, Western Reserve made Mansfield Christian its 21st victim and Buckeye Central its 22 as Coach Marilyn Knechtges heads her team north this weekend to the North Olmsted regional where she believed it will be against Black River. The Pirates finished second to the Lady Riders in the Firelands Conference raceOn the Western team is Julie Pickworth, Bobbi Horner, Toni Zybly, Colleen Murray, Colleen Davis, Tammi French, Joni Jarrett, Kim Burns, Vicki Molesky and Kim Hipp.While the Riders take a 22-1 record into the regional semi's, Grace Hutchinson's Lady Trucker teams bowed out with a 17-5 record after losing to defending champion Clyde, 15-5, 11-15, 15-11.Nov. 12, 1980Jump Top Career WomanThe voters have spoken. Suzanne Marie Jump, the Norwalk High School librarian, has been named Firelands Business and Professional Women's "Young Career Woman."A graduate of Monroeville High School, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Delbert South, graduated from Bowling Green State University with a degree in science. In addition to being the librarian, she is also on the faculty council, is the senior class adviser as well as adviser to the Truckerette Drill Team.Nov. 13, 1980Strike Gets UglyThe strike at the Plymouth Locomotive Works got ugly yesterday. Two people were injured, one seriously, and six were arrested. Mayor Eric Akers was forced to order a 9 p.m. curfew.The latest uprising occurred when strikers attempted to stop a truck that was delivering to the plant. They are striking over the lack of a cost-of-living clause in their contract.Police Chief Frank Hodges was hit in the back of the head during the disruption and also suffered a minor leg injury.Nov. 13, 1980The Firelands Conference BestEdison dominated the Firelands Conference football voting, especially on defense, and rightly so. The team gave up just 19 points. Seven players were named to the defensive team headed by that units Player of the Year, Joe Dellisanti. The Defensive Back of the Year was Todd Wyckoff from New London. On offense the two Most Valuables were Doug Fidler from South Central and Bill Telekowicz from Mapleton.Don Hohler is a longtime Reflector sportswriter.