Fred "Bridey" Brideweser - 1980

Fairless H.S.

Fred Brideweser graduated from Capital University where he still is ranked with the all-time athletes who have attended Capital. In one year, he was All-Ohio Conference guard in basketball, All-Ohio Conference halfback in football, individual high point participant in the conference track meet and a baseball letter winner. He was post-humously inducted into the Capital University Hall of Fame on January 14, 1978. "Bridey" was appointed head football, basketball and baseball coach at the former Navarre High School in 1931, and coached there until 1959 when he was hired as the Athletic Director and head baseball coach at Fairless H.S. He retired from Fairless in 1967. Mr. Brideweser became well-known in Ohio scholastic athletics. He amassed a 436-151 baseball record with 5 teams playing in the state finals in Columbus. He coached several undefeated football teams with a overall coaching record of 140-51-13. His basketball teams won several league championships including county and Sectional tournaments. During his high school career, his teams always played a difficult schedule vs. bigger schools. In 1972, he was presented with an Honorary Lifetime membership in the Ohio H.S. Football Coaches Association and on Aug. 4, 1977, he was posthumously inducted into their HOF in ceremonies at the All-Star game in Canton, OH. Fred's record as an athlete and a coach are not the only thing that made him great. His sincere concern for people, his loyalty and dedication to his job and his pride to the Fairless community were truly remarkable. In the 44 years that he was with us, he was never once heard to make an unkind remark about another person. By the same token, no other person was heard to make a derogatory remark about Fred Brideweser, the teacher, the coach or the man. Coach "Bridey" passed away on September 26, 1975.