Heidelberg Athletics Hall of Fame
It doesn't take one long to discover that Heidelberg College was more than a place to play athletics for John H. Rininger. Rininger literally fell in love with the college, and Heidelberg is a better place today because Rininger walked its paths and helped form the future.
Born Nov. 3, 1901 in St. Louis, Mo, Rininger lived on a farm in Tiro until 1907 when he moved to Shelby until the end of his freshman year in high school. His final three prep years were served as a cadet at Culver Military Academy, graduating there in 1920 before coming to Heidelberg where he would graduate in 1924.
Before he would graduate, he would leave his mark on the college. During his college days, freshmen were not permitted to play athletics and Rininger quickly found himself in a different role as a team scout as there were no assistant coaches. Aiding the team by scouting opponents, Rininger said, "I would give the coach my findings and the scrubs would use the formations in practice against the varsity."
When his sophomore season rolled around he started the first game and was on the field the remainder of the season. At the end of his junior year he was elected team captain by his teammates. "The elected captain went with the coach to meetings where games were scheduled. He could also make substitutions as well as discuss decision with officials. He alone could ask for new measurements on the field. Bench coaching was not allowed and time outs were only requested by the captain," he remembered. When his senior year rolled around he played every minute of every game with the exception of the last two minutes of the final game of the season.
Rininger would continue his busy campus schedule by serving as editor of the Aurora and being on the staff of the Kilikilik. He was called upon to coach spring football practice as Heidelberg was without a coach. The new coach, Herman 'Suz' Sayger, could not get away from his Akron position until mid-summer. His final year also found him teaching a physical education class, as well as serving as chair of the first student fund raising campaign. Elected to a Board of Regents committee, Rininger is especially proud of the fact that he helped form the "H" Association and chaired the first few meetings.
His continued love for Tiffin and Heidelberg can be traced back to the days when he was chair of the first capital Fund Raising Campaign for Seneca County. He was on the board of the Tiffin YMCA and he wrote the constitution and bylaws for the "Tiffin City Club" which was soon changed to the Kiwanis Club.
After moving to Dayton in the 1930s, he founded an active Alumni Association and a few years later was elected to the Heidelberg Board of Trustees as its first member representing the alumni. Rininger held this position for 10 years.
Rininger's willingness to serve and build followed him throughout his life before retirement. He was counselor at Herald Business College and he served as Director of Development at Sinclair Community College.
Rininger also worked for Koehler Aircraft Products, Angell Manufacturing, American Standard, Gordon B. Miller Co., and General Motors Corporation.
(This profile appeared in the 1991 Hall of Fame Banquet program. Â Mr. Rininger passed away in 1994.)
