The "Old Coach" Has Departed the Playing Field
Ray Cliffe was probably the most important part of St. Louis' rich heritage in coaching.
One knows he or she is getting older when the daily routine means scanning the obit’s in the newspaper every day. On January 8, 2013 the old coach Ray Cliffe departed the playing field for good. I spent almost my entire working career knowing the grandest of the grand, the old scrubby Dutch coach for the Cleveland High School Dutchmen. Ray Cliffe was the personification of the real coach. He taught youngsters how to play football, but also how to play basketball, bowl, swim, you name it. Cliffe was as South side as those hallowed gun turrets that adorn Cleveland High’s schools facade even to this day. Cliffe would no more abandon the “old hood” next to Ted Drewes on South Grand than take up residence anywhere else. But as the years went on…
Rick Petzoldt
9:12 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Hello sorry to hear about your father passing away. I Will alway remeber the float trips we took. I stoped by about a month ago to say hi and we talked for a good half an hour about a book I lent him about thirty years ago. What a menory your dad had. Sorry I did not find out sooner so I could visit with the family. Sincerly, Rick Petzoldt more ›