Wooster native Dick Schafrath passed away Sunday at the age of 84. Schafrath was a start at Wooster High School before going on play at Ohio State and with the Cleveland Browns. After an All-Ohio carrer in high school, Schafrath was a two way lineman for Woody Hayes at Ohio State. He was part of the Buckeyes 1957 National Championship team. In 1959, during his senior year, Schafrath left Ohio State to become the second NFL draft pick and join the Cleveland Browns.
Schafrath’s career with the Browns spanned 13 seasons, in which he was a fixture at the left tackle position. He protected the blind side of the Browns quarterbacks and opened holes for Hall of Fame Running Backs Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell, and Leroy Kelly. He was 7-time Pro-Bowler and part of the 1964 NFL champions.
He join politics after his football career and wound up in the Ohio Senate for nearly 20 years.
Schafrath was a charter member of both the Wooster High School and Wayne County Sports Hall of Fames.