Massillon is a city in Stark County, Ohio, United States, approximately 8 miles (13 km) west of Canton, 20 miles (32 km) south of Akron, and 50 miles (80 km) south of Cleveland. The population was 32,146 at the 2020 census. Massillon is the second largest city within the Canton–Massillon metropolitan area, which includes all of Stark and Carroll counties and had a population of 401,574 in 2020.
Paul Eugene Brown was an American football coach and executive in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and National Football League (NFL). Brown was both the co-founder and first coach of the Cleveland Browns, a team named after him, and later co-founded the Cincinnati Bengals. His teams won seven league championships in a professional coaching career spanning 25 seasons.
Washington High School, commonly referred to as Massillon High School or Massillon Washington High School, is a 9th to 12th grade secondary school within the Massillon City School District in the city of Massillon, Ohio.
Charles Christopher Spielman is an American former professional football player who is a special assistant to the owner and CEO for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played linebacker for the Ohio State Buckeyes, twice earning All-American honors. He played professional football for the Detroit Lions in the NFL, where he was a three-time All-Pro. He also played for the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns, and coached for the Arena Football League (AFL)'s Columbus Destroyers. He was a broadcaster for Fox Sports and ESPN from 1999 to 2020.
John Edward McVay was an American football coach and executive. He rose through the coaching ranks from high school, through the college level, and to the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Miami University in Ohio, starring as a center.
Robert Louis Vogel is an American former professional football player who was an offensive lineman for the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League (NFL) from 1963 to 1972. Vogel was a mainstay on the offensive line that protected quarterback Johnny Unitas, appearing in Super Bowl III and Super Bowl V with the Colts. During his career, Vogel was selected to five Pro Bowls and earned five All-Pro selections.
Thomas Laverne James Jr. was an American football defensive back and punter who played for Ohio State University and the Cleveland Browns in the 1940s and 1950s. He was born in Canton, Ohio and attended Massillon Washington High School, where he played as a back on the football team under head coach Paul Brown. James was a key part of a Massillon team that went undefeated in 1940. After graduating, he followed Brown to Ohio State and played there as a halfback. Ohio State won its first national championship in 1942 when James was on the team.
James Edward Houston was an American football linebacker who played 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Cleveland Browns. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
Horace Albert "Big Horse" Gillom was an American professional football player who was a punter and end in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and National Football League (NFL). He played ten seasons for the Cleveland Browns between 1947 and 1956. Cleveland head coach Paul Brown, who coached Gillom in high school, college and professionally, called him his best all-around high school player and once said there "has never been a better punter than Horace".
Alleman Catholic High School is a private, Catholic high school in Rock Island, Illinois. It is located in the Diocese of Peoria. It is the second largest Catholic high school in the Quad Cities.
Loren Walter Houston is a former American football guard in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins. He graduated from Massillon Washington High School after twice being on Ohio-state championship teams. His senior-year team in 1950, quarterbacked by classmate Don James, was rated the no. 1 high school team in the United States. Houston went on to play college football at University of Miami and Purdue University and was drafted in 26th round of the 1955 NFL draft.
Lindell Lee Houston was an American football guard who played eight seasons in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and in the National Football League (NFL) with the Cleveland Browns. He was the older brother of Jim Houston.
Dennis E. Franklin is a former professional American football player who was drafted by the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) in the 1975 NFL draft. Prior to playing for the NFL he played college football as a quarterback at the University of Michigan from 1971 to 1974. He was the starting quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines from 1972 to 1974. He was recruited by Michigan after starring for the Massillon High School football team in Ohio. Franklin is known as Michigan's first black quarterback.
John George Mellus was an American football player who played professional football as an tackle for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL) and the All-America Football Conference (AAFC).
Theodore Nesser Jr. was a professional football player-coach in the "Ohio League" and the early National Football League (NFL). During his professional football career, he played for the Columbus Panhandles, Massillon Tigers, Akron Indians, Canton Bulldogs and Shelby Blues.
F. Stuart "Stu" Wilkins was an American football player, lawyer, and businessman. He played at the guard position for the University of Michigan football team from 1945 to 1948 and was a starter on the Wolverines undefeated teams in 1947 and 1948. He practiced law for more than 50 years in Canton, Ohio. He was one of the leaders behind the establishment of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, serving on the steering committee that prepared the presentation to the NFL, and serving for more than 40 years on its board of trustees. He also served as the chairman of the board of the American Automobile Association from 1989 to 1991.
Frederick K. "Fritz" Heisler was a professional American football coach who was an assistant and scout for the Cleveland Browns for 30 years between 1946 and 1976. He was a long-time associate of Paul Brown, the first coach of the team.
Devin Smith is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Thayer Munford Jr. is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio State.
Dominique Robinson is an American professional football defensive end for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Miami (OH).
