"RED " RINGWOOD WAS TOP ATHLETE, FAMILY MAN (Post Standard Newspaper - 10/23/2003)

Today’s legend is one of Auburn’s most beloved and gifted athlete as well as gentleman - none other than Paul “Red” Ringwood. What about this legend?

Paul “Red” Ringwood was born September 30, 1928 to Leo and Bernardine Ringwood. Red was their only child. He grew up as a Y-field kid, where he honed his athletic skills. The family home was on Swift Street, across from the Y-field, and Red attended Seward School around the corner.

He went on to East High School and graduated in 1947. While at East, he quarterbacked the undefeated 1946 AHS football team; played third base and shortstop for the undefeated 1947 baseball team; and was a starting guard for the ASH basketball team. Red lettered in all three sports and was the city foul-shooting champion in 1946 and 1947.

While in high school, Red was a kind and handsome athlete and he met and fell in love with a young and beautiful cheerleader, Joan Crawford. They eventually married and started a family which grew into 10 children, 26 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

The Ringwood family has always been a large part of the Auburn scene and has made large contributions to making Auburn a great place to live. Joan and Paul’s 10 children, all of whom are married, are Nancy, Mike, Patty, Tom, Jack, Teresa, Paul, David, Peter and Bob. What about these legends?

Nancy is vice president of First Niagara Bank and is married to Sam Thomas from Pennsylvania. They have a daughter Kelly, who is married to Bill McBride (children Michael and Alyssa) and a son Patrick.

Michael Ringwood is an attorney in Syracuse and is married to Marilyn Bratek from Auburn. They have two children Molly and Caitlin.

Patty is an elementary art instructor in Williamson and is married to David Sheridan from Irondiquoit. They have five kids - Matthew, Joshua, Benjamin, Nathan and Sarah.

Tom Ringwood is a national account executive for New England Motor Freight and is married to Marguerite Fanning from Auburn. They have three kids - Tom, Erin and Mark.

Jack Ringwood is the president of AUS Ind and is married to Ceecy Acaster from Saddle River, NJ. They have three kids - twins David and Ned and Ben.

Teresa is the tutorial coordinator at Cayuga Community College and is married to Bill Hoercher from Pittsford. They have four kids - Emily, Andrew, Maggie and Kevin.

Paul Ringwood is the sales manager of senior care for Novartis Pharmaceutical and his is married to Mary Ellen Sargent who runs Hairlooms on East Genesee St. They have three boys - Paul, Mitchell and Ryan.

David Ringwood is the field placement coordinator at LeMoyne College and is married to Mary Babiarz from Auburn. They have three children - John, Will and Emma.

Peter Ringwood is the director of operations for B&G Manufacturing and is married to Julie Paskalik of Pennsylvania. They have two children - Hannah and Hunter.

Last but not least is Bob Ringwood, a labor relations specialist with NYSUT. He is married to Jen Yoniak of Glen Cove.

After high school, Red was invited to try out for the Boston Red Sox. He then attended Syracuse University, where he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon. From there, he went on to Assumption College, where he was president of the senior class and played football with his lifelong friend, Jack Graney.

Here is what Jack had to say about Red: “A whole bunch of us from Auburn decided to go to Assumption College in Windsor, Ontario such as myself, Paul “Red” Ringwood, George “Pudge” Murphy, Al Bouley, Artie Walsh, Denny Harrington and Frank Hoffman. Needless to say, we had a great time. It was the late 1940’s and Mayor Edward Boyle was running for re-election back in Auburn. (He) happened to be Red’s uncle. Red had a large re-election poster of Ebby hanging in the dorm room. The guys persuaded a friend from Ohio to draw a mustache and bear on Ebby’s poster which made Red furious. He wanted to kill the world. He never did find out who did it, but the story had a happy ending as Ebby Boyle was re-elected mayor.”

Jack added that he and Red were teammates and friends forever. How ironic it is that Red’s widow, Joan, is now married to Jack’s brother, Ted.

In 1951, Red enlisted in the Marine Corps and was stationed at Camp Lejeune. He served as a captain for 21 months . On December 26, 1951, he married his high school sweetheart, Joan, who was the daughter of John and Teresa Crawford. In 1953, he was hired as a salesman for Red Star Express and he ended his career as vice president of national accounts.

Red was totally involved in the Auburn community, a place he was always proud to call home. He was president of the Auburn Traffic Club, school board, won the Auburn Golf and Country Club Championship Member- Guest Tournament int he 1960’s and was the Skaneateles Country Club champion in 1971. He also played with all seven of his sons in the 1978 Skaneateles Father-Son Tournament, which continues to honor Red today by having the tournament named after him.

I had the honor of pitching for Mahan’s team in the A-league and Red was our shortstop he was as as good an athlete as anyone I have ever played with. Red also coached the chamber of commerce team in the pony league in 1960.

Auburn High School honors Red each year. A sports/academic award in his honor is given annually to both male and female AHS graduating seniors. Red loved the Great Race, and the award presented to the first-place finisher in the family division short race is named in his honor.

This past August commemorated the 25th anniversary of Paul “Red” Ringwood’s untimely death in the prime of his life. This past September would marked marked his 75th birthday. Although his life was brief, his accomplishments were many. He was a successful in business and friendship and I would venture to say that his greatest joy was his family. As a triple-sport-athlete he shared with all of his children the many wonderful stories of those glory days. They were all raised to loves sports, but education was the main priority in their lives. They were all taught at an early age to respect and appreciate opportunities offered through our school system. They learned what a wonderful privilege it is to be granted an education.

Paul and Joan’s children all went to college and many even went on to received degrees beyond a bachelor’s degree. Three of the Ringwood children are currently raising families in Auburn, and the commitment is education is strong throughout the entire family.

The family wanted to honor Paul, and asked the board of education if it was possible to plant a tree and put up a plague in their Dad’s honor at Holland Stadium, where their Dad make such a contribution to Auburn.

Working through Dave Moskov, Auburn High’s fine football coach and chairman of the beautification committee, John Plume, The Auburn School District, Dickmans Farms, Dave Bartram of the Bronze Place, and the Board of Education, this memorial became reality for the Ringwood family as a crimson king maple is now located at the end of the football field.

Paul “Red'“ Ringwood loved to read, oil paint and tend his garden and he had a great sense of humor that could make anyone smile. He was a devoted husband, a hero to 10 children and is sadly missed.

As baseball lingo goes, Paul was traded to heaven on August 13, 1978. What a prize player heaven received. To Paul “Red” Ringwood and all the members of the Ringwood family, thank you all for being legends of Auburn.

-Ormie King “Hometowns”