Sam Colucci, a longtime supporter of YSU athletics and a believer in providing opportunities for as many individuals as possible, is being inducted posthumously this year into the Youngstown State Athletics Hall of Fame.
A true sports enthusiast, Colucci was involved in Penguin Athletics in many ways. His generosity helped lead to such projects as refurbishing Dom Rosselli Court in the Beeghly Center, obtaining a scoreboard for Stambaugh Stadium, adding goalposts to the old Liberty High School practice field for the YSU football team, organizing YSU’s first golf tournament at Avalon Lakes Golf Course and co-sponsoring a golf scholarship for the school.
A Youngstown native, he played an active role himself by serving on the Penguin Club Board of Trustees and was a Penguin Club Man of the Year. For more than 20 years, he was a season-ticket holder for football and basketball games. And at his shop, he had a room so as people entered they could see all of his YSU memorabilia.
Colucci, who passed away in 1998 at the age of 73, was the owner and founder of Supreme Steel Co. in Youngstown. He was a dedicated family man who did numerous noteworthy acts for his community as well.
A 1943 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, he was an integral part of the 1942 Redmen golf squad that captured the City Series title. An avid golfer, he had to put his links career on hold after being inducted into the United State Navy during World War II. He fought until the end of the conflict, returning to his hometown to begin working at the Sheet and Tube.
After several years of working in the mill, he opted to start his own business. Citing a need for good, competent and honest help, he hired many college workers on a part-time basis in order for them to help defray their class expenses. Many of those individuals were athletes or former competitors.
His golf career resumed locally and in 1949, played with the East Ohio Appli squad that won the YMCA Golf League City Championship. As a sponsor and player, he was part of three City “Y” League Championship teams. His Supreme Steel entry was a 30-year member of the “Y” League while that same team competed in the Penn-Ohio League seven years as well.
He sponsored softball teams, bowled on Supreme Steel’s two title teams in 1958 and again in 1959, and sponsored a women’s bowling team for 10 years as well. A member of Tippecanoe and Fonderlac Country Club, he helped sponsor John Hamarik in his quest to play on the PGA Tour in the early 1980’s.
His generosity extended beyond the normal areas where contributions are noticed. He was a member of the Italian-American Scholarship Fund committee which awards a scholarship to a student of Italian heritage, affording a standout student the opportunity to attend college. As a member of the Advisory Board of the Youngstown Skills Center, he also served on the Board of Directors of the Curbstone Coaches and received their “Outstanding Citizenship Award.”
A member of the YMCA Century Club since 1981, he was a past member of the Monday Musical Club and a noted contributor to the Butler Art Institute. He gave freely of his time and monetary contributions to the Heart Fund, VFW, Volunteers of America and the local F.O.P. organization, and spearheaded a drive to have a large stone memorial dedicated for all those who have caddied at Mill Creek Park.
Other honors earned by Colucci include begin inducted into the Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame (1992), the Woodrow Wilson High School Hall of Fame (1981). In 1994, he was named the “Italian Man of the Year” by the Greater Youngstown Italian Fest.
Married to the former Jane Ann McBride, they are survived by their three children; daughters Margaret (Campanelli) and Susie (Centorame), and son Sam, Jr. Susie and Margaret both earned degrees from Youngstown State and Susie was a Penguins cheerleader in 1978.
