Henry V. Vaughn (1975) - Hall of Fame - University of Akron Athletics

Henry V. Vaughn

Induction:
1975
Class:
1950

INAUGURAL CLASS
1946-49

A 1943 graduate of Akron Central High School after having become one of the city’s earliest one-handed shooters, Henry “Hank” Vaughn entered the service in 1943.

He returned to Akron and enrolled at the University where he lettered four seasons in basketball. Vaughn broke his left wrist in his first collegiate game against Mount Union but continued to play with a cast on the arm during that 1946 season when Russ Beichly’s varsity played 27 games, including three doubleheaders.

Vaughn was UA’s top scorer the next three seasons as Akron enjoyed outstanding success. In 1949, during the Ohio Conference’s first post-season tournament, Vaughn led the Zips to the championship. He scored 418 points in his senior year and finished with 1,041 points over his Akron career.

Vaughn played industrial basketball for Goodyear under Lefty Byers and Chuck Bloderon and succeeded the latter as coach in 1953. While coach of Goodyear National Industrial Basketball League teams, Vaughn escorted teams to the Far and Middle East, through Russia and Europe and into South America. He was the head coach or assistant coach in upwards of 100 international games, including hitches in 1964 and 1968 as Olympic aid under Hank Iba.

Vaughn was employed in Goodyear recreation department and is a 1968 inductee into the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame.