SPORTVIEW: Buhl Club to honor the late Joe Price

July 17, 2008 08:09 am

— By Lynn Saternow
Herald Sports Editor

THERE WILL BE a special memorial program at the F.H. Buhl Club to honor former Sharon High basketball star and club benefactor Joe “Spooky” Price on Friday, July 25.
Joe’s grandson from Sarasota, Fla., will attend the program from 6-8 p.m. at the Willson Room of the Buhl Club. Any former teammate, relative or close friend of Joe’s is invited to attend, but should contact the club by Friday at 724-981-3700.
Joe died in Bradenton, Fla. on April 21 at the age of 90. But while the Mercer County Hall-of-Famer lived out of the area for many years, he never forgot his roots.
He stopped in the Buhl Club regularly whenever he made it back to the Shenango Valley and was a firm believer in how the club helps kids.
“He told me that if it hadn’t have been for the Buhl Club when he was growing up, he didn’t know where he would be,” said Jeff Valentino, executive director of the club.
In his will, Joe left $160,000 to the club.
“It couldn’t come at a better time,” said Jim Bestwick, president of the Buhl Club board of directors. “With the way the economy is today, it’s difficult to make ends meet and still provide a service to boys and girls who can’t afford memberships even at our low rates. Some of that money will go toward needy memberships. Helping youngsters was always a goal for Mr. Price.”
Joe was all-conference and all-district for the Sharon High Tigers. He was also a fixture at the F.H. Buhl Club during his youth.
I first met and talked to Joe several years ago when he was inducted into the Kent State University Hall of Fame, my alma mater, as well. He was a very humble man and you would never realize that he was a huge success in both sports and business.
Joe led Kent in scoring his junior and senior years and was named to the all-conference and all-Ohio teams. His coach deemed him the greatest passer in Kent history.
Upon graduating, he played for the Buhl Club team and faced foes such as the New York Celtics and House of David teams. Price was a legend for once making 99 of 100 foul shots at the club.
He later served as a fighter pilot in World War II and earned 5 battle stars. After the war he founded and ran the J. Price Co., which served as a manufacturing representative for steel, textile and rubber companies.
Joe was inducted into the Mercer County Hall of Fame in 1988.

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