Todd Alles:
CLASS OF 1965
Marion-Franklin High SchoolClass of 1965
Columbus, OH
Scioto Trail Elementary SchoolClass of 1959
Columbus, OH
Southwood Elementary SchoolClass of 1958
Columbus, OH
Obetz Elementary SchoolClass of 1954
Columbus, OH
Stewart Alternative Elementary SchoolClass of 1953
Columbus, OH
Todd's Story
Life
My Spouse
She was taking pictures at a golf outing and I carried her cooler to her car. We went out afterwards, had lunch the next day and got married two months later. Amazing. We've been married 26 years and never looked back. Some of you that went to Benfield Church may know her. Her name was Karen Letsinger from the west side. She recently beat breast cancer and we are so blessed to be cancer free and healthy again.
My Kids
Heather is the oldest and she and her husband Mike Griffo have blessed us with a granddaughter, Elena, that just graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Kentucky in May. Todd II is married with two beautiful children, Austin 6 and Logan 3. He owns his own marketing and event management company in Columbus called Activations Management Group. He has done very well for himself and I am proud of him. Justin has two beautiful girls, Francesca 10 and Sophia 7. The two boys live in Dublin and Heather lives in Lakewood near Cleveland.
My Job
I am currently semi retired working as a church administrator at New Hope Church in Powell, Ohio, a starter at Darby Creek Golf Course so I can play free golf and Security Guard at Muirfield Village Golf Club one day a week so I can p0lay that course. I just can't seem to find comfort in not working.
I always wanted to be a Drag Racer when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a stupid idea. As it turns out, they were right.
How I handle stress
Long walks early morning and lifting weights keeps me balanced and fit. Golf has become a calming affect lately now that I have accepted that I will never be good at it.
If I'm going to work somewhere, I need to have friends, fun, and hot coffee to be able to deal with the day-to-day.
My hero: My hero in life is, was and always will be my father. Had he not been tough and demanding on me and put restrictions on me, I would never have made it to where I am. Next to him, Chief Buck Jones grabbed me by the neck in the Navy and helped me to get myself squared away, setting a path for a great life.
Where I have lived: I have lived in Columbus, Oberlin, Sandusky, Dublin, Powell and Lorain Ohio because of job moves as a public school administrator and coach. I moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama for 2 years when I was Director of Football Operations at Alabama for Nick Saban and we owned a retirement home in South Carolina in the Cherokee Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains until we sold it in 2012. We now live in Plain City, Ohio and have a condo in Naples, Florida we are selling.
The one person I'd like to see is Mr. Stranges so he could see that I DID amount to something.
I was obsessed with Buckeye football and being part of the Jim Tressel staff and team was truly a dream come true. He is one of a kind. I have reached a point where I have exhausted my passion for the game but cherish the friendships and experiences we had along the way.
My biggest surprise in life is where I have ended up, financially and professionally.
The wildest thing I did in high school was fill my amber bleach jug up with beer and take it to the Backwoodsmen's Ball. I was at my car, refilling the jug ...Expand for more
when I was tapped on the shoulder by a policeman. He asked for my ID. When I gave it to him he asked if I was related to Fred Alles. I said he was my Dad. He laughed and then took me to the chaperon along with my 8 pack (remember those, NR 8 packs). He then took me home (left my Dad's brand new LeMans convertible there) and told my Dad what I did. Obviously, I was suspended (one of 14 times in 4 years) and grounded for life. That's one of the reasons I joined the Navy at 17, to get out of the house.
If I could, I'd sell out and move year round to Florida. My dream home would be the house we had in Tuscaloosa, Alabama rebuilt in Florida.
I have learned from my kids that no matter how tough I was as a father, they appreciate it now.
The teacher I'd love to see now is Mr. Gallagher. He convinced me that I was stupid and should just get a good job. Man would I love to shove what God has helped me become down his throat, literally. He helped me waste about 8 years of my life. I became an educator and advocate for kids because of him. Funny how God puts things in your life to direct your energy and passion.
My current age is 69. When I was 12, I thought that people my age now would be close to dead. I was so completely wrong.
My best friend would tell you I'm a softee, but people who don't know me very well would probably describe me as hard.
My most cherished awards in my life have been Ohio State Alumni Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Achievement and being a Scholar-Athlete while a member of the Ohio State Football Team in 1974 and 75. I walked on after the service and several dead end jobs. Also being inducted into the Dublin High School Athletics Hall of Fame.
If I got one do-over it would be to work up to my potential in school and ignore the idiot guidance counselor that told me to sign up for all the general classes and go get a good job because I wasn't college material. I would work as hard a possible to earn an appointment to the Naval Academy and fly F-4's. Probably would have made a career out of it. You become what you are expected to become. Mr. Gallagher was too busy putting his head up Dale Darnell's backside that he didn't have time for "regular" people like me.
In 10 years, I hope to be retired. I'm going to get there by being too damned old to work.
What surprised everyone the most is where I ended up and what I ended up doing. I was in the office so much that no one would have believed I would end up being a principal. I don't know why though; I had plenty of on the job training
My first job was at Winmiller's farm when I was in the 6th grade. I then worked for Gaffin's and Miller's farm and at the Texaco station by DiGoia's nursery on Parson Avenue. My first REAL job was at Big Bear, where I got paid $.85 an hour to bag groceries. What I remember most about it is the cold, sloppy days I had to take the groceries to the cars.
I always wanted to be a NASCAR Driver when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a POOR idea. As it turns out, they were right.
I speed walk 5-6 miles a day 5 days a week and lift dumbbells on a swiss ball or cable workouts 3 days a week.
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