Joseph “Bud” Bruce Halada

Joseph “Bud” Bruce Halada was born in Sullivan September 30, 1941. He attended Sullivan High School until 1958. He was in the first graduating class at Black River High School in 1959.

Bud earned 12 letters in football, basketball, and baseball. He was a starter all four years in the three sports except the first six-games in basketball his freshman year, when Coach Ron Bowie inserted him into the starting lineup with four seniors.
In football he he scored over 100 points in his career including several of the last dropkick extra points in Ohio football history (1956). The OHSSA instituted the two point (run-pass) conversion in 1957. His junior year on Sullivan’s six-man football team he scored 50 points and was a unanimous selection at end on the Times-Gazettes All-County team.

His senior year the newly consolidated Black River HS played 11-mn football for the first time. Bud caught 5 touchdown passes and five two-point conversions.
The team won the first four games finishing 4-4-1 in the North Central Conference League. He was one of the captains and picked All-Medina County. The Toledo Blade and Toledo Times named him first-team end on their All-NCCL squads.

Bud’s most significant athletic career was in basketball. His 1256 points placed 4th on the all-time Ashland County list after AC Hall-of-famers: Larry Huston, Larry Aulger, and Shine Zody. His sophomore year (347 pts) earned him 2nd team T-G All-County. He scored 327 points (20, 4 ppg) his junior year at Sullivan and was picked 1st team on the T-G All-County team.

His senior year he scored 509 points (22.13 ppg) with 30 points vs Lodi his best game. He led the Pirates to their all-time best record 21 and 2.and the Lorain Sectional title. He was named first team All-Medina County and was recognized honorable-mention on the Associated Press All-Ohio Class A team.

In baseball Bud was a starter all four years. He played 3rd base his freshman year, and he was a pitcher and catcher the last three years usually batting third or the clean up hitter.

After high school he played one year for Coach Del Noble at Midland College of Commerce. He scored 356 points (21 ppg) and was a teammate with Ashland HOFer Bob Lee. Bud’s best game was 37 points against Malone College.

Bud and his wife Marilyn celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary June 25, 2021. They are active members of the Sullivan Alumni Association and their church: First Congregational of Sullivan. They have four daughters: Deborah (Kevin) Clemons, Diane (Mark) Sabo, Danelle (Randy) Jordan, and Denise (Jason) Herte. They have 12 grandkids, 3 great-grandchildren, and three step-grandchildren. One grandson Tyler Sabo is an All-Ohio golfer, who led Ashland High School to the State Tournament in 2019.

Bud was a truck driver for Reiter Dairy for 35 years.