The Dr. Dan and Kris Ross Scholarship Fund was established for the benefit of five school systems where the long-time educator played a major role during his career.
The multiple school systems include Portsmouth Notre Dame High School for the benefit of the Richard & Jewell Renison Scholarship; St. Charles High School in Columbus for the Father Thomas Benefit Scholarship; Patrick Henry High School in Hamlin, Ohio for the Richard Krauss Scholarship; Pickering High School in Pickering, Ohio for the Dr. Richard McClurg Scholarship and Avon Lake High School for the William Zurkey and Dr. Terry Ryan scholarship.
Ross wanted to set up the funds at the Foundation in Portsmouth where he grew up. In his own career he was principal at Notre Dame Elementary and High School and at the vocational school. Dick Renison, his wife’s stepfather, was a very giving person who did a lot for Notre Dame, said Ross. When Ross went to school at St. Charles High School in Columbus, Father Thomas who was the head of his dorm, was like a father away from home for him and a great role model. By setting up the fund, Ross is honoring people with distinguished careers who have been taking care of kids and helping them become better at what they do, he said. Others named as beneficiaries of the Ross Fund were notable people all over Ohio where Ross worked in various school systems.
Dr. Ross appreciated the fact that the Scioto Foundation can serve people all over Ohio through funds like this one. “I recommend the Scioto Foundation because it can make it happen,” he said.
Dr. Ross is the retired Executive Director of the Ohio High School Athletic Association. Dr. Ross began his duties as the OHSAA’s ninth commissioner on Aug. 1, 2004, and continued until 2018. He has worked in education as a teacher, administrator and official since 1971, spanning a career of 48 years. Under Dr. Ross’ leadership, the OHSAA added girls and boys bowling, dual team wrestling and girls and boys lacrosse, while also adding additional divisions in girls soccer, girls golf, boys swimming and football. In addition, the OHSAA added events for seated athletes at the state track and field championships beginning in 2013.
In 2011 Dr. Ross began the groundwork for the Competitive Balance initiative in light of a potential split between public and private schools. The Competitive Balance plan was passed by a referendum vote of OHSAA member schools in 2014 and successfully implemented in 2016.
Dr. Ross has strengthened the OHSAA’s partnerships with other educational service organizations by forming advisory committees with the state school boards, superintendents, principals and athletic administrators associations. He saw the OHSAA expand and diversify its Board of Directors and district athletic boards by adding female, ethnic minority and 7th-8th grade representatives. A standard statewide coaches education program was also adopted, which is required for
certification.
Dr. Ross is a native of Portsmouth, Ohio, and graduated from Columbus St. Charles High School (1967). He holds degrees from Ohio Dominican University (bachelor’s, 1971), Xavier University (master’s, 1973) and Bowling Green State University (Ph. D., 1983). Among the many positions he held prior to joining the OHSAA were superintendent of the Patrick Henry Local Schools (1983-86), Pickerington Local Schools (1986-97) and Avon Lake City Schools (1997-04). He was also a registered OHSAA contest official for 20 years in the sports of baseball, basketball and volleyball.
Dr. Ross’s wife Kristine worked as a lab technician, at a bank and in various other jobs wherever the Rosses moved, he said. She was the principal coordinator for the kids’ lives because he was busy in his superintendent positions. The couple have four children and nine grandchildren.