Final destination worth the wait for new Stark County High School Football Hall of Fame class

CANTON — For some, it was a matter of time. For others, the journey required more patience.

No matter how each of the men made the trip, they reached the destination together Friday as the seven new members inducted into the Stark County High School Hall of Fame.

The Class of 2023 features stars from the 1950s (Ron Carnahan and Ron Worstell), 1990s (Bob Hendry and Steve Smith), and 2010s (Devin Smith and Dymonte Thomas), in addition to one of the county's most successful coaches (Keith Wakefield)

While the names involved seem obvious now, success was not always guaranteed. Hendry, a former Hoover and University of Akron standout, didn't break out on the gridiron and become a first-team All Ohio running back until his senior year of high school in 1998.

"I didn't start for a lot of my high school career," Hendry said in his speech. "It always seemed like there were faster and stronger guys ahead of me every year. I really have to thank my parents because they never let me stay discouraged and always kept on me to continue working."

The story was similar for former McKinley Division I All-Ohio offensive lineman Steve Smith. He fancied himself a baseball player for much of his early life and did not start as a football player until he was a junior in high school. He then helped the Bulldogs win state titles in 1997 and 1998.

"I'm glad that people always saw way more in me than I would see in myself at times," Smith said. "I remember after my first scrimmage I was just full of doubts and I went to coach (Thom) McDaniels. I told him that I didn't know if I was ready to be a starter. Coach McDaniels told me he wouldn't have had me in the position if he didn't think I was ready and if he didn't need me in that spot. That meant so much to me."

For others, such as Marlington standout Dymonte Thomas, the talent was evident far earlier. Thomas made an impact as a freshman for the Dukes in 2009 and went on to play for Michigan in college and later the Denver Broncos in the NFL. Thomas approached the podium while his dad barked from his table.

"My dad always barks whenever I earn an award," Thomas said. "It's a family tradition."

Though people saw the success Thomas enjoyed in football, they never saw the struggles his family went through in helping him achieve his dreams.

"This would not be possible without my stepmom and my dad," Thomas said. "This award is the result of the sacrifices that they made and they made countless sacrifices for me. ... I used to play to take away that pain and my goal was to always help my parents out like they helped me out. I knew they loved me and that did not go unnoticed."

Former Massillon wide receiver Devin Smith knows all about the Big Ten and the NFL. Smith starred for the Ohio State Buckeyes and was later drafted by the New York Jets in the second round of the NFL Draft after an incredible high school career for the Tigers from 2009-10.

"I got to live my dreams," he said. "Most kids in the area dream of getting a chance to play in college for Ohio State and I got to do it. I always dreamed of being a professional athlete and I had the honor of being picked in the NFL Draft. I hope that maybe some young kids can take inspiration from that."

All of the inductees had their far share of big games but former McKinley running back Ron Carnahan had one of the most memorable stories about a specific game. Carnahan recalled the Bulldogs facing off with Massillon in his senior year in 1955.

"We went to sleep at the hotel and it was 62 degrees," Carnahan said. "We woke up and their were four inches of snow on the ground. We won over at Fawcett (Stadium) on basically two bad snaps. It was a 13-7 game and that win made us undefeated state champions."

Former Lincoln running back Ron Worstell always had a simple philosophy on the field that guided him to the Hall of Fame.

"I remember a teammate used to tell me it was an easy game," Worstell said. "You hit the other guy harder than he hits you and that tends to determine the outcome."

It worked wonders for Worstell. He ran for 1,248 yards in just nine games and was an All-Ohio honorable mention in 1956.

Not all starts are glamorous or the result of a profound quote or moment. Sometimes it's all a matter of starting out in the right spot at the right time. Perry coaching legend Keith Wakefield recalled his first job in the area.

"It was 1973 and I got called about an interview as an assistant coach over in Massillon with Bob Commings," Wakefield said. "I remember we rode around in his station wagon with the window down while he smoked a cigarette. I was 22 or 23 years old at this point so we continued on to the bar and grabbed a drink. ... That was the interview and I found out I got the job the next day."

Reach Cliff at cliff.hickman@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: @chickmanREP

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This article originally appeared on The Repository: 2023 Stark County High School Football Hall of Fame class honored