The One And Only

The Big Ten Network’s production of a special feature on Chic Harley, which aired Saturday morning Nov 21 just prior to the Ohio State-Michigan game, was a real thing of beauty. It lasted a lengthy 7-1/2 minutes and included the story of Harley from his years as a football standout at East High School in Columbus to his death in 1974.
If you missed it Saturday, you can still view it by visiting www.bigtennetwork.com/features.
Interviewed for the segment were this writer, his brother, Rick (both of whom are great nephews of Chic), Archie Griffin and Jack Park, Ohio State’s sports historian and author.
What I particularly liked was the introduction where the announcer explained that experts in 1950 agreed that Chic and Jim Thorpe were the greatest college halfbacks of the first half of the 20th century (sorry Red Grange), and the ending where commentator Glen Mason told the story of when he and Woody Hayes visited the new College Football Hall of Fame on Kings Island in Cincinnati in 1978. There, after receiving a tour of the sparkling new facility, Hayes noted to the curator that there was nothing in the “Hall” about Chic Harley. The curator acknowleged that fact to which Woody replied, “Then this is not a true hall of fame.” That, my friends, was a perfect ending to the segment. Woody knew the importance of Chic and how he stood out among all other Ohio State greats—past and present.
Today, Chic is included in the Hall, which he should be having been a member of its charter class of 1951. On display, is a football helmet he wore while playing for Ohio State during his three All-American years of 1916, ‘17 and ‘19.
In recent weeks and with the airing of Saturday’s feature on national cable TV, we’re hearing more and more interest in moving forward with a plan to properly recognize Chic for all he has done for OSU, Columbus, Ohio, and the national sports scene. All of those reasons and more can be found in my book The One And Only: Chic Harley - America’s Great Athlete. It’s available on this website. Just click “shop online” or at Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, borders.com and booksamillion.com. In addition, many stores and hotels in Columbus are carrying the book.
In the next few days we will post a few comments and letters we’ve received from people who feel that a tribute to Chic—whether it be in the form of a statue or naming the Buckeye gridiron after him—will be posted on this site. Be on the lookout.
In the meantime, we’d like to hear how you feel. Any thoughts?
Give us a jingle.
We know that many people support a statue or some type of unique fitting memorial to Chic. Thus far they have been pretty quiet. It’s time to step up. Ohio State University, too, believes Chic is in a class by himself, but those in the top echelon are reluctant to move forward, we believe, because they don’t want to get any of the living greats or their followers upset at being upstaged. We believe, however, that with all due respect, Chic is at the top of the class and that should be so noted not just in words, but in deeds.

—Todd Wessell

Chic Harley, the storied Ohio State-Michigan rivalry, and the new Harley biography, “The One And Only: Chic Harley - America’s Great Athlete” will air on the Big Ten Network this Saturday, Nov. 21 beginning at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
While the majority of the 90-minute show will delve into the overall inter-school rivalry, a special feature will be about the great Harley, what he meant to Ohio State and American football, and his 52-year struggle with mental illness as depicted in the recently published book authored by his great nephew Todd Wessell.
A network camera crew visited with Wessell and family members about a month ago to record their recollections about their great uncle who they knew well. After their visit to Chicago, the production crew traveled to Columbus, Ohio where they interviewed OSU historian Jack Park and Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin. They also filmed locations throughout Columbus and the Ohio State campus where Harley left his mark as the school’s first three-time All-American, 1916, ‘17 and ‘19. A few weeks after that, the BigTen crew found itself in Danville, Illinois where they visited the cavernous Veterans Administration Hospital where Harley lived from 1938-74 as he struggled with mental illness.
The show will undoubtedly prove to be enlightening and exhilarating for all football fans at a time when the 90th anniversary of the Buckeyes first win over Michigan is being observed. In that game Chic Harley was the undisputed star.
Spread the word about Saturday’s broadcast and in doing so you’ll be spreading the word about Chic and Ohio State’s great history.

For Chic Harley fans who read this blog, we want to alert you to a major event that will take place on the day of the Ohio State-Michigan game, Saturday, November 21.
It has to do with a fantastic tribute that will be paid to Chic—The One And Only—and the football rivalry, considered by many as the greatest American sport rivalry of all time.
The tribute will emphasize not only Harley and his contribution to American sport, in particular football, but the 90th anniversary of the Buckeyes first win over Michigan in a game that Chic starred in.
Ohio State has really missed the boat on calling attention to the 90th anniversary fact. So be it. The upcoming tribute will fill that void.
Revisit this blog in a few days and we’ll give you all the details!

Screaming out its bright orange background and black lettering, the new Harley Field sign is now in place at Columbus, Ohio’s East High School football stadium for future generations to enjoy and be reminded of what the name Harley stands for.

A formal unveiling was conducted in pre-game ceremonies Friday night, Oct. 30. Athletic Director Greg Reamsnider ordered the installation of the 21-ft. long sign a few days earlier. This writer, Todd Wessell, great nephew of football legend Charles W. “Chic” Harley, arranged to have the sign cutstom-made to fit on the school’s elevated press box and then to have it shipped from Chicago to Columbus. A group of Chic Harley enthusiasts, that included myself, came up with sign idea after learning that the East High School football field was undergoing major renovation this year. Several years ago I noticed that a small Harley Field sign that had been in place at the location had fallen into disrepair. When a group of us visited Harley Field in April, there was no sign at all. That’s when the decision was made to have a whole new, large sign made and outfitted in the school’s colors. The sign was manufactured in Chicago and shipped to the high school a few months ago. 

Accompanying me to view the sign for the first time early Thursday evening, Oct. 29 was Reamsnider, who activated the football field lights, my wife Carolyn and fellow worker and big Chic supporter Mary Alice Wenzl. When we first gazed our eyes upon the sign we were amazed at its neat and perfectly placed appearance. It glowed and was sized just right so people sitting in the visitors bleachers across the field could easily read its lettering. As far as we know the only Harley Field sign currently in existence is a small directional street sign mounted on a traffic light about a half-mile away.

The importance of the Harley Field sign cannot be overstated. It is the first of what we hope and believe will be more than one fitting tribute to Uncle Chic, the man who lit up not only East High School’s gridiron in the seasons of 1912, ‘13 and ‘14, but the entire football and sports program at nearby Ohio State University and even professional football as a member of the Decatur Staleys, which are now known as the Chicago Bears.

Everyone who has purchased a copy of my 300-page biography, “The One And Only: Chic Harley - America’s Great Athlete”, contributed to its creation and mounting on the East High School press box. Proceeds from the sale of the book were used to pay for the sign and its shipping. 

So to all our you, thanks and congratulations!

Now we move on to other fitting tributes to Chic. Hopefully the good folks at Ohio State—and its fans and alumni—will realize that something needs to be done to better recognize what Harley has done for OSU and all of college football.

As we’ve suggested before, a statue of Chic standing in front of Ohio Stadium’s grand entrance—or naming the gridiron Harley Field—would be perfect and worthy tributes.

So far, no one has stepped up to the plate, though some interest has been expressed.

—-Todd Wessell