Ralph Dresch
Ralph "Dutch" Dresch is the Mercer County Hall of Fame posthumous inductee for 2016.
He began his sports career at Farrell High School where he competed in football, baseball and wrestling from 1922-26. He was All-County in football and wrestling.
He went on to compete in football and wrestling in college, while attending the University of Indiana, Westminster College and then the University of Pittsburgh where he earned his masters degree in business administration. He also competed in Hi-Y basketball and Shenango Valley Church League on the Panthers basketball team. He was an amateur boxing promoter for the Farrell Boosters Club. He also served the community as a member and officer with the Farrell Lions and Saxon clubs as well as being a member of the Sharon General Hospital board of directors.
Dutch returned to Farrell High where he served as principal, faculty manager, athletic director (37 years) and Farrell scorekeeper in basketball (30 years and 750 straight games). He was the first person from this area to serve on the WPIAL Basketball Committee. He also served with WPIAL Section III sports committees.
He was known as the "Father of the Farrell Lions' Club Invitational Tournament" which later became the Farrell Dresch-McCluskey Tournament.