DISTINGUISHED SERVICE

Induction Year: 2000

The recipient of the citizenship award, Joe Quinn graduated from Overbrook High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in June of 1954. Joe was indeed very musically inclined in his high school years as evidenced by his participation with the band, choir, and musical plays, as well as being actively involved in the All Philadelphia High School Chorus, the All State High School Chorus, and the Fred Waring Chorus in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Not only was Joe a music master, but he was also involved in high school athletics, playing basketball with the renowned Wilt Chamberlin.

Joe went on to college after his high school graduation, attending Maryville College in Maryville, Tennessee where he graduated with a BA degree in History in 1961. While at college, Joe met and married Beverly (Tillman) Quinn in August of 1959. Joe tried his skills as Adult Program Director for the YMCA in Orange, New Jersey, but shortly thereafter found that he had a call for the ministry. Enrolling in the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, he graduated in December of 1966 with a Master of Divinity degree which would bring him to the First Presbyterian Church in Troy, Ohio where he was ordained and served as their assistant pastor.

Joe would serve the Troy First Presbyterian for a short period of two years, answering a call to be pastor in New Carlisle for the Honeycreek Presbyterian Church. Joe served as their pastor for a period of 33 years and was a cherished member of the community. Recognizing the importance of being involved with the community, Joe immediately became involved serving on the Charter Planning Commission, City HealthBoard, served twice as President of Bethel Churches United, member of the New Carlisle Historical Society, and also actively participated in the Springfield Civic Theater.

After his family and church, Joe's great love was sports and he became involved as football and basket-ball broadcaster for WPTW Piqua, covering all Miami County schools. Desiring to be more involved with his local school district's sports programs, Joe became the "Voice of the Arrows" in 1970 for the Tecumseh football games, and remained their voice until 1994. Joe's distinct and articulate voice was a familiar sound to all football"goers" and he definitely was a first-class speaker adding his own wisdom and humor to his game coverage.Joe was also adept at keeping basketball statistics, recording statistics for the Tecumseh Arrows Basket-ball Program, the Wright State Women's Basketball Program, and the professional Dayton Wings BasketballTeam.

He was active for several years as an official scorekeeper for the district state high school tournaments.Joe was a man of many talents, which included being an accomplished pen and ink artist. This is provenby his design of the current Tecumseh Arrows sports team logo that has become a familiar sign to all Tecumseh students and fans - the feathered arrow crossing the T.

For twenty-two years, at the football awards banquets, Joe presented each Arrows Senior Football player with a signed, individual action sketch - cherished possessions of many young men today. Many of the local businesses in New Carlisle are also familiar with Joe's sketching talents, as they too display his artwork.

The Reverend Joseph E. Quinn passed away on April 22, 2000. He is survived by his lovely wife of forty years, Beverly A. Quinn of New Carlisle; a daughter, Mary Ann Quinn of New Carlisle; and son, Michael E.Quinn of Springfield. Joe has left a mark on the Tecumseh Athletic Program and the community, and we are, indeed, proud to install him posthumously as a member of the Tecumseh Athletic Hall of Fame.