meet our executive team

Meet the group of golf enthusiasts who lead our organization.

ralph n. paulk
president

Ralph, a United States Marine Corps veteran, was an award-winning sports journalist for more than 30 years. The former military correspondent had stints at several major newspapers – including Akron, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Richmond, VA, and Fort Myers, FL. A graduate of Michigan State University, the Florida native is a lifetime member of the NAACP and National Association of Black Journalists. The author and Pulitzer Prize winner, who was first elected as Tiretown Golf Club President in 2017, also served as a speech writer, newspaper guild representative and adjunct professor at Kent State University.
Michael N. Robinson headshot

michael w. robinson
vice president

Michael currently resides on the Westside of Akron with his wife, Faye.  He is employed by Cleveland Clinic Laboratories as Manager of Extended Care Sales and Product Development.  He attends Arlington Church of God and serves on Church Council.  Michael is also a member of Leadership Akron (Class 30) and serves on the Boards of South Akron Youth Mentorship and LOVE AKRON.

lester carney
secretary

Les served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1957 and won a silver medal at the 1960 Rome Summer Olympics in the men’s 200M dash. He is a retired company executive who continues to give much of his time to his family and community. He and his wife, Mary, are blessed with six children, fourteen grandchildren and four great grandchildren – all of whom have watched the family patriarch carry on without missing a beat and without complaint. Les currently serves as chairman of the board for Towpath Credit Union. He is also a chairman of Summit Senior Golf of Akron.

Clarence Mitchell iii
treasurer

Clarence Mitchell III, an avid golfer, was born and raised in Cleveland Heights where he graduated from high school. He lettered in several varsity sports, including golf. Clarence received the prestigious, Wendy’s high school Heisman award in 2004 for his academic and sports achievements while in high school. He continued his academic studies at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University where he studied electrical engineering. Clarence, a member of Omega Psi Phi, interned at several Fortune 500 companies such as General Electric and Caterpillar. Clarence began his career at GE, then later earned his a Supply Chain Management Degree from Penn State University. He spent nearly eight years at GE before returning to Ohio to work in Wooster Ohio at LuK USA LLC, now known as Schaeffler. Clarence, now at BWXT in Barberton, Ohio (formerly Babcock and Wilcox). Clarence, who is also a valued member of the scholarship committee, brings his professional expertise to assist as Treasurer. He replaces long-time treasurer Les Carter, who held the position for nearly three decades. Clarence and his wife, Saada, are residents of Cuyahoga Falls.

Clarence Mitchell, Jr.
Director of Golf Activities

Clarence joined Tiretown Golf Club in 2015, was elected in November to a two-year term as director of golf activities. A native of Talladega, Alabama, Mitchell served on the tournament committee the past three years and was instrumental helping Tiretown staged successful scholarship tournaments.
Mitchell, a licensed plumber, and his wife live in Cleveland. His wife, Glynis, is a court reporter at Akron Municipal Court. And his son, Clarence Mitchell III, was recently elected to serve as Tiretown’s treasurer.
The 68-year-old Mitchell is used to challenges. As a pipe fitter, he traveled from Columbus to New Orleans to Atlanta to Las Vegas. He spent 10 months in New Orleans to help repair a system’s broken infrastructure following Hurricane Katrina.
Mitchell is a member of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in Cleveland. He is the father of three (Clarence III, Karlicia Dawson and William Miller) and the grandfather of five.

Larry Thomas
Historian

Larry Thomas was born and raised in Akron, Ohio and was a 1970 Archbishop Hoban High School graduate. Larry was initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. through Alpha Tau Chapter at the University of Akron on June 26, 1971. He majored in Mechanical Engineering Technology in which he received his Associate and Bachelor of Science degrees. Larry became a member of Eta Tau Lambda Chapter in 1988 and has since maintained his membership in the chapter. 

Larry lives in Barberton with his wife Barbara. His church home is The House of the Lord. His interests are computers, website development, woodworking, home improvement projects, golfing, and amateur radio among many other activities.

Ted Dubose
Social committee

Ted was born in Alabama, was married for twenty-five years, and has three very active grandchildren who currently live in Illinois. He is always inspired by his grandchildren and their activities, and education. Now retired, he worked for General Motors for thirty-five years. Ted has been a member of the Tiretown Golf Club of Akron for over twenty-five years.  He is a volunteer of the clubs Social Committee serving in various capacities within the committee for the past ten years, currently serving as chairman.

Rosalyn Harris
financial secretary

Rosalyn is married to retired Akron Police Capt. James Harris. She has two children and two grandsons. Rosalyn enjoyed a storied career with the APD. She was the 1st African-American female sergeant and retired as the 1st African American lieutenant and the 3-11 Shift Commander of the Detective Bureau. In 2001, she and her husband joined Tiretown Golf Club. She currently serves as the Financial Secretary. Her responsibilities include oversight of the membership roster and management of financial information for Tiretown Golf Charities. Rosalyn is a board member of Summit Senior Golf of Akron and Tournament Manager. She was also the first woman to join the 500-male membership.

OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES

The officers and committees serve specific functions of the organization. Here you will find the names of each officer and committee leader.

Ralph N. Paulk, President
Michael W. Robinson, Vice President
Lester Carney, Secretary
Clarence Mitchell III, Treasurer
Rosalyn Harris, Financial Secretary
Larry Thomas, Historian
Clarence Mitchell Jr., Director of Golf Activities
Ted Dubose, Social Committee
Christopher Mitchell, Sargent-at-Arms
Arthur Green, Chaplain

Tournament Committee – assists the director in all golf activities

Clarence Mitchell Jr., Chair
Willie McCall
Paul Gahres
Clarence Mitchell III
Stephanie Turner
Michael Robinson
Jonathan Thornton
Tony Bishop
Johnnie Player

Fundraising Committee is responsible for all fundraising events/activities.

Dr. Robert Kamienski, Co-Chair
Marilyn Miller Paulk, Co-Chair
Joe Patterson
Danella Brown
Patty Kamienski
Steve Tyson
Roland Pennington
Ralph N. Paulk
Joe Simmons
Christopher Mitchell
Jim Sauter
Les Carter
Terrence Williams

Membership Committee is responsible for membership outreach, approval, and retention.

Terry Felton, Chair
Elmore Banton
Jonathan Thornton
Rosalyn Harris

Scholarship Committee – coordinates scholarship candidates and other scholarship efforts.

Dave Brown, Chair
Joe Simmons
Dr. Gregory Hill
Jay Curry
Elmore Banton
Neely Harrison
Clarence Mitchell III
Troy Denefield

Rules Committee – responsible for keeping membership informed of all USGA rules.

Terry Felton, Chair
Bill Alford

Social Committee – plans and coordinates all social activities for the club.

Ted Dubose, Chair
Marilyn Miller Paulk
Danella Brown
Terry Williams
T.J. Pryor
Willie McCall
Angela Williams

Constitution Committee – reviews the constitution periodically and provides recommendations for revision.

John Williams, Chair
Johnnie Player
Woody Williams, Emeritus
Judge Randy Baxter, Retired
Rosalyn Harris

Sick and Welfare Committee – notifies membership of disability or death of members and family members.

Johnnie Player, Chair

Community Outreach Committee – seeks to increase interaction with club members and the communities in which they live.

Kevin Tinsley

Social Media Committee – shares club events, multi-media, and participation through social media platforms.

Brian Turner
Clarence Mitchell III