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.

Glynis E. Miller Mitchell was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1965. When I was 5 years old my family moved to Warrensville Heights, Ohio, where she was raised and attended the Warrensville Heights School system, graduating in 1984.
In 1990 she decided to attend the Academy of Court Reporting located in downtown Cleveland, graduating in 1994 with an associate degree in Court Reporting. Glynis was a freelance court reporter in the Cleveland/Akron area, along with teaching court reporting on and off for several years, until 2007 when she was hired as an Official Court Reporter for the Akron Municipal Court where she is currently employed. Glynis is an active member in court reporting associations; NCRA, National Court Reporters Association and OCRA, Ohio Court Reporters Association.
Glynis is married to Clarence D. Mitchell, Jr., Tiretown Golf Club’s present Tournament Director. Together they have three adult children and five grandchildren.
Glynis’ hobbies include, among many things, traveling, riding her motorcycle, and spending time with family and friends.

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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 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.

Marilyn Miller Paulk was appointed Fund Raising Committee chairperson in January 2026. A selfless, dependable and a tireless advocate for Tiretown Golf Club and Tiretown Golf Charities, Marilyn plays a significant role in the growth of our organization.

Marilyn, who spent 31 years as a reporter with the Akron Beacon Journal, also serves on the Tiretown Golf Charities Board of Directors. And has served as co-chair of the Fund Development Committee for the past four years.

The committee quickly altered its fundraising goals and engineered a game plan that set in motion the most ambitious fundraising growth in the club’s history. While Tiretown devised a plan to net more than $10,000 to $15,000 with its scholarship tournament each year, the fund development matched or exceeded those numbers under her guidance with several events – including the Tiretown Junior Golf Club Fundraiser and the Tiretown Scholarship Banquet.

“It’s a very rewarding position,” said Marilyn, who joined Tiretown Golf Club in 2016. “It’s important that Tiretown has a genuine interest in the community.

“There is something extraordinary about making a difference in the community in which you live.”

More importantly, Marilyn has been an inspiration to other members. She has been the embodiment of a dedicated member who leads by example and hard work. She inspires others – including non-members – to dedicate time and effort in assisting Tiretown to meet many of its fundraising targets.

Marilyn helps with strategic planning for the scholarship banquet, the junior tournament and partnership development.

Marilyn, a graduate of Our Lady of the Elms, serves as recording secretary for the Akron Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., assistant treasurer for the Summit County Women’s Board of Juvenile Court, member of the Akron Urban League Guild and lifetime member of the NAACP.

Marilyn earned a B.A. in communications from the University of Akron and M.A. from Kent State University. Yet, many of her lessons came from her father, George C. Miller, who in 1964 became the first Black principal of Akron Public Schools.

Diahnna Curtis serves as the Scholarship Chair for Tiretown Golf Club, where she is passionate about supporting youth development, education, and community involvement through the game of golf. Her commitment to mentoring and scholarship initiatives reflects her belief in creating opportunities for the next generation both on and off the course.

Diahnna is a graduate of The University of Akron and remains actively involved in organizations that focus on education, mentorship, leadership, and community development.

Professionally, Diahnna is a dedicated real estate professional and the current President of the Akron REALTIST Association. She is known for her strong work ethic, community leadership, and commitment to expanding homeownership opportunities and advocating for equitable housing practices throughout the community.

Golf has played an important role in her family’s life. Her two children were introduced to the game through the First Tee program, helping instill discipline, confidence, and life skills at an early age. Today, Diahnna is also a proud grandmother of five and values spending time with family, supporting youth programs, and giving back to the community.

Theresa Fennell is a lifelong resident of Akron and a graduate of St. Mary’s High School. After a 20-year career with Acme Grocery Stores, she pursued a degree in Early Childhood Education and Child and Family Development from the University of Akron, later earning a Master’s in Education and Administration.

Theresa served as a preschool and middle school teacher for Akron Public Schools and taught Early Childhood Education and Child Development courses at the University of Akron. Her leadership experience includes serving as Vice President of the Akron Area Association for the Education of Young Children. During her time at Acme and Akron Public Schools, she served as a union representative. She is currently a co-chairperson for the Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church’s Reverend John J. and Theresa Jones Scholarship Committee.

Theresa is married to Clifford J. Fennell Jr., an avid golfer and Cleveland Browns fan. Her husband’s enthusiasm for the sport, combined with her own passion for helping young people pursue higher education, inspired her involvement with the Tiretown Golf Club. In her free time, Theresa enjoys traveling with her family, baking, fishing, and attending church functions, concerts, and Cavaliers games. Theresa and Clifford have three adult children.

Gwendolyn L. Bryant is a veteran educator, instructional leader, and nationally respected professional development facilitator with more than four decades of experience in education. She holds a Master of Education from Kent State University and has dedicated her career to improving teaching and learning across early childhood, K–12, and higher education settings.

Widely regarded as a “teacher’s teacher,” Ms. Bryant currently serves as an instructional and leadership coach with Instructional Empowerment, where she partners with school districts across the United States to strengthen core instruction and leadership practices. She has worked extensively with superintendents, central office teams, principals, and teachers, providing training and coaching on research-based frameworks, including Dr. Robert Marzano’s Focused Evaluation Model, the Art and Science of Teaching, and strategies for achieving instructional rigor. Her work spans major districts nationwide, supporting educators in implementing effective, standards-based instructional practices that elevate student achievement.

Throughout her career, Ms. Bryant has held a variety of impactful roles, including literacy coach, district-level instructional coach, educational consultant, and classroom teacher. She has supported secondary educators through the Literacy Design Collaborative framework and has led school improvement initiatives that resulted in measurable academic success. Her experience also includes serving as an adjunct professor at both Ashland University and The University of Akron, where she guided educators in both theory and practice.

A sought-after presenter, Ms. Bryant has delivered professional learning at numerous national and state conferences, including the National Staff Development Conference, High Schools That Work Conference, and Marzano’s Building Expertise events. She is also a featured author and contributor to professional resources focused on achieving instructional rigor.

Her contributions to education have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Ohio Master Teacher Certification and the Marilyn Parks Lifetime Educator Achievement Award. She has also received multiple Ambassador Awards and been nominated for prestigious recognitions, including the Disney Teacher Award.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Ms. Bryant has demonstrated a deep commitment to community service and civic leadership. She has served on the boards of Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, Tiretown Golf Club and Charities, the Akron YMCA, and the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, contributing her leadership and expertise to organizations that enrich education, culture, and community development.

Ms. Bryant remains deeply committed to her mission: to use her scholarship, experience, and leadership to serve as a vehicle for change, empowering educators and inspiring lifelong learning that transforms lives through education with distinction.