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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Janice G. McClain was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio where she graduated from Shaker Heights High School. She continued her academic studies at Syracuse University where she studied Retail Merchandise and Business Management. She went on to manage 3 departments at Sears, Roebuck and Co. Belden Village, Canton, Ohio for several years. She continued her work experience with IBM as a sales representative for the Office Equipment department and subsequently to administration there. Her next endeavor was a branch manager at National City Bank achieving Vice President status there. She is a Leadership Canton Class #6 Alum, a former board member of the Canton Urban League and ABCD, Inc. She is a member of Akron Kappa Silhouettes and is the widow of Atty. Andrew Bradley McClain.

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 Social Committee chairperson in January 2024. 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.

Cynthia Blake has been a candidate for City of Akron at-large council, and is actively involved in organizations throughout the community,
such as Council of Negro Women, Akron Pee Wee Executive Committee, special interest for Autism Policies,
Political Analysts and Board member of Pride thru Empowerment.