Ohio Basketball HOF holding fundraiser

To celebrate the 90th birthday of retired longtime Euclid basketball coach Harold “Doc” Daugherty, the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame is holding a fundraiser to help raise money for a physical museum.

The Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame knows how to throw a whiz-bang of a birthday party.

To celebrate the 90th birthday of retired longtime Euclid basketball coach Harold “Doc” Daugherty, the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame is holding a fundraiser to help raise money for a brick and mortar museum that Daugherty — co-founder of the hall of fame — has worked toward for a number of years.

“It’s unbelievable. I can’t believe it,” said Daugherty of the fundraiser unveiled by the hall of fame. “They wanted to do it. If it helps the cause, then let’s do it. It’s going along really well, so that’s a great thing.”

Daugherty’s 90th birthday in Jan. 21. According to ohiobasketballhalloffame.com, the fundraiser is to “honor our co-founder and his legacy.”

“Although we don’t have a physical museum (yet),” says a portion of the website, “we still have ongoing expenses to maintain the operation of our non-profit organization.

“2020 marks the 15th anniversary and Doc has been there every step of the way. He turns 90 on Jan. 21. Be a port of the celebration and let him know how much you appreciate his efforts. He would love nothing more than knowing the Hall of Fame will be financially sound moving into the future.”

Donation information is on the website.

Daugherty is no stranger to coaching greatness on the hardwood. In his 44 years at Euclid (four of which were as the junior varsity coach), he led his teams to 597 victories.

But preserving the rich heritage of basketball in the state of Ohio had long been a goal of his, so he and longtime friend Don Henderson went on a trip to Indiana a number of years ago to do research of that state’s hall of fame with the idea of starting such an endeavor in Ohio.

“We talked the whole ride home and all day,” Daugherty said. “The next morning, he called me and said, ‘Congratulations, I made an executive decision. You and I are co-chairs.’”

After Daugherty got the blessing from his wife, June, to join the Hall of Fame endeavor, he and Henderson proceeded to work on the project that would encompass not only high schools, but also college basketball and all facets of the game.

“We needed this (in Ohio),” Daugherty said. “If you look at Indiana for comparison, they have maybe a quarter of the high schools we have in Ohio. Our history is greater. We have all levels of college — Division I, II, III, junior collage — the whole ball of wax.

“Being able to save that history is what motivates us. It’s what drives me.”

Henderson died in 2017 at age 87.

Daugherty said the home of the Hall of Fame is anticipated to be in Dublin, Ohio, just outside of Columbus. He said that while he is very honored and humbled for the birthday fundraiser, he doesn’t want recognition for his work toward the Hall of Fame.

“Don Henderson, we were great buddies forever,” he said of his late friend. “I don’t care about my name being on it or attached to it. I couldn’t be more pleased (with how far the Hall of Fame) has come. It’s great.”