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The Beat Feature

Mohawk chain gang member hasn't missed a game in 52 years

Written: Oct 03, 2008
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By JOHN D’ABRUZZO

jd’abruzzo@ncnewsonline.com

Jared Stratton had a dilemma last week in Aliquippa.

As the Mohawk High football team prepared to face the Quips, the officiating crew asked Stratton if he knew of anyone who could work on the chain gang during the game.

“All I had to do was look down the sideline and there was Russell,” the Mohawk athletic director said. “They asked if I had a guy in mind, I said here, here’s a guy who’s been doing it for 50-some years.”

Russell Cracraft certainly didn’t mind. Working the chains comes naturally to the 77-year-old Bessemer resident.

Cracraft is the only man Mohawk has seen work the down marker and he did the same job back at Bessemer High before Mohawk came to be in the fall of 1958.

“I love it,” he said. “You gotta love it. I’ve been on those chains 52 years and I never missed a home game. People don’t believe it and say that’s impressive.”

Cracraft was Mohawk’s head custodian for 35 years, retiring from the position 16 years ago and he still wears many hats. Not only does he work the chains for the varsity games, but he does it for junior varsity and junior high games as well. He also mows, outlines and paints the fields for football, baseball, track and soccer.

“If you know anything about Mohawk and have been around here, you know Russell,” Stratton said. “He does everything and he never misses a beat.

“He’s an enjoyable guy who enjoys everybody.”

And in the winter, just when there wouldn’t be much for him to do, Cracraft has run the scoreboard clock for all Mohawk basketball games for the past 45 years.

“To go 52 straight years without missing a game and to do all the other things like mow and paint the field and run the clock during basketball, shows his passion and dedication,” said Kevin Wrona, who is Mohawk’s boys basketball coach as well as the assistant athletic director. “Russell has always had that in him because it’s very important to him.”

Cracraft played football, baseball and basketball before graduating from Bessemer in 1950. He was a volunteer assistant football coach when his younger brother, the late Don Cracraft, played for Bessemer in 1956.

“They weren’t supposed to win a game that year and they went 8-0,” he said. “That was a good team. I can still name every player on that team.”

Still, while Cracraft has watched a huge amount of Mohawk players over the years, he also has gained a strong reputation on the field.

“Every week the referees come and ask if I ever ran the chains before and I never tell them how long I’ve been doing it,” said Cracraft, who also was a local baseball and softball umpire for 42 years. “The other guys down on the field always tell them, ‘Oh, you don’t have to worry about Russ. He’s been on here 50-some years.’

“Some guys like to come back and tell you where to put the ball, but when they come to Bessemer, they know I know where the ball is. They never have to worry. I know because I line the field. I know this field like a book.”

Cracraft came close to missing just one game — nearly 25 years ago.

“I don’t remember when it was, but I was in the hospital because my heart was skipping,” said Cracraft, who has been married to his wife, Violet, for 57 years. “I told my doctor on Wednesday that I gotta get out of here because on Friday I work the chains. He didn’t know what that was, but I told him I got my clothes in the locker, so Friday afternoon, I’m leaving.

“Friday morning comes and the doctor says, ‘Go, go run those chains.’ That’s the only close call I ever had.”

The Mohawk athletic department plans to honor Cracraft and recognize his years of service during the Warriors’ last home game against Beaver on Oct. 17.

“When it comes to everything he does, it’s the one thing I know I don’t have to worry about,” Stratton said. “I hope he never leaves. I don’t think he ever wants to, but it’s going to be hard to fill the void.”
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