Plans detailed for statue of Warren Harding football standout

Paul Warfield

WARREN, Ohio - One of Warren's most celebrated athletes will be recognized by his alma mater.

Plans for a Paul Warfield monument are in motion in the parking lot of Warren G. Harding High School.

A concrete foundation is already poured for the bronze, life-size statue of the NFL Hall of Fame inductee. The statue will be accompanied by two double-sided granite panels, which will chronicle his football career.

Warfield was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1983 and is ranked among the 100 greatest players of all time. He played 13 seasons in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns and the Miami Dolphins.

"When they see this exhibit and read what he has done and not only that, the character that he has displayed all throughout his career, he's been an outstanding ambassador for not only Warren, but the entire Mahoning Valley area," says Ray Yannucci, Paul Warfield project organizer.

The memorial will be unveiled on September 12 at 6:00 p.m. during a dedication ceremony in front of Mollenkopf Stadium. At a news conference at the site on Tuesday, organizers said that following the unveiling, they plan to hold the second annual Warren G. Harding Panther Community Dinner in the high school cafetorium at 7:15 p.m.

Community dinner tickets can be purchased for $10 at the Warren G. Harding High School ticket office, Buena Vista Cafe and Franklin Pharmacy. Tickets are also available at the door the night of the event.

The following evening, September 13, Warfield will be honored during halftime of the Harding throwback game versus the Massilon Tigers.

The Paul Warfield Project is being funded solely by community donations. Donors making a contribution of $500 or more will be invited to a private VIP reception on Thursday, September 12, for an opportunity to personally meet Paul Warfield and participate in a photograph and autograph session.

Donations are made payable to Warren City Schools, and can be mailed to:

Warren G. Harding High School

c/o Athletic Department

860 Elm Road NE

Warren, Ohio 44483