Richard James "Dick" Kotis

Richard James (“Dick”) Kotis

The sport fishing industry has lost its coach. Richard James (“Dick”) Kotis passed away peacefully at home on November 21, 2021. Dick was born on May 24, 1926, in Garfield Heights, Ohio. He graduated from Garfield Heights High School, where he lettered in three varsity sports (football, basketball, and baseball) and was named Athlete of the Year in 1944. After graduation in June of 1944, Dick enlisted in the United States Navy, serving from 1944 to 1946 on the U.S.S. Intrepid and as a Seabee in the Pacific theater. After his honorable discharge, Dick returned to Ohio and enrolled in Kent State University under the G.I. Bill, where he played varsity football from 1946 to 1948. He graduated from Kent State in 1948 with a double major in Physical Education and Biology. He went on to earn a Master of Education Administration degree in 1951 and completed several semesters towards his doctorate at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

After graduating from Kent State, Dick joined the faculty of the Garfield Heights schools, where he taught physical education and served as the football coach from 1949 to 1951. In 1951, Dick was appointed as an assistant coach for football and basketball at Kent State, where he served until 1957. Dick’s love for the outdoors was a major influencing factor in his decision to leave coaching and join the Fred Arbogast Company, first in a sales position and then becoming President in 1959. Dick held that position until his retirement in 1991.

Under his leadership, Arbogast purchased other companies to expand its offerings to include lures for every type of American fishing. Dick was a legend in the sport fishing world and associated himself and Arbogast with organizations devoted to promoting local and national fishing and conservation, and especially to promoting fishing among young people. He served on numerous boards and committees and traveled extensively to promote good fishing techniques. His career spanned 40 successful years and his accomplishments and accolades are too many to name. He was most proud of his role in creating the Fish Ohio program in 1980, which was then the largest fishing recognition program in the nation, rewarding anglers for notable catches with a commemorative pin. In 2010, Dick was inducted into the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Hall of Fame. Dick shared his love for fishing in countless ways, appearing on syndicated national TV fishing shows and hosting a call-in radio program in the Cleveland market, answering callers’ fishing questions.

Dick was a Golden Flash through and through, attending Kent State football games rain or shine and sitting courtside at basketball games. He was a lifetime member of the Kent State University Alumni Association, a member of the President’s Club, and a member of the Blue and Gold and Varsity “K” Clubs. He was named Varsity K “Person of the Year” in 1997.

Dick had the good fortune to be in two loving and long-term marriages, each lasting over 30 years. He married fellow Golden Flash, Ethel Szojak, in August of 1949. Ethel predeceased him in 1983. He married Jeanne Conway on November 22, 1985 and was married to her until her passing in December 2018. Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Henry L. and Anna (nee Plantner) Kotis; by his sister Jean K. Rinkoski; his first wife, Ethel; and his second wife, Jeanne. He is survived by his daughter by marriage, Christina (Kevin) Royer and his beloved grandson, Emerson Royer. The family would also like to recognize special friends Dave and Leslie Renninger and Don and Jewell Wetzel.

Because of Covid and concern for safety, the family will forego calling hours. There will be a celebration of Dick’s life in the spring of 2022, at a location to be announced at a future date. Please watch for that announcement. Also, in Dick’s words: “Instead of flowers, take a kid fishing.”

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