City of Cleveland Councilman Keven Kelley is trying to change the name of the EDWARD J. KOVACIC RECREATION CENTER on East 62nd and St. Clair To the Muhammad Ali Center.

President Kevin Kelley,

I received a very disturbing message from family members who informed me that there is emergency legislation in council to remove my fathers name from the EDWARD J. KOVACIC RECREATION CENTER on E.62nd and St. Clair Avenue (Ordinance #177-2020).

The people who are responsible for this legislation have no idea who EDDIE KOVACIC was and how much the people in old WARD 23, the entire city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and the State of Ohio has benefited from his life, his work and his passion. He helped so many people from all walks of life, from all neighborhoods. To just discard his name from this building and what it means to the people still remaining in the neighborhood, and to those who knew him, is quite disrespectful. This matter is quite important to me, to my entire family and to be quite honest, to all Slovenians in Cleveland and all of the surrounding cities and counties, who either knew Eddie Kovacic or knew about him. Its apparent that the people behind this name change have no idea who Eddie Kovacic was and what he represented. For them I offer the following.

Eddie Kovacic was born to Slovenian immigrant parents on Feb.7th 1910. He was raised by John and Mary Kovacic on East 61st Street just north of St. Clair Avenue. Eddie went to the local city schools which included Willson Jr. High on E.55th and Superior Avenue and East High School located on E.82nd Street just south of Superior Avenue. After graduation, Eddie attended John Carroll University located at the now site of St. Ignatius High School on W.28th and Lorain Ave. Eddie graduated with a Bachelors degree majoring in Philosophy, while playing guard on the JCU football team. To fund his education, Eddie shoveled coal in the steel mills to help offset his college costs.

While Eddie was in his senior year, the St. Clair Recreation Center was being built on St. Clair Avenue. After graduation, he applied to be the director of the center. He was hired and for the next 10 years was the first director of the center. He instituted programs and activities for the people in the neighborhood.

In 1940, Eddie ran for the council seat in WARD 23 and was elected. He remained the councilman in the 23rd Ward for the next 15 years, never missing a council meeting nor a committee meeting during his tenure. Eddie had an eventful tour as councilman. In October of 1944, the East Ohio Gas Company on East 55th Street had 3 of their tanks explode that were located adjacent to E.61st and E.62nd streets, north of St. Clair. The entire block was fully engaged in fire. Many, many lives were lost. Dozens and dozens of homes were destroyed. When the tanks ruptured, the gas seeped into the sewer lines and backed up into the drains of the homes bordering the gas company. When it ignited, all of the affected homes were incinerated from within, and the houses exploded causing massive damage, death and chaos in the neighborhood.

All but one of the East Ohio Gas tanks exploded. One remained active. The day after the explosion, chemical engineers for East Ohio Gas and Councilman Kovacic went to the fire site for the purpose of disarming the remaining unaffected tank. They remained there that day until the job was completed. This insured there would be no further explosions. They were heros. In the aftermath, Councilman Kovacic spearheaded efforts to assist the affected families. Much was needed to be done to begin with the rebuilding of the streets, the homes and families. It took much time, but it was completed.

During his time in council Eddie Kovacic was the Chairman of the Safety Committee for many years. Unlike today, one of his duties was to negotiate contracts between the city's Police and Fire Departments. In the 1950's one such event occurred. Councilman Kovacic was instructed by Mayor Celebreeze to offer those Saftey Departments a 3 per cent raise. Kovacic went to the heads of the FOP and Fire Union who agreed to the 3 per cent raise. However, a few days later the Mayor told Kovacic they had to rescind the city's offer, that the Finance Director changed his mind. Kovacic balked, saying that he had a handshake agreement with the Police and Fire officials, and that he wasn't going back on his word, and their agreement. At the council meeting the following Monday, it appeared that the raise was not going to pass. Kovacic spoke to the council members in chambers, and was able to convince them that to issue the raise was honest, fair and was the right thing to do. The other members concurred and the raises were granted. This was just an example of the respect that the council body had for their fellow member Eddie Kovacic.

In 1954-55 Eddie Kovacic was appointed to the CTS Board, and after about 5 years was appointed the Governmental Relations director for CTS. He was the intermediary between council and the Cleveland Transit System. Part of his duties was also as a lobbyist for CTS. After many trips to Columbus, Ohio and Washington DC, and after many meetings and much time spent, the Federal Government granted the city of Cleveland the monies it would take to make the Cleveland Transit System a regional system to be called the Regional Transit System, or more commonly known as R.T.A. As a result, the city had a big time transit system to offer it's regional citizens as a means of transportation. Now the less fortunate citizens of the region had a way to get to work. This was especially true for those without automobiles. These folks were now able to earn a paycheck to take care of their families.

On the day that the announcement was to be made at a dinner at Quail Hollow, Eddie Kovacic sustained a fatal heart attack at the age of 64 years old. He was to get an award for his efforts, but succumbed hours before this event. His funeral at St. Vitus Parish days later on E.60th and Glass Avenue (Laushe Ave) was attended by hundreds of people from all walks of life. The mayor, council members, many dignitaries were there along with many, many people whose lives Eddie Kovacic affected. Seldom are Police Funerals ever afforded to anyone other than Police Officers. But on his funeral day, he was granted a full police funeral, including a color guard, police cars, mounted police officers and total police escorts. What a wonderful gesture the safety forces had for Eddie Kovacic, and the respect they showed that day, will be a lasting memory.

Mr. Anton Grdina and Ed Kovacic sponsored many who came from Slovenia as immigrants for a better life. Eddie Kovacic would house these people in his home when they arrived and would find them jobs. When they were ready, he would help them get homes or apartments and get on their own. Councilman Kovacic and Mr. Grdina helped countless people in this way. He always would say this about politics, "First and foremost, always do the right thing, whatever that would be. Then, if you want, go get elected. People first."

Ed Kovacic was very instrumental in John F. Kennedy's election to the Presidency in 1960. He handled many duties as a campaign manager for Cleveland city mayors, for Congressman and Senators and did likewise for John F. Kennedy. After being elected President, Eddie Kovacic was offered a federal position by President Kennedy, but Eddie turned it down. He didn't want to leave his family, his friends and his Cleveland people for Washington.This position was later given to Eddie's brother, John F. Kovacic as the United States Customs Collector from Erie PA to Toledo Ohio. John was the councilman of WARD 23 at that time. When John Kovacic left for Washington, the council position for the 23 ward was turned over to Edmund Turk, who later became the Council president.

Eddie Kovacic lived on Hecker Avenue in Cleveland with his wife Marie. He lived there all his life. He had a daughter Barbara, a decorated emergency room nurse at St. Alexis Hospital on E. 51st and Broadway and a son Edward Jr. (Buddy), a Cleveland city employee for 30 years as a uniformed policeman and a Homicide detective for the final 24 years of service. Eddie's nephew and God-son was Edward P. Kovacic, the former police chief under Mayor Mike White from 1990 until 1994. Another nephew, Victor Edward Kovacic was also a policeman for 38 years as the Superintendant of the police Scientific Investigation Unit and the officer in charge of the Bomb Squad, in the CPD. Edward Kovacic had another nephew Daniel Kovacic, a Cleveland Fireman and at the end of his career was in charge of the CFD Arson Investigation Unit. Eddie's grandson, Andrew, is currently a 27 year veteran of the Cleveland Fire Dept while another nephew and God-son, Lieut. David Telban is a 26 year veteran of the Cleveland Fire Dept.

Eddie Kovacic also has a grandson, Michael Kocet, who has a PHD in Counseling and is a professor at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology located in Chicago, Illinois. Eddie's grandaughter is Michelle Kocet-Kitchen, a graduate of Kent State University with a degree in Sociology. Michelle worked for over 30 years as a social worker for Cuyahoga County at the Sarah Jane Hunter Building on E.40th and Euclid Avenue.

Michelle received her Masters degree in social work and later became a supervisor in the 696 Kids Hotline. Michelle has recently retired.

Ed Kovacic mentored all of the above people at some period in their lives and each one were residents of the city of Cleveland. They were all service orientated for the citizens of Cleveland and kept up the tradition instilled in them by their father, their uncle and their grandfather, Eddie Kovacic. It was for this reason that Mayor Dennis Kucinich dedicated the St. Clair Recreation Center in 1978 and stated "From this day forward the center was to be called THE EDWARD J. KOVACIC RECREATION CENTER." I truly hope it stays this way.

Thank You very much for taking the time to read this.