Nibbelin, Phillips, Aeschleman make up Big Three at IVC
When people are well-known, they have the opportunity to be referred to in one-word names, like Elvis, Cher, J-Lo or MJ.
In Chillicothe, Poison and Ash qualified for one-name status, each working their own form of magic at sporting contests for the Illinois Valley Central High School Grey Ghosts.
Unfortunately, both athletic legends died recently, leaving the community with only memories of years when the late Ralph Nibbelin, Ron “Poison” Phillips and Steve “Ash” Aeschleman ran the show at IVC games.
In recognition of their time and devotion, both were inducted into the Friends of IVC Athletics Hall of Fame in February 2005.
Both left their imprint on local athletics and the people they met along the way.
“The IVC athletic family has just lost, within a week, two of the most loyal and supportive supporters we’ve ever had,” said IVC athletic director Denny O’Boyle, who presented the inductions of Poison and Ash in 2005.
“These two guys were instrumental in a lot of things here. They were pretty much a part of all of us.”
Poison
Give him a pencil, and Poison got the statistics down on paper for the Grey Ghost teams.
As the official scorekeeper for both boys’ and girls’ teams for more than 25 years, Poison also ran the clock and the chains for the IVC football games for more than 16 years.
For baseball and softball, Poison tallied the scores for more than 15 years.
“Poison did so much for us,” said O’Boyle. “When he was unable to work, Ash picked up a lot of that load.
“Both of these guys put in countless hours through good and bad. We could always depend on them.”
Poison, always eager to be a part of school activities, created the Ron Phillips Freethrow Award, complete with a plaque.
“Poison sponsored the freethrow percentage award for girls for about 15 years,” said longtime girls basketball coach Paul Mercer.
“He wanted to be a part of something at the school, so he came up with this award. He presented it the first couple of years.
“He always came to the girls’ banquets. Poison was a super supporter of the girls’ program, as well as other IVC programs. Most of the time, he also kept score for us on the road.”
For many years, Poison also provided statistics for the Chillicothe Times-Bulletin sports reporters weekly.
He was employed at UPS for many years, eventually retiring from the business.
“He was a great father, enjoyed bowling with our kids and everything revolved around sports,” said Poison’s wife, Jo.
“He had a great sense of humor. He was the kind of person that once you met him, you always liked him.”
Originally from the small town of Franklin Grove, Poison earned his name in a unique way.
“He was bitten by a dog when he was about 5 and the dog died,” said Jo with a laugh.
“Then, a senior in high school wrote a story about him and called him ‘Little Poison’ because of all the ornery things he did as a kid. Like one time his mom told him not to go into the bean field because there were bees in it, and Ron went in anyway. He was stung over 200 times.”
Joyce Mercer, wife of Paul Mercer, said Ash was quite upset at Poison’s visitation.
“He said, ‘First Ralph (Nibbelin), now Poison, and I’m the only one left,’” said Joyce, referring to the IVC Big Three who always occupied the scorer’s table during IVC games.
Ironically, said Mercer, Ash said he guessed he was next.
Nibbelin ran the clock, Poison kept score, and Ash did the announcing.
Poison and Jo had a standing invitation for Ash to stop at their house on Christmas eve.
“He always showed up with his bottle of Coke, and we ate, played cards, and had a lot of fun,” said Jo.
Ash
A quiet and reserved person outside of the gym, put a microphone in Ash’s hands, and his voice and his entire demeanor morphed into a strong sports’ announcer.
Rivaling even the announcer for the Chicago Bulls basketball team, Ash, who often arrived at games hours early, celebrated his Ghosts taking the field or floor with enthusiasm.
He perhaps got his start in the announcing business at Mossville Grade School.
“In eighth grade when I first started teaching and coaching at Mossville, I cut Ash from the basketball team. It was the first year he’d come out,” said Paul Mercer. “I told him I needed him as the manager and to keep stats for both lightweight and heavyweight teams, and he jumped into it and was part of the team. I like to think I sort of gave Ash his start.”
Ash graduated in the IVC Class of 1971, proud to be a participant of the record-setting IVC golf team, which held the school record of 150 strokes at Arrowhead Country Club for 38 years. Ash reportedly shot a 39 that day.
Mercer said Ash was a big part of his own family.
“I think he spent more time at my house than at his house,” said Mercer. Our kids grew up with him around, and my kids’ kids.
“Ash was an icon. He’d do anything. He knew all the players and coaches. He had a unique knack with numbers. He probably had the fastest pen or pencil in the world.”
“Ash announced and kept score for us,” said O’Boyle. “That was his passion. Somebody’s gonna have to fill some big shoes. For Ash to have lived without being able to do this, I don’t think he could have.”
