Inspire, Fall/Winter 2008

Mascot Memories “The ‘Flight of the Bumblebee’ song was my cue, and I’d go peddling around the gym on a little red tricycle,” explained Ron Hobar ’82. A communication major from Cleveland, Ohio, Ron entertained basketball fans as the Cedarville Bee during the 1980–81 season. The large, round Bee head was a constant, but Ron varied the rest of the costume according to skits he planned for each game. In a playoff game against the Defiance College Yellow Jackets, some friends helped him act out a David and Goliath scenario. The crowd cheered when the Bee defeated the “Defiant Giant.” “My goal was to get the crowd into the game,” Ron said, and he employed all manner of Bee antics to get the job done. He did a lot of sliding across the gym floor, a trick he perfected as a Cedarville baseball player. He’d offer oversize glasses or an eye chart to officials following questionable calls. Ron’s athleticism helped him pull off his favorite mascot moment — rappelling from the gym rafters at Christmas dressed as Santa Bee. He hadn’t practiced the stunt while wearing the Bee head, which nearly fell off during his descent. He recalled, “I had to figure out a way to come down with one hand on the rope and the other holding the head in place without dropping the sack full of candy I had for the fans.” The things we do to spread Christmas joy! Hamming it up came naturally to Ron. He performed on campus with The Seven Guys Who Are Comedians, a group of students whose comedy shows raised money for missions. Other sources of inspiration were as varied as the San Diego Chicken and “the clowns of Lawlor Hall,” who were always good for a wacky idea. In addition to his athletic exploits, Ron was a member of AD-7, Pi Sigma Nu, and The Master’s Puppets and served as vice president of his class. “The leadership experience I gained at Cedarville prepared me for what I am doing now,” he said. In his 17 years with Athletes in Action, Ron pioneered many innovative sports outreach and ministry initiatives around the world. Since 2003, he has served as the youth baseball director with Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He is working to develop a national youth baseball program equipping the total athlete with skills for the game and a heart for Christ. Few grads have had a chance to “get inside the Bee’s head” and experience Cedarville from this unique perspective. “Representing Cedarville so visibly gives you a deeper connection with the University,” said Ron. “We were encouraged to do all things with excellence — the Bee should be excellent, too.” Throughout his career, Ron Hobar ’82 has continued to use his creativity and commitment to excellence to influence lives. Learn more about his ministry online at www.fcabaseball.org . Ron Hobar ’82 always put on an exciting show for the Yellow Jackets fans. Buzzing Around “That’s me with Li’l Buzzy, back when I buzzed around as the Bee in the early ’80s. We had a club of about 140 kids and would do birthday parties, cake presentations, and other fun stuff at halftime for club members. I’m glad to see the Bee costume has cleaned up — he’s looking pretty good for a guy his age!” — Mike Trautman ’84