Editor, Webmaster: Phil Cartwright Editor@earlyjas.org
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| Personalities -- by Phil Cartwright |
| Don Bentley |
The Mayor of Earlville has
been a dominant presence in
the metropolis of Earlville, OH
for more than 50 years. Well,
maybe it’s not a metropolis
but if you have a magnifying
glass and a map from the 1940’
s you might find Earlville
located between Kent and
Streetsboro.
Now, it is the home of the
Rusty Nail as well as the home
of Don (the Mayor) and Babs
Bentley.
To the point of our interest
in music: Don and his beautiful
bride, Babs, have been staunch
supporters of traditional jazz
in NE Ohio.
The most important venue in
traditional jazz in NE Ohio is
the Rusty Nail. Don and Babs
opened the Nail as a steak
house in September 1967. It
was an instant success. Bob
Paton suggested: “How about
some Dixieland music?” DB
(as Don Bentley is known)
said OK and on Good Friday,
1968, a Dixie band started
playing — and there has been
traditional jazz ever since. DB
says that band nights were not
moneymakers but not money
losers, either.
been a dominant presence in
the metropolis of Earlville, OH
for more than 50 years. Well,
maybe it’s not a metropolis
but if you have a magnifying
glass and a map from the 1940’
s you might find Earlville
located between Kent and
Streetsboro.
Now, it is the home of the
Rusty Nail as well as the home
of Don (the Mayor) and Babs
Bentley.
To the point of our interest
in music: Don and his beautiful
bride, Babs, have been staunch
supporters of traditional jazz
in NE Ohio.
The most important venue in
traditional jazz in NE Ohio is
the Rusty Nail. Don and Babs
opened the Nail as a steak
house in September 1967. It
was an instant success. Bob
Paton suggested: “How about
some Dixieland music?” DB
(as Don Bentley is known)
said OK and on Good Friday,
1968, a Dixie band started
playing — and there has been
traditional jazz ever since. DB
says that band nights were not
moneymakers but not money
losers, either.
In addition to being the Mayor of Earlville, DB has the distinction of being the Commodore of the
Earlville Yacht Club. This club was started by DB, Don Joseph, and Charlie Zumkehr. Membership
in a national organization of yacht clubs gained them reciprocal memberships in some of the finest
yacht clubs in the world. Fortunately, none of the members of the other yacht clubs showed up to
take advantage of the facilities of the Earlville Yacht Club.
As a child and young adolescent, DB lived for a few years in Cuyahoga Falls. His Dad was a
milkman; Bill Parthe informs us that Mr. Bentley delivered milk to the Parthe household. DB
wrestled for Cuyahoga Falls for 2 years. At the end of his sophomore year, the Bentley family
moved to Kent whereupon Don played varsity football for two years at Kent’s Roosevelt High
School. In addition to being an athlete, Don was Vice-President of his junior class and president of
his senior class.
Don and Babs met in high school; they’ve been together ever since. They have three daughters
and a son.
Don Bentley has been associated with Kent Roosevelt High School (RHS) for over 60 years! In
1945, he was on the football team that played against Ravenna High and he has not missed a game
since! In the interest of full disclosure, he has not actually played against Ravenna all those years.
As a high school wrestler, he showed up at practice for Kent State University’s wrestling team.
He managed to pin a KSU varsity wrestler before it was discovered that he was still in high school!
DB is strong supporter of Kent athletic programs. When Dr. Stanton was Superintendent, he
convened a group of athletic enthusiasts at the Rusty Nail. The superintendent didn’t like the sound
of “Booster Club” so that night the Roosevelt Rough Riders Association was born.
DB has supported both RHS and KSU athletics for many years. A good friend of DB’s was Mike
Ludd, athletic director at Kent State when Don James was football coach. DB told Mike, “I can’t
give you a bunch of money but if you need food for the athletes, beer, or a bus to a game, let me
know.” Mike Ludd cultivated many small supporters rather than only one or two big sponsors. It
turned out to work well in the long run.
When not supporting jazz and athletics and running a restaurant, Don was a builder. He designed
and built over 100 homes in the Portage County area.
The Earlville Jazz Band has played at the Rusty Nail for over thirty years. The EARLYJAS club
was born at the Nail and met there for many years until Don and Babs sold the business in 2003. In
addition to Earlville, Don Likes Buck Creek, Buffalo Ridge, and the Minstrels of Earlville.
Traditional jazz in NE Ohio is deeply indebted to the Bentleys for all their support over the
years. Thank you!!
Earlville Yacht Club. This club was started by DB, Don Joseph, and Charlie Zumkehr. Membership
in a national organization of yacht clubs gained them reciprocal memberships in some of the finest
yacht clubs in the world. Fortunately, none of the members of the other yacht clubs showed up to
take advantage of the facilities of the Earlville Yacht Club.
As a child and young adolescent, DB lived for a few years in Cuyahoga Falls. His Dad was a
milkman; Bill Parthe informs us that Mr. Bentley delivered milk to the Parthe household. DB
wrestled for Cuyahoga Falls for 2 years. At the end of his sophomore year, the Bentley family
moved to Kent whereupon Don played varsity football for two years at Kent’s Roosevelt High
School. In addition to being an athlete, Don was Vice-President of his junior class and president of
his senior class.
Don and Babs met in high school; they’ve been together ever since. They have three daughters
and a son.
Don Bentley has been associated with Kent Roosevelt High School (RHS) for over 60 years! In
1945, he was on the football team that played against Ravenna High and he has not missed a game
since! In the interest of full disclosure, he has not actually played against Ravenna all those years.
As a high school wrestler, he showed up at practice for Kent State University’s wrestling team.
He managed to pin a KSU varsity wrestler before it was discovered that he was still in high school!
DB is strong supporter of Kent athletic programs. When Dr. Stanton was Superintendent, he
convened a group of athletic enthusiasts at the Rusty Nail. The superintendent didn’t like the sound
of “Booster Club” so that night the Roosevelt Rough Riders Association was born.
DB has supported both RHS and KSU athletics for many years. A good friend of DB’s was Mike
Ludd, athletic director at Kent State when Don James was football coach. DB told Mike, “I can’t
give you a bunch of money but if you need food for the athletes, beer, or a bus to a game, let me
know.” Mike Ludd cultivated many small supporters rather than only one or two big sponsors. It
turned out to work well in the long run.
When not supporting jazz and athletics and running a restaurant, Don was a builder. He designed
and built over 100 homes in the Portage County area.
The Earlville Jazz Band has played at the Rusty Nail for over thirty years. The EARLYJAS club
was born at the Nail and met there for many years until Don and Babs sold the business in 2003. In
addition to Earlville, Don Likes Buck Creek, Buffalo Ridge, and the Minstrels of Earlville.
Traditional jazz in NE Ohio is deeply indebted to the Bentleys for all their support over the
years. Thank you!!
| Earlville Association for Ragtime Lovers Yearning for Jazz Advancement and Socialization |
EARLYJAS