In the spring of 1950, Principal A. O. Mathias (left) stopped the son of Greek immigrants in the halls of Withrow High School and asked what he planned to do after graduation. “I don’t know” was the reply.
Akila J. “Ike” Misali’s whose parents ran a small dry-cleaning store downtown. He wanted to attend college but didn’t have the money. In early August that year, with his future still in limbo, Misali unexpectedly received a letter from Raymond Walters, then president of The University of Cincinnati.
Walters invited Misali to attend UC on a full-tuition scholarship because of his record and Mathias’ recommendation.
