UC Athletic Hall of Fame Taps Standout Pair

Sept. 22, 2005

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Dave Canary, two-time Most Outstanding Lineman on the Bearcat football teams of the late 1950s, and Becky Ruehl Amann, a five-time All-American in diving, have been selected for induction into the University of Cincinnati Athletic Hall of Fame.

The duo will be formally enshrined at the Legion of Excellence Gala on Thursday, Oct. 13 at the Marriott Kingsgate Conference Center on the UC campus. Reservations may be made by calling the UC Athletic Department at (513) 556-4884.

David Canary

Canary was a two-way starter at split end and defensive end on the 1957, 1958 and 1959 UC football teams. At 5-11 and 185 pounds, he was called by head coach George Blackburn "the toughest guy, pound-for-pound, that I've ever seen." He earned the John Pease Award as the Most Outstanding Lineman in 1958 and 1959, beating out teammages Ron Kostelnik, Jim Leo, Max Messner and Ken Byers, all of whom went on to the pro ranks. Canary was also named to the Pop Warner Academic All-American Team as a senior.

A product of the legendary high school football program of Massillon (O.) Washington High, Canary turned down other football scholarship offers to study voice in UC's College Conservatory of Music. He played male lead roles in numerous Mummers Guild productions and was president of the senior class in 1959-60. His dual role of performing on the football field and on stage did not detract from his academic pursuits. Canary, a regular on the Dean's List, was named to the Pop Warner Academic All-American Team.

Drafted by Denver of the fledgling American Football League, Canary turned down football for the footlights and embarked on an acting career which led him into television. He became a regular on Bonanza and currently is with the Emmy-winning daytime drama All My Children.

Ruehl captured the hearts as well as the attention of America at the 1996 Olympics. A virtual unknown, Ruehl finished fourth in the platform diving competition at the Games in Atlanta. Calm and poise, characteristics she displayed in the heat of competition, were evident when the then-18 year old performed in the international spotlight.

The Olympics capped a stellar freshman year for the Lakeside Park, Ky. native. After winning titles on both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards at the National Independent Championships, Ruehl won the 10-meter platform title at the 1996 NCAA Championships, becoming UC's first female national champion in any sport. She also finished second on the 3-meter board to earn double All-American honors and the title of NCAA Diver of the Year. She went on to win the AAU platform national title and finished second at the Olympic Trials.

She earned All-American honors on the 3-meter board her sophomore and junior years but battled through a shoulder injury, which eventually sidelined her for the 1998-99 season. Becky came back to earn All-American honors in the platform diving as a senior.

Ruehl was also a champion in the classroom. She balanced athletics with her demanding major, graphic design and was a first team GTE Academic All-American as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Becky entered the graphic design field upon graduation in 2000 and currently is a design artist for Perkins & Will EvaMaddox Branded Environments of Chicago.

The new inductees brings the number of former athletes inducted into the UC Athletic Hall of Fame to 141.