Heart of a Mule: The Dick Schafrath Stories [Hardcover]

Dick Schafrath (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 2006

He won national football championships with the 1964 Cleveland Browns and the 1957 Ohio State University Buckeyes. He served four terms in the Ohio senate. He was the first person ever to canoe across Lake Erie. He ran sixty miles nonstop between Cleveland and Wooster, Ohio, on a bet. He met presidents . . . He wrestled bears.
Yes, Dick Schafrath has plenty of stories to tell.
In this book, he tells the most remarkable stories from his first seventy years. Stories of growing up on an Ohio farm with no plumbing, plowing behind a pair of mules. Of playing alongside famous teammates and coaches--Jim Brown, Paul Brown, Woody Hayes . . . Of political campaigns and publicity stunts. Of returning to Ohio State to finish his undergraduate degree--after fifty years! Of a life dedicated to hard work and a stubborn determination that earned him his longtime nickname, "The Mule."
Wild and wonderful, told in a warm, personal style, these stories are sure to entertain and inspire.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Schafrath uses a simple, witty writing style that makes it seem like he's right in the room talking to the reader . . . Any fan of the Buckeyes or Browns should enjoy hearing the standout former offensive lineman's behind-the-scenes stories on the likes of Woody Hayes, Paul Brown and Jim Brown . . . There are several laugh-out-loud moments. --Daily Record

Schafrath is a hard-working, stubbornly determined man who never stops looking for a challenge. This message rings loud and clear in his book. --Madison Messenger

The truth should never get in the way of a a good story, and Schafrath, former OSU Buckeye and Cleveland Browns player, adheres to that rule. --Ohioana Quarterly

From the Inside Flap

He won national football championships with the 1964 Cleveland Browns and the 1957 Ohio State University Buckeyes. He served two terms in the Ohio senate. He was the first person ever to canoe across Lake Erie. He ran sixty miles nonstop between Cleveland and Wooster, Ohio, on a bet. He met presidents . . . He wrestled bears. Yes, Dick Schafrath has plenty of stories to tell. In this book, he tells the most remarkable stories from his first seventy years. Stories of growing up on an Ohio farm with no plumbing, plowing behind a pair of mules. Of playing alongside famous teammates and coaches--Jim Brown, Paul Brown, Blanton Collier, Gary Collins, Woody Hayes . . . Of political campaigns and publicity stunts. Of returning to Ohio State to finish his undergraduate degree--after fifty years! Of a life dedicated to hard work and a stubborn determination that earned him his longtime nickname, "The Mule." Wild and wonderful, told in a warm, personal style, these stories are sure to entertain and inspire.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 228 pages
• Publisher: Gray & Co., Publishers (September 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159851024X
• ISBN-13: 978-1598510249
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,810,004 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Told in a friendly, conversational tone, these varied stories are sure to delight and inspire, June 3, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heart of a Mule: The Dick Schafrath Stories (Hardcover)

Heart of a Mule: The Dick Schafrath Stories is the autobiography covering seventy years of a truly remarkable man's life. Dick Schafrath tells of his childhood on an Ohio farm with no plumbing, plowing behind a pair of mules; winning national football championships; serving four terms in the Ohio senate; being the first person to ever canoe across Lake Erie; returning to Ohio State to finish his undergraduate degree after fifty years had passed; and much more. Told in a friendly, conversational tone, these varied stories are sure to delight and inspire, as they convey a rich life marked by rising to challenges. Highly recommended.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mule sense, December 6, 2009

By 

Albert Di Iorio "Alberto" (Painesville, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Heart of a Mule: The Dick Schafrath Stories (Hardcover)

Growing up on a farm in the 40s, playing for the championship Cleveland Browns in the 50s & 60s, as well as insights into what drives Dick Schafrath to excel is what makes this book enjoyable reading

4.0 out of 5 stars ONE HELLUVA LINEMAN, November 5, 2010

By 

COOL JEWEL (MACEDONIA, OHIO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heart of a Mule: The Dick Schafrath Stories (Hardcover)

HEART OF A MULE IS A VERY NICE READ BY FORMER CLEVELAND BROWN DICK SCHAFRATH. HE CERTAINLY WAS ONE OF THE BEST OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF HIS TIME. HE TELLS US OF HIS TOUGH AND HARD WORKING LIFE ON THE FARM HE GREW UP ON. HIS LIST OF DAILY CHORES WEARS ME OUT JUST THINKING ABOUT IT. HE CERTAINLY KNOWS WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE POOR. THEN IT WAS ON TO COLLAGE AT OHIO STATE WHERE HE PLAYED FOR LEGEND WOODY HAYES. HE WAS DRAFTED BY THE BROWNS AND PLAYED FOR ANOTHER LEGEND IN PAUL BROWN. AFTER FOOTBALL HE HAD HIS OWN BUSINESS AND LATER WENT INTO POLITICS. DICK SHOULD BE IN THE HALL OF FAME, HE WAS THAT GOOD. HIS FOOTBALL STORIES ARE THE BOOK'S HIGHLIGHT. HE HAS A NUMBER OF FUNNY AND INTERESTING STORIES LIKE ROWING ACROSS LAKE ERIE. HE HAS DONE SO MUCH IN LIFE AND TRULY HAS ENJOYED IT. HIS LIFE HAS HAD SOME SETBACKS SUCH AS TWO DIVORCES AND HIS HEALTH DUE TO HEART PROBLEMS. I REALLY LIKED THIS BOOK AS IT BROUGHT BACK MANY GREAT BROWNS MOMENTS. IF YOU ARE A BROWNS FAN FROM THE 1960'S YOU CAN ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE THIS NOSTALGIC TRIP. ACTUALLY MOST ANYONE CAN ENJOY THIS WELL WRITTEN BOOK.