Notable People in
Oakwood's History
Architects
Albert Pretzinger 1863-1940
Lived at 133 Wisteria Dr. – Established firm of Pretzinger
& Musselman in 1912 and became one of the leading architects in the area. He was
responsible for the original and annex of the Reibold Blg, remodeling of the
Callahan Blg., and several Dayton school bldgs. He designed several paper mills
in Middletown and houses in Oakwood including 218 Haver Rd, 520 Maysfield, 600
Runnymede Rd, and 2735 Ridgeway Rd. The firm continued many years with his son
and grandsons, Albert & Robert, OHS class of 1948.
Freeman Pretzinger 1889-
Lived at 204 Forrer Blvd. joined his father’s architecture
firm after graduating from MIT. He designed the Dayton Daily News Bldg., The
Commerical Bldg., Soldiers Home Hospital, and the residence of Lucerne Custer on
Schenck Ave.
Athletes
Virginia Hollinger (McLeod)
Lived at 1605 Far Hills Ave. She was known as Dayton’s best
tennis player. She was National Indoor Tennis Champ 1938 and twice National
Indoor Girls champ. She was known as Little Miss Poker Face, and she attributed
much of her success to being able to practice all winter at Runnymede Playhouse.
She had a forced retirement due to Hodgkin’s Disease. She died at age 28. The
Oakwood Hollinger Tennis Club is named in her honor.