Since 1954 Capitol Varsity Sports, Inc. has been a leader in the reconditioning and selling of sporting goods and equipment. From the early beginnings as a division of the Capitol Dry Cleaning Company, Capitol Varsity has serviced accounts in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois and West Virginia as well as many other areas in the country. As a reconditioning company, PLAYER SAFETY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN OUR TOP PRIORITY!!!!

Capitol Varsity Sports was a founding member of The National Athletic Equipment Reconditoners Association (NAERA). This organization was formed in 1975 to establish a uniform set of standards set forth by The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE). Capitol Varsity is licensed by NOCSAE to re-certify football helmets, lacrosse helmets and baseball/softball helmets. In addition to helmets, the company also reconditions shoulder pads, shoes, practice and game clothing, blocking dummies, rib pads, girdles, baseball/softball hard goods and many other sports products. Through an outside sales force of approximately ten road salesman Capitol Varsity also sells new products to colleges, high schools, junior highs and youth organizations.
The company represents many of the major sporting goods lines. RUSSELL ATHLETIC, ADIDAS, UNDER ARMOUR, SCHUTT SPORTS, WILSON, RAWLINGS, DOUGLAS, EASTON AND RIDDELL are just a few of the quality lines offered by Capitol Varsity Sports. Capitol Varsity owns two retail TEAM outlets stores located in Butler County Ohio. One store is located at their plant in Oxford, Ohio and the other TEAM outlet store is located in Hamilton, Ohio. Capitol Varsity purchased Clark’s Sporting Goods in Hamilton, Ohio in 2009. Clark’s Sporting Goods has been operating in Hamilton, Ohio for over 70 years and continues as a Team Retail store under ownership of Capitol Varsity.

The Wing Story – In the late 1960’s when the University of Michigan hired Bo Schembechler as head coach, he took Miami Assistant Equipment Manager John Falk with him to Michigan. Falk became the equipment manager for U of M for over 40 years. During that time, her relied on Capitol Varsity painter Russ Hawkins to paint the wings on the Michigan Wolverine’s Helmets. Hawkins painted at Capitol Varsity for 59 years and retired in 2017. Hawkins unique way of using his hands to paint the Michigan helmet became subject to many national media articles and video segments across the country.

Hoover and Dodd Story – Oxford residents Frank Dodd, Bill Hoover and Don Doan, purchased the athletic division of the company away from the parent company, Capitol Dry Cleaning in 1972. Dodd and Hoover became sole owners in a partnership soon after. Both Dodd and Hoover were Miami University Alums and staples in the Oxford Community for many decades. Hoover was a former Miami University football player and his roommate during college was legendary coach Ara Parseghian. As 21-year-old graduate assistants, both got the opportunity to be on Woody Hayes 1950 coaching staff at Miami University. Both Hoover and Dodd had a strong connection to many of the Cradle of Coaches from Miami. John Pont, Weeb Eubank, Bo Schembechler, Bill Mallory and Ara Parseghian were all friends of Hoover and Dodd. By the late 1980’s Dodd bought out the interests of Bill Hoover and became sole owner of the company until 1997 when he sold the company to Bob and Kathy Fawley who still own the company today. Bob has worked for the company since 1985.