Inductees

Hard work, determination and a never give up attitude were instilled in Ron Sepic by his parents and those attributes served Sepic well in athletic competition and in life.

Sepic made the sacrifice to be a great player.

“I was always a goal setter,” Sepic said. “I did that in everything I did. When practicing I'd go up to the playground. It would be, ‘Can I make it around the world?’ I wouldn't go home until I made it all the way around, and it had to be a swish.
“When you're doing that for hours at a time, eventually you have to get pretty good at shooting.”

Sepic was a star football and basketball player at Uniontown High School in the 1960s.

The Uniontown playground system was an incubator for Red Raider stars and the two junior highs — Ben Franklin and Lafayette — also were big factors in Uniontown's athletic success.

“We had a great feeder system,” Sepic said. “The playground system, the junior high school system and in grade school we had the Saturday morning basketball league. One of the things we did in the junior highs in football and basketball was that they had us running a lot of the plays and the system that the high school teams were being taught by Bill Power and Abe Everhart. When we got to the high school we were pretty much ready to go.”

The Red Raiders were a dominant football power and won a WPIAL title in Sepic's junior season, posting a 10-0 mark. In basketball, Sepic was a part of a Uniontown juggernaut that lost a total of five games in three years and captured a state championship in 1962.

Sepic has fond memories of his high school coaches.

“Bill Power was a very smart football coach,” Sepic said. “He was very well organized. His scouting program was excellent, as was the team concept of how he broke the team down into different groups. I thought he was just a great organizer. He was never a man that really lost his temper. You wanted to play for him out of respect and that was the same thing with Abe in basketball. He was the same way. Abe was a guy that you wanted to play for. You didn't fear him, but you respected him. You knew that they both knew what they were doing and they got the most out of their athletes.”

The basketball Raiders posted a 29-2 record on their way to a state championship in 1962. Uniontown defeated Norristown 70-57 in the state title game.

Uniontown lost to Bethlehem on Jan. 27, 1962. From there the Red Raiders went on to win 36 games in a row before they ran into John Naponick and Norwin in the 1963 WPIAL basketball playoffs.

Sepic was All-County in football and basketball and also garnered first-team All-State honors in both sports as well, being named to the Parade High School All-American basketball squad in 1963.

He was heavily recruited in both football and basketball when he graduated from Uniontown in 1963.

“It came down to Ohio State, Duke and West Virginia because I thought they would be the closest. Duke was too far and Ohio State was the closest of the Big Ten schools. I was torn between playing football or basketball, but Woody Hayes only threw the ball about three times a game and I was a tight end, so I knew I was going to be a blocking end. I wanted to have my hands on that leather and I chose basketball.”

The Buckeyes were a basketball power, but didn't match their earlier success when Sepic played in Columbus

“We were pretty good,” Sepic said. “We didn't have the big man because; actually, my junior year I played guard. I started as a sophomore after about the third game. We played Michigan, who was the No. 1 team in the country. They had Cazzie Russell and Bill Buntin. We played them toward the end of the season, and I guarded Russell, who was about 6-5. They moved me out to guard. I had played forward all year long. We beat them and the next year I played guard. My senior year I played both forward and guard.

“We never made the NCAA tournament. At that time you had to win the Big Ten. They didn't take the number of teams that they do now.”

Sepic was the Buckeyes’ captain in 1967 and tallied 1,107 points in 72 games for an average of 15.4 points per game.

Pro football and pro basketball came knocking after Sepic's senior season at Ohio State.

The Washington Redskins drafted Sepic in football, even though he didn't play in college. The NBA Cincinnati Royals drafted him and he made the final cut to six rookies.

“In those days we didn't have agents, and the Redskins' camp started in July. I had been accepted to dental school and I had to let them know by July if I was going to go to dental school or play pro ball. I was considering playing either one, but I knew I couldn't go to the rookie camp for football with dental school.

“Always in the back of my mind were mom and dad saying you have to get an education. My wife, Susan, and I were married and we had our first son, Ron Jr. I told the Royals if I get a no-cut contract I'll play pro basketball and I was going to give up a year of dental school. They said no to the no-cut contract and I said I'm going to dental school.

“The education paid off. From dental school I went on to become an orthodontist in Uniontown and it's been a great life.”

He married his high school sweetheart, the former Susan McMillan, and they were married for 45 years. They have two sons, Ron Jr. and Chris, and a daughter, Lynn.

He died March 28, 2020, at age 75 after a battle with cancer.

Only in a game where anything is possible could Bruce Dal Canton’s story be told. Bruce was born on June 15, 1941, the son of Angelo and Iva Flynn Dal Canton. He grew up playing Little League and Legion baseball. Dal Canton’s story reflects a career distinguished not only by its longevity of four decades as a player and a coach, but also for the admiration and true affection he has engendered. His father, a coal miner, was a great influence on Bruce and his promotion of baseball as a great game. In fact, when Bruce was born Angelo noticed the infant’s large hands and proclaimed a baseball player in the family. Angelo died in a tragic mining accident.

Bruce was not your prototypical ball player when he began his high school career. In fact, he did not make the team until his junior year at California High School. “I pitched and played a little first base, but I really didn’t start throwing the baseball hard until I was in college.” The self-proclaimed “late bloomer” graduated from California High School in 1959. He did not have to venture far to take his game to the next level, deciding to attend California University of Pennsylvania.

The right-handed pitcher was a walk on and received little playing time during his first two seasons with the college team. Then, inexplicably, Dal Canton began to find his stride as a pitcher. Primarily using his fastball, Dal Canton became the ace of the 1962 Vulcan baseball team and held an astonishing 1.03 ERA which still stands as a school and PSAC record. “My development as a pitcher really didn’t enter my mind at all. I was just trying to get my education and just playing baseball.” He and his teammates would enjoy a NAIA District 30 title and their first NAIA National tournament appearance in baseball that season. Dal Canton earned four baseball letters in college ball. Fran Celaschi remembers, “None of the players were recruited. They all just tried out for the team. It was a very competitive group of players.”

Bruce contributes much of his development to two aspects. One was his involvement with the County Baseball League his junior and senior season. “There was some great baseball in our area. You were playing against a lot of fellows who did have some minor league experience.” He also attributed a lot to Mitch Bailey, former California

Manuel M. Pihakis of Canonsburg was an outstanding scholastic and collegiate wrestler at Canonsburg High School and Indiana University.

He was a four-time WPIAL champion in high school and three-time PIAA champion. His record of 93 consecutive scholastic victories has not been equaled in the state of Pennsylvania and he finished high school with a 99-1-1 record.

He finished second in the Big 10 championships at Indiana and was a national AAU charnpion in Ohio,Pennsylvania and Indiana. His collegiate record was 56-8-0. He participated in final Olympic Tryouts in 1952 and 1956.

Pihakis, an employee of the Canon-McMillan School District for the past 30 years, now serves as director of athletics and activities.

He was inducted into the Pittsburgh Sports Hall of Fame in 1974 and the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 1979.

He graduated from Canonsburg High in 1952 and Indiana University in 1956. He was a wrestling official for 25 years and served as a member of the WPIAL Steering Committee. He was a host for the Polish National wrestling team in 1975 and has assisted many student athletes in receiving athletic scholarships.

Pihakis, who holds degrees in health and physical education and administration, has served as a member of the Canonsburg Borough Council and Planning Commission.

Over the years Fayette County has had some coaching giants prowling the sidelines, but no one cast a bigger shadow than the late Abe Everhart.

Everhart came from a coaching background — his father Abe Everhart Sr. was a longtime coach at Uniontown High School and guided the Red Raiders to their first state championship in 1925.

Abe followed in his father’s footsteps and fashioned a great record coaching basketball, track and cross country at Uniontown.

Everhart once made Sports Illustrated Faces in the Crowd for his coaching success.

He coached Uniontown for 29 years before retiring after the 1976 season. His career record was 549-149, with four WPIAL championships and two PIAA titles. His 1964 team was undefeated and his teams once won 52 games in a row, which still ties a WPIAL record. His Red Raiders won 21 section titles and at one point produced a phenomenal 95-1 record in section play between 1960 and 1966.

The record is one thing, but Everhart also was beloved by his players.

“Abe would let us play according to our abilities,” former Raider great Don Yates observed. “He would not have anyone do anything that they were not capable of doing. He had a great record, but he was a great coach. He took every player and put players in positions that they were good at and he asked no one to do more than they could do.”

“He was a very nice person,” former Raider Pete Smith said of Everhart. “He really got into the game, but he let you play your own game and he didn't have an attitude. He’d get on your case if things weren’t going well, but he kept things on an even keel.”

One of the highlights for Everhart was Uniontown defeating Norristown 70-57 in the 1962 PIAA state championship game. Yates paced the Raiders with 22 points. Uniontown ended their miracle run with a 29-2 record.

It marked a return to the Promised Land for the Red Raiders; it had been 37 years since Everhart’s father captured the title in 1925.

What was the younger Everhart’s reaction to the victory?

“It’s a big thrill to win something your dad has won,” he beamed in the noisy Uniontown dressing room after the battle. “Yes, sir, I’m real happy.”

Everhart had moved beside his father to become the first father-and-son coaching combo to coach a Pennsylvania basketball champion.

In 1964, Uniontown captured another PIAA Championship with a 62-51 win over Plymouth-Whitemarsh. The victory capped a perfect 28-0 season for the Red Raiders.
Uniontown was a bit of a surprise that season, it figured to be a rebuilding year with four regulars gone.

“I didn’t have any idea at the start of the season I would be where I am tonight. No idea at all,” Everhart said after winning the championship.

The Raiders got 19 points from Pat Yates, 16 points from Ben Gregory, 13 from Jim Rae and 12 Stu Lantz in cruising to the win.

“I couldn’t single out any one boy. I thought they all did a good job,” Everhart said after the game. “Yates and Rae played their best ball of the tournament and Gregory was a steadying influence. Lantz is a better shooter than you saw tonight, but he got the ball off the board and hit two key tip-ins for us when we needed them.”

Everhart had health issues that eventually led to the Uniontown School Board forcing him into retirement after a second heart attack in 1977.

“The school board didn’t want to take any chances with me,” Everhart said at the time. “I couldn’t get cleared by my doctors. For one solid year I stayed away from coaching. I was having some serious problems. I wasn’t chipper. I missed it a lot.”

Everhart returned to coach girl’s basketball at California High School for two years and then at Laurel Highlands and wound up coaching the Uniontown girls.

Everhart enjoyed coaching girl’s hoops at the end of his illustrious career.

“I think I expected a lot of the girls to play like boys,” he said. “They don’t and because they don’t, you got to be careful. At the beginning, I was expecting too much. I was too demanding. I’m starting to change now.

“Coaching girls is more of a fun thing. You can’t talk to them like you do boys. Their feelings get hurt. Really though, I’ve probably had more fun the past four years than I had in a long time.”

Everhart died of a heart attack in 1986 at the age of 74.

He is a member of the Pennsylvania Basketball Hall of Fame and was recently inducted into the WPIAL Hall of Fame.

About This Inductee:

George grew up in the coal-mining town of Larksville, Pennsylvania. He attended St. John’s Parochial Elementary School and then Larksville High School.

Curry received a football scholarship to Temple University, where he earned his B.S. Degree in Social Sciences. He attended the University of Scranton, where he received his Master’s Degree in Administration and Supervision.

He became the winningest coach in Pennsylvania history with 455 wins, 6 State Championships, and 3 National Champions (USA Today). Coach Curry was all about education and getting millions of dollars in scholarships for his players. Curry was proud of the fact that 78% of his football players who have gone on to higher education have graduated (that is higher than the non-athlete graduation rate). Coach certainly got his players ready for the world. He taught commitment, accountability, leadership, and work ethic. He was also a stern disciplinarian. The players bought into his style!

His overall coaching stint, included four (4) years at Lake Lehman High School, thirty-eight (38) years at Berwick High School, and three (3) years at Wyoming Valley West High School. He coached 12 regular season undefeated teams and had a 47 game regular season winning streak from 1981 to 1985.

Curry was named “Coach of the Year” 28 times. The Berwick Bulldogs were named USA Today National Champions in 1983, 1992, and 1995. Curry also coached 13 teams that were ranked in USA Today. Curry coached the Dawgs to Pennsylvania’s first ever State Championship (15-0-0 season). Most of Berwick’s wins during the Curry era came against schools larger than Berwick.

He died on April 1, 2016.

About This Inductee:

Jack was born in 1936 to John and Helen Shevinsky Henzes in Peckville, PA. Jack graduated from Blakely High School in 1954 and received a BS in Physical Education from George Washington University in 1958 and MA in Secondary Education from Catholic University of America.

His career started as an assistant football coach at Blakely High School in 1960 under his dad, the legendary “Papa Bear” John Henzes Sr. 1966 he became head coach at Wyoming Area and in 1971 was named the head football coach at Dunmore. He currently holds the record for most wins for an active head coach in PA.

Teams were Eastern Conference Champions 1985; Class A 1989 State Champions, Class A 2012 State Eastern Champions; Class AA 2007, 2014 State Eastern Champions; District 2 “A” 2012 Champs; District 2 “AA” Champs 1995, 1999, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017. He was head coach of 1986 Big 33 game; 1985 WNEP Coach of the Year; 1989 – 2014 Coach of the Year for Small Schools; 1989 inducted into Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame; 1989 Chic Feldman Foundation Hall of Fame of NEPA; member of the “200 Wins Club” of PA Coaches Association (dad a member); 1997 PA State Football Coaches Association; 2007 Channel 16 Coach of the Year; 2009 inducted into National High School Coaches Hall of Fame (dad a member).

The 83-year-old legend submitted his resignation as Dunmore's head football coach, effective April 30, 2019, citing health issues after an illness and a heart procedure. He also taught Physical Education, Health and Drivers Education. He held the post of department head-Physical Educational Department and co-chair of SADD.

In 52 seasons, Henzes was 444-164-8 with his first four years spent at Wyoming Area and the remainder of his career at Dunmore High School. His win total is second to the late George Curry, who won 455 games at Lake-Lehman, Valley West and Berwick.

Jack resides in Peckville with Roseann, his wife of 62 years and has five children: Kim, Jack, Randy, Melissa and Wendy and 13 grandchildren.

About This Inductee:

Karen Klassner’s career as an educator, mentor and coach began at Wyoming Seminary in 1971. She took over the Blue Knights’ field hockey team in 1973 and helped build Sem’s program, as well as the entire Wyoming Valley Conference, into a national field hockey hotbed. She currently has over 700 wins with the Blue Knights, 17 undefeated seasons, eight state championships, and three state runners-up. Sem’s field hockey field is named Klassner Field in her honor.

Klassner served as chair of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association High School All-American selection committee from 1998-2002 and served as president of the State Coaches Association and chair of its All-State selection committee.

She was inducted into the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame in 2003 and the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2009. She was named the United States Field Hockey Coach of the Year in 2009. Three of her Wyoming Seminary field hockey players – Kelsey Kolojejchick ‘09, Kat Sharkey ’08, and Lauren Powley ’02 – went on to compete in the Olympic Games and more than 100 of her players have played at the collegiate level.

Klassner graduated from Mansfield High School in 1967. She earned a bachelor of science degree in health and physical education and recreation from Lock Haven in 1971 and she earned her master of science degree in education from State University of New York, Cortland, NY.

She is a health and physical education teacher at Wyoming Seminary and has been the school’s Director of Athletics since 2001. She also served as the school’s Assistant Dean of Students for three years and as Dean of Students for 12 years. In addition to field hockey, she also has coached swimming, basketball and softball at Sem. She is a recipient of the Sem’s prestigious Maslow Upper School Award for Excellence in Teaching.

A 60 year football career as a player, scout, and coach. Two-time All-American at the University of Pittsburgh, consensus in 1956. Played 8 years in the NFL for the Redskins and Giants. Following injury, scouted 4 seasons for the Giants. Coached professional and college football for 43 seasons. Assistant Coach for the Giants, Redskins, Jets, and Steelers during a 23-year stretch. Head coach of Jets, leading them to playoffs game twice in 7 seasons. Recently retired after a 20-year career football program founder and head coach at Robert Morris University, winning two division 1-AA National Championships and six Northeast Conference Titles.

Arthur J. Rooney Jr. is the second son of Arthur J. Rooney, founder of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played football at North Catholic High School and St. Vincent College. He began his employment with the Steelers in 1961 and from 1966 until 1987 oversaw the Steelers scouting department. During that time the Steelers won four Super Bowls and was voted the NFL 1970s “Team of the Decade.” Nine players drafted during that period became pro football Hall of Famers. He has been nominated 8 times to join his players in the pro football Hall of Fame.

She was a four-year starter on Nazareth Academy’s basketball team that won three consecutive championships from 1962-64 when she led the team in points and rebounds her senior season. Her teams won three consecutive championships from 1962-64. She was the leading scorer and rebounder her senior year.

At Temple University, Murphy earned eleven varsity letters in field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Health & Physical Education. She was a member of the Lady Owls basketball team from 1965-1968 and led the team in scoring her senior and junior seasons. Murphy was also a member of Temple’s lacrosse (1966-68) and field hockey (1966) teams. She was awarded the Women’s Athletic Association (WAA) Blazer Award as the most outstanding female athlete, and also served as president of the WAA for three years (1966-68). Murphy’s academic honors at Temple include the President’s Scholar and the College of Education Awards. She was inducted into Temple’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1985.

At Neshaminy High School, where she coached the field hockey team for nineteen seasons and amassed a record of 259-52-29. Her team won 11 consecutive league championships, a District 1 Championship in 1983, and two PIAA state championships in 1983 and 1990. Stearing the softball team, Murphy bolstered a record of 140-63 and won 2 league titles in 1976 and 1980. She was named Coach of the Year in field hockey five times and in softball twice by the Bucks County Courier Times and earned the Gold Medal Award for coaching from Scholastic Coach. She was appointed as the assistant principal in charge of athletics in 1993, a position she held until retirement in 2007. Murphy also coached basketball at Neshaminy and Little Flower High Schools, as well as the collegiate level at Beaver College (now Arcadia University) and Penn State Ogontz. Her softball team’s record was 140-63 and won 2 league titles in 1976 and 1980.

She was named Coach of the year and Field Hockey five times and softball twice by the Bucks County Courier Times. Gold Medal Award for coaching from Scholastic Coach. Inducted into Neshaminy High School Sports Hall of Fame, Temple University Hall of Fame and the Philadelphia All Stars Hall of Fame.

As a senior at Cathedral Prep in Erie, he was named team captain and was chosen First Team All-State as he led the Ramblers to the state championship game. His #20 was retired by the school in 2007. At Iowa he was named to three All-Big 10 teams and was a Second Team All-American as a senior. Played in the Senior Bowl and won numerous college awards. Drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He was named AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2007, the first Colt to win the award. Was an integral part of the Colts’ defense that led the team to a victory in Super Bowl XLI against the Chicago Bears. Also played for the San Diego Chargers.

Wil Robinson was a high school All-American and led Laurel highlands to the 1968 PA State Championship. He tallied 1,841 points in high school. In 1972, he had the highest season scoring average in WVU history (29.4), breaking a record set by Jerry West. Robinson scored 1,850 points at WVU, trailing West (2,309), Rod Hundley (2,180), and Da’Sean Butler (2,095). He holds the WVU Coliseum record for points in a game by a Mountaineer player (45 vs. Penn State in 1971). He was named 1st team All-American by Basketball Weekly, United Savings and Helms Foundation. Played in the ABA.

Wil Robinson hasn’t played basketball in a long time, but the former Laurel Highlands High School star hasn’t been forgotten.

Robinson was surprised when he was notified that he had been elected for induction into the first class in the Fayette County Sports Hall of Fame.
Wil Robinson

Robinson was also a star at West Virginia University and was inducted into the WVU Hall of Fame in 1997 and the western chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2005, but he feels this latest honor is very special.

“This is home and it means a lot to be recognized where you grew up,” he said.

Robinson’s credentials are impressive. He was a high school All-American with a 30-point scoring average and led Laurel Highlands to the 1968 Pennsylvania state championship.

Robinson played in the 1968 Dapper Dan Roundball Classic and scored 20 points as the Pennsylvania stars fell to the United States All-Stars 103-90.

During his playing career at West Virginia he garnered All-America honors during his senior season in 1972 when he forged the highest season scoring average in WVU history when he scored 706 points in 24 games (29.4), breaking a record set by Jerry West. The flamboyant Robinson scored 1,850 points in his career, trailing only All-Americans West (2,309) and Rod Hundley (2,180).

He holds the WVU Coliseum record for points in a game by a Mountaineer player (45 vs. Penn State in 1971). In fact, Robinson owns six of the Mountaineers top seven all-time single game scores at the Coliseum.

Looking back, the Laurel Highlands state championship still stands out for Robinson.

“That’s a highlight that you can’t forget,” Robinson remembered. “It is hard to beat as far as being the number one thing in your career unless you take an NBA championship or NCAA championship. The run to the state championship was something I’ll never forget.”

What made it so special was the way the community was caught up in the championship run and the great rivalry with Uniontown High School that made the whole town hoop crazy.

“You don’t see that too much anymore,” Robinson explained. “The whole town was caught up in it and for us to take the championship — you look back and you say, ‘Did we really do that?’ We went all the way and we won everything and that’s something that’s hard to do.”

Harold “Horse” Taylor was the architect of the Laurel Highlands basketball program and played a big role in Robinson’s development on and off the court.

“That is the bread and butter and that’s what makes you and breaks you after leaving high school,” Robinson said. “Either you’ve got it or you don’t and the high school coach is so important in developing people. Not only the basketball skills but the people skills and how you treat people and how you respond to pressure and how you respond to adversity and Horse taught us all that.

“He wanted to make sure that I got into college and that was most evident. He was concerned about basketball, but that wasn’t his main priority, it was to make sure that I grew up to be a man and carried responsibility and go on from there.”

When he ponders his career at West Virginia, Robinson sees unfulfilled promise. The 1971-72 squad got off to a 6-0 start before a terrible traffic accident involving players Larry Harris and Sam Oglesby ended their hopes for a great season.

Robinson is mentioned in the same breath in the record book at WVU with Jerry West and Rod Hundley and that is special.

“I didn’t go there trying to break records, I didn’t go there trying to be the number one scoring leader,” Robinson said. “I just went there to play basketball and do the best I could. When it all ended and I was number one in some categories and hold some records there I was just happy to be mentioned with the likes of Jerry West and Hot Rod Hundley.”

Following his college career, Robinson was selected in the fourth round of the NBA draft by the Houston Rockets and the fourth round of the ABA draft by the Pittsburgh Condors. He played one year in the ABA (1974) with Memphis and Utah.

“It was a disappointment because politics played a role in my pro career,” Robinson lamented. “That caused me to end my career short. When I was with Houston I had actually made that team, but due to political reasons they wanted to keep an older player; they kept him as a player-coach for pension reasons and that took my spot and when they did that the season was getting ready to start the next day and all the rosters were filled and I couldn’t get picked up.

“I had to leave basketball and once I did that it was an uphill battle just to get back to the ABA. Once I got back into the ABA and things were going good the leagues merged. I was starting in Memphis and that summer they merged and I had to make a decision. Was I going to keep on going? I just didn’t have it in me and I decided to go back to school. I made a decision on what I wanted to do in life. Am I going to be a basketball traveling bum or am I going to try and get my education and do something with it?”

Robinson returned to WVU to complete his bachelor’s degree in 1975 and eventually finished his master’s degree in safety in 1984.

Robinson, 59, and his wife, Pam, were married in 1987 and they have one son, 18-year-old Lance. Robinson is working for a company called The Shoe Show and is the district manager for 16 stores in western New York.

Coach Jerry Conboy received the 2009 Pittsburgh Sports Legends award for his lifetime achievement as a basketball coach with 800 wins in a fifty-year career. At South Hills Catholic HS. (1956-1967) he had a 203-46 record. He won four league championships, 2 state championships, 4 Coach of the Year awards, and was selected to coach the first two Roundball Classics. At Point Park College (1969-1989) he had 305 wins including 14 consecutive NAIA District 18 playoffs, 12 Championship wins, 2 District Championships and 3 NAIA National Tournaments. He returned to coach three WPIAL schools to 196 wins, 2 section championships, and 1 WPIAL title. He is in the Western Chapter, Point Park University, and South Hills Catholic Halls of Fame.

Elected to the College Football of Fame in 2015. Former Marshall quarterback and won the Walter Payton Award in 1992. First player to earn National Player of the Year and Male Athlete of the Year. Set FCS national record in 1991 for highest single-season pass efficiency (181.3) and most yards passing in a half when he threw 383 yard in first half against VMI. Inducted into Marshall Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999. Spent two seasons with Saskatchewan Roughriders of CFL.

Joe played on two undefeated John Harris High School teams and was a major contributor to the Gettysburg College 1966 University Lambert Cup Team. He was named the MVP of the Mid-Atlantic Conference, University Division, and was the only player in conference history to be named first team offense and defense in the same season. Joe was named to the Associated Press Little All-American First Team; Kodak All-American, First team; The Lutheran College All-American, first team; and the All-Pennsylvanian First Team. He played professionally with the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, Boston Patriots and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He was inducted into The Capital Area Chapter (1992), Gettysburg College (1991), and John Harris High School (1963) Halls of Fame

Coached University of New Hampshire football for 27 years . . . 175 wins, most in Yankee Conference history and top 25 in FCS history . . . claimed four conference and three division titles . . . four-time YC, three-time American Football Coaches Association District I and two-time New England Coach of the Year . . . helped 1975 team to Division II semifinals . . . earned four NCAA Tournament bids . . . 2002 New England Football Writers Contribution to Football award . . . mentor and college coach of Eagles’ coach Chip Kelly . . . 1964 Penn State captain . . . played in 1964 Blue-Gray Football Classic . . . 2000 PSU Alumni Athlete Award . . . Quarterback of undefeated 1960 Lock Haven HS team and played in the 1961 Big 33 game . Elected to College Football Hall of Fame 2016.

1956 1st Team National High School All-American Football at Centerville H. S. (Beth-Center); Scholastic Magazine All-American; 4X All WPIAL; 2X winner-Thom McAn Bronzed Shoe Award; PA Big 33 All Star selection; PIAA shot put and discus records; Recruited by 135 colleges, attending Penn State. Broke all rushing records w/ undefeated freshman team-scoring 6 td’s in game vs. Navy Plebe team featuring their future Heisman Award winner, Joe Bellino.

Penn State established the “Red Worrell Memorial Award” following his accidental death at home, 1957. Inducted into the Washington-Greene Hall of Fame in 1998 and Mid-Mon Valley Chapter Hall of Fame in 2007.

Pennsylvania’s all-time winningest high schoolboy’s basketball coach with 852 career wins in 41 years at Loyalsock Township HS . . . has won 19 district titles . . . led team to three PIAA state Eastern finals . . . 1993 state runner-up . . . helped team to 26 conference titles . . . helped Lancers to 35 20-win seasons . . . coached girls’ basketball team at LTHS for four years (1975-78), leading team to two district titles, four conference titles and state quarterfinals in 1978 . . . one of two high school coaches in Pennsylvania history to win 900 basketball games.

Harter graduated from the Hill School in 1948 after a distinguished athletic career. He played basketball at the University of Pennsylvania for 3 years. He was the Head coach at Penn and received Coach of the Year in 1970-71 season. Then was named Coach of the Year at Oregon in 1976. He also coached at Penn State and Rider and went on to be Chuck Daly’s top assistant with the NBA Champion Detroit Pistons. First head coach of the Charlotte Hornets and also was an assistant coach for Indianapolis Pacers and the Philadelphia 76ers. Had a 30+ year coaching career and was regarded as having a “great defensive mind.”

Sam “The Jet” Jethroe was a center fielder in the Negro League and Major League Baseball. While with the Cincinnati and Cleveland Buckeyes he won a pair of batting titles, hit .304 over seven seasons from 1942 to 1948, and helped the team to two pennants and the 1945 Negro World Series title. He was the fifth African-American played in history to play in the major leagues and was named the National League’s Rookie of the Year in 1950 (oldest player ever to achieve that honor) with the Boston Braves. Jethroe led the NL in stolen bases in his first two seasons. He was called “the quickest human being I’ve ever seen” by former minor league teammate Don Newcombe.

The name Fred Biletnikoff is still synonymous with National Football League greatness. He is a member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1989) and the College Football Hall of Fame (1991). The 14-year veteran of the Oakland Raiders caught nearly 600 passes during his career - an era when teams played 14-game regular seasons and emphasized rushing over passing - and was named All-Pro half a dozen times. He was also honored as the MVP of Super Bowl XI. John Madden once called Biletnikoff "the best pure pass receiver I have ever seen." He was the first consensus All-American to play for Florida State. At FSU, Biletnikoff played on both sides of the ball and once returned an interception 99 yards for a touchdown, a record which stood until 1987 when another NFL Hall of Famer, Deion Sanders, broke it by one yard. The Fred Biletnikoff Award, given annually since 1994 to the best wide receiver in college football, was named in his honor. In 1999, Biletnikoff was ranked #94 on "The Sporting News" list of the "100 Greatest Football Players." During his high school career, he s All-City in both football and basketball at Tech Memorial, now Central Tech, whose athletic Field now bears his name. He later joined other Pa. high school football greats - Mike Ditka, Tony Dorsett, and Joe Montana - on Pennsylvania's all-time first team.

One of the finest kickers in Penn State history, Craig Fayak ended his career as Penn State's all-time leading scorer with 282 points and 50 field goals -- records that held until the 2007 season. He is probably best known for his 34-yard field goal with four seconds left that gave 18th-ranked Penn State a 24-21 victory at top-ranked Notre Dame in November 1990 - and enjoyed big games against Alabama (3 fields goals in 9-0 win in 1990) and against Pitt and West Virginia (combined 11 for 11 in field goals against these two rivals). He graduated with a 3.5 GPA and was named a CoSIDA Academic AII-American while also being awarded the prestigious Big Ten Medal (awarded to two student-athletes from each Big Ten University who "attained the greatest proficiency in athletics and scholastic work") and John W. Oswald Award (one of five students chosen for "outstanding student leadership and excellence"). He was also named to the Athlon Sports Magazine "All Time Penn State Team." Prior to Penn State, Craig starred at quarterback, kicker, punter, and safety at Belle Vernon Area High School- where he threw for more than 2,000 career yards, rushed for 500 more, kicked 21 field goals and scored 266 points, and helped lead his team to consecutive Big 9 Conference titles. He was selected to play in the 1990 Big 33 Football Classic in Hershey, PA and kicked 6 extra points in Pennsylvania's 42-28 victory over Maryland. Craig was also an outstanding shortstop and pitcher in baseball, being named conference MVP and to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette's AII-WPIAL Team in 1990. He helped lead the team to a Section 2 championship as a senior. He was the youngest player to be selected for the Pennsylvania American Legion East/West All Star Classic (1986). Following his Penn State career, Craig was on pre-season rosters for three NFL teams (Dallas, Miami, and Jacksonville). He continues to instruct high school kickers and lives in Bernardsville, New Jersey, with his wife Nicole and son Eli.

Larry Kelley played college football as an end at Yale University. While at Yale, he was named MVP of the East-West Shrine Game and won the Heisman Trophy in 1936, the year it was renamed in honor of John Heisman. He finished a three-year career with 49 catches for 889 yards and 13 touchdowns. Kelley was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 969. Kelley was an All-American and the captain of the Yale football team. Following his career at Yale, he signed a one-game contract with the Boston Shamrocks of the American Football League in 1937 but never played. He also turned down offers to play in the NFL (Detroit) and in MLB (New York Yankees). After his career in football, Kelley was a history teacher and alumni director at the Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey, his alma mater. The Ian Graham Athletic Center at the Peddie School holds a replica of the Heisman Trophy donated to the school by Kelley. To benefit his nieces and nephews, Kelley sold his Heisman Trophy at an auction in December 1999 for $328,110 to the owner of The Stadium Museum, Restaurant & Bar in Garrison, New York, where it now resides. He was 85 when he died in 2000.

Bob Kuberski was a three-year starter at defensive tackle for Navy from 1990 to 1992. He was twice chosen to the All-East First Team. He's a member of the Navy Sports Hall of Fame and was selected to the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium All-Time Team. Among those on that team are Roger Staubach, Joe Bellino, and Napoleon McCallum. Kuberski was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1993. He served on active duty as an Ensign in the United States Navy for two years prior to starting his NFL career. Kuberski played nose tackle for the Packers from 1995-1998 and was a member of Green Bay's Super Bowl championship team in 1997 (def. New England 35-21) and NFC championship team in 1998. He closed out his NFL career in 1999 with the New England Patriots. Bob is also a member of the Delaware County Chapter of the Pa Sports Hall of Fame.

William "Red" Mack actually began his football career at st. Paul's Orphanage in suburban Pittsburgh when a nun told him to get a football uniform. He went on to play wide receiver and half-back in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Green Bay Packers. He ended his National Football League career as a Super Bowl champion. Mack played only one season with Green Bay, concluding his six-year professional career in January 1967 with the Packers' 35-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in the first-ever Super Bowl. Mack played in eight regular-season games as the Packers dominated the NFL with a 12-2 record. They defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 34-27, in the NFL Championship Game, to advance to face Kansas City in the Super Bowl. Mack recorded a Super Bowl first, making the initial Green Bay tackle in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. He totaled two tackles in the game, contributing to a Green Bay victory and earning a Super Bowl ring. He played college football at Notre Dame where he was a pre-season All-American in 1960. Mack was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 10th round of the 1961 NFL Draft. He was also drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the 23rd round of the 1961 American Football League Draft. Red was a football, basketball, and track star at Hampton (Pa.) High School. He led the WPIAL in scoring in 1954 and 1955 and was named MVP. He spent his senior year at Bullis Prep School and was chosen Player-of-the-Year by the Washington, D.C. Touchdown Club.