Inductees

Charles Peters was one of those ‘once-in-a-blue-moon’ athletes at Shamokin High School where he was an outstanding four-letter athlete. He was a three-letter football star at Penn State, 1938-39-40, and holds two records that still stand. His 101-yards kick-off return is still on record in the Nittany Lions’ football annals. In addition, Peters’ overall season record of a 52.2 yards average per kick-off is both a Penn State and a national collegiate record. Peters was drafted by the New York Giants.

Walter Tewksbury accepted a friendly challenge from the captain of the University of Pennsylvania track team. “Tewk”, as he was called, won the race through the streets of Philadelphia and a slot on the U. of P. team the rest is history. Dr. Tewksbury went on to capture five Olympic medals: two gold medals for the 200 and 400 meter hurdles; two silver medals for the 60 and 100 meter dashes; and one bronze for the 200 meter hurdles. He was also a two-time national collegiate champion in the 100 and 200 meters. Dr. Tewksbury is well remembered as the Tewksbury Memorial Committee hosts games every year in Tunkhannock, PA.

Eugene Benson started his seventeen year career in the Negro National Baseball League with the Brooklyn Royal Giants, 1933-1936, From 1937 to 1949, he paced the Philadelphia Stars, ending a very illustrious career with a .330 batting average. Benson was a roomate and confidante of the lengedary Jackie Robinson when the Negro Baseball League sent teams of All-Stars barnstorming South America during the ’40’s. Benson is credited with originating the “Basket Catch” which was later popularized by the inimitable Willie Mays. An All-Star centerfielder in the Negro Baseball League for years. Benson was called “…one of the greatest black baseball stars…” by Monte Irvin, a major league Hall of Famer himself.

Now serving his fifty-first year as an ordained Roman Catholic priest, Father Caey developed a unique association with athletics. He was a former chaplain for the Chicago Black Hawks during his Chicago residence. Father Casey later took up the same duties with the Philadelphia Flyers during their Stanley Cup years when the late Kate Smith used to sing the National Anthem for the Flyers’ play-off games. While Father Casey was certainly concerned about the physical welfare of the Hawks and the Flyers, his presence and spiritual contributions to both these professional sports organizations transcended the mere pre-game blessing.

Percentage-wise, Joe Cesari is the winningest wrestling coach in Pennsylvania high school circles. He coached for twenty-seven years, leading North Schuylkill High to eight undefeated seasons, nineteen league and eight division championships, five regional and two State championships. He was featured in Sports Illustrated (Jan. 16, 1989) and on USA Today. His overall record is 351-31-2. Mr. Cesari has three sons who wrestled and captured State championships. Joe was four-time National Coach of the Year and four-time Pennsylvania Coach of the year, a feat still unmatched.

Bob won eighteen letters in five different sports at Lock Haven State College, mostly in football and wrestling. He was a wrestling finalist in the 1956 Olympic trials. His football coaching record of 211-100-8 includes seven league championships, two District Three Championships, and State runner-up in 1987. Craig's wrestling coaching log shows 401 wins, 83 losses, and 11 ties. His squads captured eighteen League Championships. Coach Craig turned out four State champions, one NCAA champion, and five NCAA place winners. He was inducted into the Allen-Rogowitz Chapter Hall of Fame in 1989.

Bill Flynn went to Notre Dame on a football scholarship in 1945. He won four varsity letters and was a member of Notre Dame’s 1949 National Champions under the late Frank Leahy. Coach Flynn guided Jesuit High in Dallas, Texas, to two state Catholic League Championships, 1956-57. He later coached Pottsville High School to four Pennsylvania Eastern Conference, Southern Division Championships (1971-1976-1978-1980). Bill’s 1978 team captured the Conference Championship, and his 1980 squad’ rang up the first undefeated and untied football team in Pottsville High’s history. Coach Flynn’s overall won-lost record was an outstanding 163-70-6.

Right up to the 1969-70 season, Jimmy Jones was the first sophomore ever to start at quarterback for the University of Southern California. During his three varsity years with the Trojans, Jimmy led his team to a 10-0-1 season, a Rose Bowl win, and a #3 national ranking. Jones, who broke 0.1. Simpson’s offensive record, holds thirteen u.s.e. offensive records, including most touchdown passes. He made the All-PAC team three years in succession, starred in the East-West game, was Southern Cal’s MVP 1971-72, and was a Heisman Trophy candidate. Jimmy’s picture once graced the front cover of Sports Illustrated. Upon graduation, Jones spent seven years in the Canadian Football League, and guided Montreal to the 1974 championship.

Steve Kreider was a key wide receiver of the Cincinnati Bengals from 1979 to 1986. He was a member of the Bengals’ 1981 conference Champions and the 1982 Division Champions. In 1983, top season with the Bengals, Krieder had forty-two pass receptions. Overall, his pro career totals show a record of 2023 yards and nine TD’s. Steve was a College Division All-American and an All-ECAC wide receiver at Lehigh University for 1977 and 1978. He holds the Lehigh all-time record in pass yardage for a single season; 1181 yards in 1977. He also holds the Engineers’ all-time record for most yards in one game-194. During his career, Steve accounted for twenty four touchdowns. In addition to his athletic exploits, Kreider managed to make the finals as a Rhodes Scholar nominee, and has been acting as Chairperson for the United Palsy Telethon.

Hank Kuzma was head basketball coach at Duquesne University during some of its better years, 1947-51. He then started a remarkable career as mentor of the Midland High Cagers where he registered a record of 141-15-3. In one stretch, Kuzma’s Cagers lost only three section games in four years, chalked up three unbeaten seasons, and captured the 1965 Class AAA PIAA Championship, all this with a school enrollment of only 238. Hank was named Coach of the Year four times and had the distinction of being selected to coach and win the first Dapper Dan classic for Pennsylvania. His coaching awards are too numerous to list.

Jack Ramsay’s meteoric coaching career began on the high school level after a brilliant start as a player at Upper Darby High and St. Joseph’s College (now university). Ramsay spent eleven years as basketball coach at his alma mater, St. Joseph’s, where his 234-72 record earned him the top post directing the fortunes of the 76ers. Jack spent the next twenty years in the NBA. Following the 76er’s, 1968-72, Ramsay went to the Buffalo Braves, 1972-76; Portland Trailblazers, 1976-86; Indiana Pacers, 1986-88. His 1977 Trailblazers were NBA champions. Ramsay’s overall NBA figures show 1,647 games coached with 785 wins, both league records.

Lenore Wingard is truly one of the greatest of the United States’ women swimmers. She once held twenty-one American free-style records and a grand total of seven world records. In the 1932 Olympic games, she captured a silver medal for the 400 meters, and a gold medal for the International Relay. Her remarkable swimming feats have been recognized by her induction into the Helms Foundation Hall of Fame, the Maryland State Hall of Fame, the Pittsburgh Hall of Fame, the International Hall of Fame, arid our Commonwealth’s highest sports awards – induction into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.