Inductees

From 1933-1961 he coached basketball at Wampum High School and from 1962-1971 at Ellwood City High School. Coach Hennon’s career record was 621 wins, 251 loses for a winning percentage of 70%. His teams won 16 Sectional Titles, including 12 from 1950-1961 and three State and WPIAL Championships in 1955, 1958, and 1960. His coaching successes were featured in numerous national publications throughout his career. His son, Don Hennon, the University of Pittsburgh star was one of his greatest players.

About This Inductee:

Raised in Muse, Pennsylvania, Kotar graduated from Canon-McMillan High School and played college football at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

Unselected in the 1974 NFL Draft, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Four days later, they traded him to the New York Giants (for Leo Gasienica), where he played for eight years.

Though he was only 5 ft 10 in, Kotar rushed for 3,380 yards (while also receiving 1,022 yards) in his career, which was fourth most in Giants history, now ninth. Kotar was known for leading with his head while rushing, a fact that would come back to haunt him in later life.

Kotar retired after the first days training camp in July 1982, attributed to his knees and shoulder hurting, citing his family. Unfortunately, Kotar experienced massive headaches. Only weeks into his retirement, the doctors found a brain tumor.

He died in his sleep on December 16, 1983, just 16 months after diagnosis at age 32.

Won Olympic Gold Medals and set World Records in 800 Meters and 4X400 relay at the 1912 Olympics. With Jim Thorpe, one of games major stars. He was a member of the National and Pennsylvania Track & Field Halls of Fame. At the University of Pennsylvania in 1916 set world record in 440- and 880-yard sprints. He also set then world records at Media High School and participated in 1920 Olympics. Ted later coached at Penn and the Cuban and Czech National Teams.

Diane played field hockey, basketball and softball at Crestwood High School. As a freshman, she was part of the Crestwood’s first AA District Title field hockey team, reaching State quarterfinals. She was selected first team All-Star in both her freshman and sophomore years. As a junior, the team became Crestwood’s first league title winners, AA District champs and AA State runner-ups. As senior team captain, they again won the league title, AA District champs, and AA State third pale. She was selected MVP All-Star in both her junior and senior years. Diane also participated in the Keystone Games. At the University of Connecticut, the field hockey team won the NCAA Tournament, winning the National Championship in 1985. She was a two-time first team All-American and two-time Academic All-America. Team captain her senior year, she was named UConn Scholar-Athlete, New England Division I Female Athlete of the Year and received the Honda Broderick Award for the top collegiate field hockey player in the country. Diane was a member of the US Junior National Field Hockey Team 1987 and a member of the US National Team 1989-1991, 1995-1996. She has toured the world competing in the Pan Am Games, World Cup, World University Games, Intercontinental cup and 1996 Olympic Games. Diane volunteered to coach at UConn 1989-1991, moving on to become assistant coach at the University of Maine 1993-2002. She is presently head field hockey coach at Providence College in Rhode Island.

Crestwood High School-field hockey All-Star, basketball, softball
University of Connecticut-1985 NCAA Tourney & National Championship
All-American/Academic All-American/Senior UConn Scholar-Athlete
New England Vision I Female Athlete of the Year/Honda Broderick Award
1987-US Junior National Field Hockey Team
1989-1991, 1995-1996-US National Team
Pan Am Games/World Cup/World University Games
Intercontinental Cup/1996 Olympic Games
1993-2002-assistant coach-University of Maine
2002-head field hockey coach-Providence College
2006-Big East Conference Champs & Coach of the Year
Dita/NFHCA Division I Northeast Region Coach of the Year
2005 Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame
Inducted into PA Sports Hall of Fame 2008

Elected 1976 Mon Valley Sports Hall of Fame
2006 Ringgold Rams Hall of Fame
2008 Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame

Fred Cox, a 1957 graduate of Monongahela High School, was an all-around athlete lettering in four sports - football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. He made the All-Conference team as a running back, was the leading scorer of the soccer team, which only lost one game in three years, and batted over 300 every year in baseball. After graduating from high school, Fred starred at the University of Pittsburgh as a running back and kicker.

Fred was drafted as an eighth-round future choice in 1961 by the Cleveland Browns but had back trouble when he reported to camp in 1962 and was never given consideration as a running back. The Browns quickly traded Cox to the Minnesota Vikings, who cut Cox in 1962. He returned in 1963. Between that time Fred went back home to Monongahela and taught school. From 1963 until his retirement in 1977, Cox became an outstanding fixture for the Vikings.

He began studying at Northwestern Chiropractic Clinic in Minneapolis in 1967. Fred obtained his license to practice in 1972. He opened his own chiropractic clinic in Buffalo, Minnesota, after the 1974 football season.

One of the best athletes to emerge from the Philadelphia area, Walt was a highly recruited high school All-American in basketball averaging 30 points per game as a Philadelphia All-Public performer. He was a first-round pick of the Houston Astros in 1968 and a 27-1 American Legion record, voted MVP by the Philadelphia Inquirer and MVP in the East-West All-Star game. He reached the majors after a 28-15 minor league record and 1.95 ERA, but an injury shortened his career.

Walt was a football, track, and baseball star at Mt. Carmel High School. He went on to the University of Pennsylvania where he earned three letters each in baseball and football. He was a 60-minute player, averaging 53 minutes per game in 1954 when he was also the nation’s 6th ranked punter. That year he was also an HM All-American, All-Ivy, All-East, and All-State. A USAF jet pilot, Walt played on the Johnson AFB two-time Far East Inter-Service Championship Team and was named to the All-USAF Team.

Jim was an all-around athlete at Beaver Falls High School earning 8 letters in football, basketball, and baseball. He garnered All-WPIAL and second-team All-State football honors as a senior. He went to Notre Dame and played defensive end as a sophomore and was a starting receiver and team captain in his junior and senior seasons. After two years in the Marine Corp, Jim played for the Baltimore Colts from 1954-1961 catching 220 passes for 3,885 yards and 40 touchdowns and earned Pro-Bowl honors in 1957.

Dick was a four-sports star and Valedictorian of his class at Ashland High School. He went on to be a four-year starter and team captain at quarterback for Susquehanna University garnering All-State honors in 1956 and 1957 and Little All-American recognition in 1957. After a one-year stint with the Montreal Alouettes he began a 38-year teaching and coaching career, including 25 years as the head football coach and a 167-94-5 record. He was a PSFCA Hall of Fame inductee in 2004.

About This Inductee:

Basketball, Track & Field
Trinity High School & Penn State University

T.H.S. Accomplishments:
BASKETBALL:
1st person at T.H.S. to score 1,000 pts.

TRACK:
8 time WPIAL Honors
8 time State Medalist
3 time ranked # 1 in Nation for Shot Put
Currently hold PIAA. State Shot Put Record (19 years) International Track and Field Competitor

Penn State Accomplishments:
8 time All American
Currently hold Penn State Shot Put Record (15 years) Competed in Olympic Trials (1980, 1984)

Special Awards:
Special Recognition Award – Knights of Columbus – Washington County Pittsburgh Women’s Hall of Fame
Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce
PA High School Track & Field Hall of Fame PA Coaches’ Association

Sobansky was a three-time WPIAL and PIAA champion in the shot put. She also was a PIAA champion in the discus. In high school, she ranked #1 in the nation for shot put and was in Sports Illustrated “Faces in the Crowd” for establishing a girls’ indoor high school national record of 50’ 10”.

In 1980, she was named the Post Gazette Female Athlete of the Year.

Her career flourished at Penn State where she was an eight-time All American. While at Penn State, she set outdoor records in the shot put and discus.

At the 1984 Olympic trials, she finished 6th in the shot put. Sobansky was the first person at Trinity High School to score more than 1,000 points in basketball.

She is a member of the Pittsburgh Women’s Hall of Fame.

Bob was a star in the star-studded backfield for a powerful Princeton University team that won a school record of 24 straight games, two Lambert Trophies, and was ranked 6th in the nation by AP in 1950. That year he was one of the top ten scorers in the country and was named All-American in 1952. Out of Pottsville High School, he garnered 15 letters in all sports and was an All-State performer in football and basketball.

Pete was the American League Cy Young Award winner in 1982 when he led the Milwaukee Brewers to the World Series. He was also their top pitcher in 1981. Over his eleven-year big-league career he also spent time with St. Louis and Toronto. He was an All-NAIA District 18 selection all four years at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, was an All-PSAC pick three years, and an NAIA All-American in 1974. He was the Pirates’ pitching coach from 1996-2000.

First round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1972. Played from 972-1983 and elected to NFL Hall of Fame in 1990. Team career leader in rushing yards (11,950) and touchdowns (91). Played in four Super Bowls and was MVP in Super Bowl VI. He was on the receiving end of the NFL’s widely recognized greatest play – the “Immaculate Reception.” A member of the Steelers’ 75th Anniversary Team and NFL “Man of the Year” in 1976, Franco was a three-year starter at Penn State and a high school All-American.