For the past 60 years, the Pa Sports Hall of Fame has honored and inducted over 753 incredible men and women who have made a lasting impact in Pennsylvania through extraordinary athletic achievement and contributions. Whether these activities have been achieved on or off the field, we honor them. And through our future virtual museum we will educate and celebrate their achievements for years to come.
PA STATE HALL OF FAME 2023 INDUCTION CEREMONY is Saturday, October 28, 2023
Mark Gubicza
Living
Year Inducted:2004
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Mark had an outstanding major league baseball career with the Kansas City Royals. He was a 20-game winner in 1988 when he placed third in the Cy Young voting. In 1985 he won Game 6 of the American League Championship Series. He led the American League in games started in 1989 with 36 and 1995 with 33. His ability to take the mound on a regular schedule places him high on the Royals pitching career list in many categories: he is third in wins, third in shutouts, second in starts, and second in innings pitched, He holds the Royals' record for strikeouts in a game with 14 and had 16 career shutouts including a one-hitter against Oakland.
Dick Haley
Living
Year Inducted:2004
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Dick came out of small Midway High School to become a two-year starter at the University of Pittsburgh, played in the East-West Shrine All-Star Game and was a starting wide receiver in the College All-Star Game in Chicago.
His professional career lasted seven seasons, the last four with his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers. He moved into the Steelers' front office and spent 21 years as Director of Player Personnel during which time the Steelers won four Super Bowls.
Dick has recently retired as Director of Player Personnel with the New York Jets. However he remains active with football as the chief scout for the Jets in Florida.
Cosmo Iacavazzi
Living
Year Inducted:2004
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Cosmo was an AP All-State athlete out of West Scranton High School. He went on to become a standout two way performer at Princeton where he garnered First Team All-American Honors in 1964 and was twice named All-Ivy. He led the nation in scoring in 1963 and captained the undefeated (9-0) 1964 team. His exploits earned him the Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award, the Poe Kazmaier Award, and made him a Heisman Trophy Candidate. He had 1895 career rushing yards, 31 touchdowns, and averaged 5.28 yards per carry his senior year. He led Princeton to back-to-back Ivy League titles. Cosmo is a National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame inductee.
John Mazur
Deceased
Year Inducted:2004
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About This Inductee:
• Plymouth High School-football and basketball
• Notre Dame quarterback 1949-1951
• Led Irish to National Championship in 1949
• Assistant coach at Tulane 1955-1959, Marquette and Boston College
• 1962 joined Buffalo Bills as assistant coach
• As offensive coordinator helped Bills win 3 Division and 2 AFL championships
• 1969 offensive coordinator with Boston Patriots, in 1970 took over as head coach
• Inducted into PA Sports Hall of Fame in 2004
John was an outstanding athlete at Plymouth High School where he starred on the football and basketball teams. A star player at Notre Dame, where he was a member of the 1949 national-championship team. He quarterbacked the Irish from 1948 through 1951. He led the Irish to a National Championship in 1949. His love for the game turned him to coaching, as an assistant at Tulane from 1955-1959 and then Marquette and Boston College.
In 1962, Lou Saban hired him as assistant coach of the Buffalo Bills. Mazur became the offensive coordinator of the Bills and helped Buffalo to three division titles and two AFL championships. In 1969, he became offensive coordinator of the Boston Patriots, and he was named head coach in 1970, succeeding Clive Rush. He lead the team to a 6–8 mark that year, which included upsets of the Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Colts and Oakland Raiders, the team enjoyed its best record since 1966, and Mazur was awarded a new contract with a substantial pay increase. Mazur then resigned on November 13, 1972.
Mazur would resurface the next year as defensive backs coach with the Philadelphia Eagles, and would survive the dismissal of much of the coaching staff following the end of the 1975 NFL season. However, after just one year working under Dick Vermeil, Mazur left in 1977 to join former Eagles assistant Walt Michaels, who had been hired as head coach of the New York Jets.
After two years as defensive backs coach with the Jets, Mazur was promoted to defensive coordinator in 1979, helping the team to its second straight 8–8 season. The following year, the team's fortunes dipped considerably with a 4–12 mark, while Mazur's health also took a turn for the worse. In December, he announced that he would be retiring to battle the effects of Parkinson's disease.
He died November 1, 2013 at the age on 83.
Richard Rydze
Living
Year Inducted:2004
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Dick is a graduate of Mt. Lebanon High School and the University of Michigan where he had an outstanding career in the sport of Diving. He was the Big Ten Conference Diving Champion in 1971 and the winner of the prestigious Big Ten Scholar/Athlete Award. His skill off the boards also brought him a Silver Medal at the 1971 Pan Am Games. He also won the Silver Medal at the 1972 Olympic Games. During his career, he was a USA National Diving Champion seven times. He remains active in his sport as a sponsor of the Dick Rydze Divers in Ames, Iowa. He is presently a team physician with his home town Pittsburgh Steelers.
Chuck Sieminski
Deceased
Year Inducted:2004
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About This Inductee:
• Swoyersville High School-All-State in football and basketball
• Penn State University, played in Liberty and Gator Bowls
• Two-time All-East and All-American honors
• 1966 named to Penn State’s All-Time Team
• Played in NFL for 7 seasons with SF 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles
• Coached football at Nanticoke, Hazleton and Freeland high schools
• Inducted into PA Sports Hall of Fame in 2004
A two-sports star at Swoyerstown High School, Chuck garnered All-State honors in both Football and Basketball. He went on to be a two way starter at tackle for Penn State, playing in the Liberty and Gator Bowls. His efforts gained him two time All-East Honors and All-American honors in 1962. He was once named Sports Illustrated Lineman of the Week and was named to the Penn State All-Time Team in 1966. He played in the NFL for seven seasons with the; San Francisco 4gers, Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles. After his professional career he turn to high school coaching with stints at Nanticoke, Hazelton, and Freeland.
He died May 16, 2020 (aged 80).
Dwight White
Deceased
Year Inducted:2004
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A four-year letterman at East Texas State, Dwight found football stardom in Western Pennsylvania and decided to make it his home. An outstanding defensive end, he was an original member of the famed "Steel Curtain" defense which defined the Steeler teams of the 70's. The team won four Super Bowls and he was named to the Pro Bowl in 1972 and 1973. Dwight recorded the first Super Bowl safety when he trapped Fran Tarkenton in the end zone. Although one of the top pass rushers at the time, he twice intercepted two passes in one game. His NFL career lasted from 1971 until 1979 and he recorded a regular season sack total of 56.
Eddie Allen
Deceased
Year Inducted:2003
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Eddie was awarded a scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania in 1938 and was the Quakers starting fullback in 1939-40-41. He also played basketball and competed in track at Penn. As a senior, he received the Class of 1915 award as the most outstanding student athlete. In 1945, he played in the College AII-Star game and was awarded All-American honors. As a senior in 1946, Eddie played in the East-West All-Star game where he captained the East against New York Giants. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1947 and played a couple of years in the N.F.L. In 1949, he coached football at Upper Darby High School before embarking on a coaching career at Drexel that lasted from 1950-1957 and produced the only undefeated season in the school's history. At Penn in 1941, Eddie scored 695 points out of 700 on the Air Corps Physical Training Test, a record that still stands.
George Chaump
Deceased
Year Inducted:2003
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About This Inductee:
• Wyoming native
• John Harris High School head football coach-6 championships in 6 years, 4 undefeated seasons, an overall record of 58-4
• 1968-1979 assistant coach at Ohio State, National Champs in 1968
• Won 9 Big 10 titles, played in 6 Rose Bowls, Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Gator Bowl
• 1979-1981 assistant coach with Tampa Bay Buccaneers, coached in Pro Bowl
• Head coach of Indiana University, Pennsylvania, with 20 winning seasons, capturing 2 consecutive Western Conference Championships
•Coached Navy 1991-1995
• Inducted into PA Sports Hall of Fame in 2003
George Chaump is a 1958 graduate of Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania where he earned four letters in football and three in wrestling. His first head coaching position was at Shamokin PA High School in 1961, and from there he went on to John Harris High School in Harrisburg, PA. His teams went 58-4 in six seasons (1962-67), including unbeaten campaigns in 1962, 1965, 1966, and 1967. Each of those teams won conference championships. Chaump was named Central Pennsylvania Coach of the Year in all six seasons; Chaump spent the next 11 seasons as quarterbacks coach at Ohio State under Hayes. In that period (1968-78), the Buckeyes were 95-15-3.
From 1979 through 1981, Chaump was offensive backfield coach under John McKay with the Buccaneers, helping that team to two National Football Football Conference Central Division championships, the only two division titles in club history.
Chaump returned to the collegiate ranks in 1982 as head coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. His 1984 Indiana team was 7-3 and co-champion of the Western Division of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, and his 1985 team was Western Division Champion of the PSAC while going 8-2-1. At Indiana PA, his squads were 24-16-1 in four seasons, winning a divisional championship and tying for another. Chaump was appointed head coach at Marshall in December of 1985. Chaump was appointed the Naval Academy’s 33rd head football coach on January 8, 1990, coming to Annapolis after highly-acclaimed success at Marshall University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Chaump’s overall collegiate coaching record for 10 seasons is 63-48-2 (.566), while his overall record as a head coach on the collegiate and high school levels is 126-58-2 (.683). Chaump, a native of Scranton, Pa., has enjoyed success at every level on which he has coached. He has a winning percentage of .683 in his 17 years as a head coach on the collegiate and high school levels.
He died May 19, 2019 at age 83.
Mike Diminick
Living
Year Inducted:2003
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Mike, a 1985 Mt. Carmel Area School valedictorian, was a Bally's High School All-American, Big 33 All-Star, All-State, and National Scholar Athlete of the Year besides National honors team recognition. At Duke University, Mike was a three-year starting defensive back and the only three time Duke first team Academic All-American. He was also selected the 1988 National Football Foundation National Scholar Athlete and A.C.C. Scholar Athlete. He attended Harvard Medical School and presently practices orthopedic surgery in Lynchburg, VA.
Lee Elia
Living
Year Inducted:2003
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Lee was an honorable mention All-State football player at Olney High School in 1954. The following
year, he was selected All-Public in football, basketball and baseball and All-City in football, baseball,
and second team in basketball. In 1956 he attended Bordentown Military Institute and the University
of Delaware from 1957-58. His baseball playing career lasted from 1959-73, where he played with
the Cubs, White Sox, and eight minor league teams. In 1978, he was Manager of the Year with the Reading Phillies in the Eastern League, and two years later he worked as the third base coach for the 1980 World Champion Philadelphia Phillies. From 1982-83, Lee managed the Cubs, and in 1987 he managed the Phillies for two years. He was honored as the International Manager of the Year for Scranton-Wilkes Barre in 1993 and from 2001-2002, he worked as the coaching consultant for the Seattle Mariners.
Lou Ferry
Deceased
Year Inducted:2003
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Lou starred in football, basketball, and track at S1. James High School in Chester.He attended Villanova where he had an outstanding career playing four years of football for Jordan Oliver. He played in two bowl games and was selected to play in the College All-Star game that defeated the New York Giants, 26-13. Then Lou spent the next seven years in the N.F.L. He played one year with Green Bay and a year with the Chicago Cardinals before a five year stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers. After pro football, he began coaching with Alex Bell at Villanova. He spent a few years as head coach and has continued to coach the Wildcats for over 40 years.
John Reese
Living
Year Inducted:2003
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About This Inductee:
• Kingston native
• Wrestling coach at Wilkes University for 42 years, the longest tenure of any coach at one institution
• Second coach in collegiate wrestling history to reach the 500 win mark
• Finished with career record of 515-171-10
• Led Wilkes to 40 winning campaigns, including a string of 39 straight winning seasons from 1955-1993
• Led Wilkes to 14 Middle Atlantic Conference crowns and 1974 N.C.A.A. Division III National Championship
• His teams were ranked #1 during 1966, 1974 and 1975 seasons
• Inducted into eight Halls of Fame, including the National Wrestling Hall of Fame
• Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Wilkes University Hall of Fame
• Inducted in PA Sports Hall of Fame in 2003
John Reese is in his 37th season at the helm of the Wilkes College wrestling program. This gives him the distinction of holding the longest tenure of any wrestling coach at any one institution. Throughout the years, his teams have compiled an outstanding collegiate dual record of 477-119-8 including undefeated seasons in 1956-57, 1958-59, 1959-60, 1960-61 and 1970-71. He has guided the Colonels to 38 straight winning seasons, 35 in a row. During his tenure at Wilkes, Reese led the Colonels to 15 Middle Atlantic Conference titles in 19 years at the NCAA Division III level. He guided his ’73-’74 team to the NCAA Division III National Championship and his ’65-’66 unit placed second in that tournament. He has coached ten college division champions.
In 1976, Reese took the Colonel grapplers out of Division III and the MAC and into NACC Division I and the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA). Despite its small size in comparison with the other schools, Wilkes has produced 54 EIWA place winners including eight champions and the 1976 Outstanding Wrestler, Jim Weisenfluh. The Blue and Gold has also produced four NCAA Division I place winners. A native of Wyoming Valley, Reese attended Kingston High School where he began his grappling career. While there, he achieved District II honors and was a PIAA finalist.
He started his collegiate career at Millersville State and completed his undergraduate work at Penn State, where he earned a B.S. in physical education in 1951. In addition, Reese holds a master’s degree from PSU. He was wrestling coach at Kingston for two years. The successful mentor serves as athletic director at Wilkes, working with the college’s 13 men’s and women’s intercollegiate sports. Earlier in his career at Wilkes, he coached both soccer and baseball. John, who conducts a summer wrestling camp in August each year at Wilkes, is a member of the executive hoard of the National Wrestling Coaches Association: president of the EIWA Coaches Association (selected in October): former president of the MAC: and a member of the ECAC executive committee.
John was honored by being selected by Pennsylvania Governor Dick Thornburgh to the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Reese is also a member of the Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame and is president of the Keystone State Games Committee. He is married to the former Patricia Tosh of Wilkes-Barre. Reese’s career boasts of 39 total coaching years – 2 years at Kingston High School and 37 years at Wilkes.
Robert Walk
Living
Year Inducted:2003
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Bob was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies and made his major league debut in 1980 where he was the starting pitcher in game one of the 1980 World Series. After one year in Philadelphia, he was traded to Atlanta where he spent three years. He was then acquired by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1984 and posted six straight winning seasons from 1987-1992. Bob was named a National League AII-Star in 1988 and has a lifetime record of 105-81 which included a 82-61 mark with the Pirates and a complete game victory in the 1992 NLCS. Bob is presently a Pirate broadcaster.
Julia Staver
Living
Year Inducted:2003
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Julia is a 1970 graduate of Lower Dauphin High School where she captained the basketball team to three championships and helped the field hockey team capture the Lower Susquehanna League Title. In 1974, she was Magna Cum Laude and an AII-American in field hockey and lacrosse at the University of Pennsylvania and was selected to the All-Century team. She captained the U.S.National lacrosse and field hockey teams in 1976 and was a member of the 1980 and 1984 Olympic hockey teams where she was co-captain and a bronze medal winner at the Games in Los Angeles. In 1989, Julia was inducted into the U.S. Field Hockey Hall of Fame and the Ursinus College Hall of Fame. In 1996, she was inducted into Penn's Hall of Fame with Chuck Bednarik and Olympian Jack Kelley. She has been director of the USFHA and helped the U.S. team at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
Joseph Page
Deceased
Year Inducted:2003
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Joe was a left handed pitcher for the New York Yankees from 1944-50 and for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1954. His lifetime record was 57-49 with a 3.53 ERA in 285 games. He had 519 strikeouts in his career and led the league in games with 55 in 1948 and 60 in 1949. As a relief pitcher, Joe led the league in 1947 with a 14-7 record and 17 saves and again in 1949 with a 13-8 record and 27 saves. He appeared in the 1947 and 1949 World Series with the Yankees, where he had a 2-1 record, 3.27 ERA, and 15 strikeouts. Joe was born in Cherry Valley, PA in 1917 and passed away in 1980 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
Steve Bilko, Sr.
Deceased
Year Inducted:2003
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About This Inductee:
• Nanticoke, Pennsylvania native
• Career spanned 1949-1962, with 313 homers and .312 batting average
• Called the “Babe Ruth of the Pacific Coast League”
• 1953 with St. Louis Cardinals, led National League in putouts
• 1956 LA Angel’s MVP, batted .350, 55 homers and 164 RBIs
• 1957 hit 56 homers, 140 RBIs, again with Angels in Pacific Coast League
• 1961 hit .279, 20 homers, 81 RBIs for LA Angels in American League
• Inducted into PA Sports Hall of Fame in 2003
"Babe Ruth of the Pacific Coast League" and one of its greatest. Nanticoke’s Steve Bilko was one of the greatest play-ers in the history of the Pacific Coast League. Between 1955 and 1957 with the Los Angeles Angels, Bilko hit .331 with 148 home runs and 428 RBI. He was named the league’s most valuable player in 1956 when he batted .360 with 55 homers and 164 RBI.
Bilko’s professional baseball career lasted from 1949-1962. In 1953 he played in all 154 games for the St. Louis Cardinals and led the National League in putouts. In 1957 he followed his MVP season with 56 home runs and 140 RBI for the Angels in the Pacific Coast League. In 1961 he hit .279 with 20 homers and 81 RBI for the Los Angeles Angels in the American League. A leg injury in 1962 ended his baseball career.
He died at the age of 50 in 1978.
Edward "Big Ed" Walsh
Deceased
Year Inducted:2002
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About This Inductee:
• Plains High School
• Outstanding right-handed pitcher for Chicago White Sox 1904-1916
• Pitched two victories in 1906 World Series, 1908 won 40 games
• Pitched and won both games of double-header against Boston Sept. 29, 1908
• Averaged 25 wins a season over six-year period for White Sox
• Pitching 464 innings in 1908, setting a post-1900 record
• Lifetime 1.82 ERA is also a record, finished career with Boston in 1917
• 1946 elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, NY
• Inducted into PA Sports Hall of Fame in 2002
Ed Walsh was an outstanding right-handed pitcher for the Chicago White Sox from 1904-1916. He won 40 games in 1908 and had two victories in the 1906 World Series. He pitched and won both games of a double-header against Boston on Sept. 29, 1908, allowing only one run. One of the early spitball pitchers, he averaged 25 wins a season over a six-year period for the White Sox and twice pitched over 400 innings in a season. His 464 innings in 1908 set a post-1900 record. His lifetime 1.82 ERA is also a record. He finished his major league career with Boston in 1917. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 1946.
He died in May of 1959, he was 78.
Dr. Robert Bob Williams
Deceased
Year Inducted:2002
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About This Inductee:
• G.A.R. Memorial High School-football-3 championships, All-Scholastic, All-State
• University of Notre Dame-three-year quarterback
• On Blue-Gray All-Star and 1959 Hula Bowl team, third-team All-American
• November 16, 1957, defeated Oklahoma U. with touchdown pass, ending Sooners’ 47 game winning streak, handing them their first shutout in 124 games
• Voted Associated Press Collegiate "Back of the Week."
• 1959 drafted by Chicago Bears, passed to attend University of Pittsburgh Medical School
• Inducted into PA Sports Hall of Fame in 2002
Dr. Robert Williams was an outstanding athlete and scholar at G.A.R. High School, where he guided the late Coach Luke Richards’ teams to titles in both 1952 and 1954. In 1953, when the Grenadiers went 8-1-1, and in 1954, when GAR won the Wyoming Valley Conference with a 9-0-1 record, Williams was an all-scholastic choice at quarterback and played safety on defense. He earned letters in football, basketball, and baseball. Williams was a highly recruited quarterback by many Division I college and university teams. He accepted a full football scholarship to the University of Notre Dame.
As starting quarterback in 17 games at Notre Dame, he led his team to many victories, including 7-0 victory over Oklahoma on November 16, 1957, one of the most glorious days in Notre Dame history. It was an 80-yard drive in 20 plays. “They thought he was going to give the ball to fullback Nick Petrosonte. He faked to him and pitched it out (to Lynch).” In that game, Williams completed eight (8) of 19 passes for 70 yards. He also intercepted a pass. The victory ended the Sooners 47-game winning streak and handed them their first shutout in 124 games. This record still stands as the longest winning streak in college football history. Williams was chosen “Back of the Week” by the Associated Press for his role in the upset. In 1958, Williams played in the Blue-Gray All-Star Game, and, in 1959, he participated in the Hula Bowl. He was named the quarterback on the fourth annual National Scholastic All-American Team in 1958 as selected by a panel of 351 sports writers for The American Peoples Encyclopedia.
He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1959, but he already decided to attend the University of Pittsburgh Medical School, to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a doctor. Again, in 1961, he had another opportunity to play professionally with the New York Times (now Jets), but remained in medical school.
Williams graduated from medical school in 1963, and from 1964-1966 served his country as a Captain in the United States Air Force. He was a flight surgeon for a fighter squadron in Vietnam. Williams did his residency in obstetrics, gynecology, and oncology at Magee Women’s Hospital from 1966-1970. He practiced medicine in Pittsburgh, and had been based at the Professional Office Center at St. Clair Memorial Hospital in Mt. Lebanon. He served as Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology at St. Clair in 1988-89. Other hospital affiliations, all in the Pittsburgh area, included Magee Women’s Hospital, South Side Hospital, St. Clair Hospital, Central Medical, and Jefferson Hospital. He was also affiliated with teaching at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School. He was a member of several professional medical organizations and honor societies such as the American Medical Association, American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology, College of Physicians &. Surgeons, Pennsylvania Medical Society, American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Oncology Society, and the University of Notre Dame Edward Frederick Sorin Society.
Dr. Williams passed away on July 21, 1990, at the age of 52.
Jerry Boyarsky
Living
Year Inducted:2002
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Jerry completed 9 years in the National Football League. He played defensive lineman for the Green Bay Packers, Cincinnati Bengals
and Buffalo Bills after being drafted in the fifth round by the New Orleans Saints. Previously, Jerry had a brilliant career at the University of Pittsburgh, where he was third team All-American in his senior year and first team All-East in his junior and senior years. The former Lakeland High School star won All-State honors in both his junior and senior years there.
Harry Gamble
Deceased
Year Inducted:2002
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Harry was the head coach for the Lafayette College Leopards from 1967-1070 compiling a 21-19 record,
Before moving on to become the head coach for the University of Pennsylvania Quakers from 1971-1980,
with a 34-55-2 record. He was hired by the Philadelphia of the NFL in 1981 Eagles as an unpaid volunteer assistant under coach Dick Vermeil, and quickly ascended to general manager of the team in 1985 and team president in 1986.
Jean Marlowe
Deceased
Year Inducted:2002
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Jean is the only Scranton, Pennsylvania, player to play in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League that opened in 1943 and was the subject of a movie, "A League of Their Own." Jean began her career in 1947 and played in the league for 7 years. She led the League in hitting most of the 1949 season before turning to pitching because of her strong arm. She played with mid-west teams at Springfield, Kenosha and Kalamazoo. She won 59 games and fanned 323 in 145 games.
She is a member of Baseball's Hall of Fame (women's league) in Cooperstown, New York and the Northeastern Chapter Sports Hall of Fame. Marlowe is part of Women in Baseball, a permanent display at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at Cooperstown, New York, which was unveiled in 1988 to honor the entire All-American Girls Professional Baseball League rather than any individual personality.
She died on April 16, 2007 (aged 77).
Paul Mihalak
Living
Year Inducted:2002
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Paul has been a Pennsylvania Interscholastic High School football and basketball referee from 1958-1969. He was hired by the National Basketball Association in 1969 and served as an NBA referee for 27 years (1969-1997). He refereed in over 2000 regular season NBA games, refereed in 123 NBA playoff games and in 4 NBA All-Star games. Paul retired in 1997 because of severe knee problems. Currently he is employed by the NBA as an observer/mentor of young NBA officials, observing approximately 50 games per season since 1998 including the current NBA season.
Tom O'Malley
Living
Year Inducted:2002
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Tom started playing Little League Baseball at 8 years old. He progressed to Montoursville High School where he hit .658 during his senior year. Tom was drafted by the San Francisco Giants out of high school and spent 13 years in professional baseball with the Giants, Orioles, Rangers and Mets. He moved to the Japanese League where he hit over .300 for 6 consecutive years. He was chosen League and Team MVP, plus MVP in the Japanese World Series. Tom was a Golden Glove Award recipient and batting champion with a .329 average.
Ed “Mr. Handyman” Rutkowski
Living
Year Inducted:2002
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About This Inductee:
• Kingston High School-football
• Notre Dame University-quarterback and defensive back
• Played professional football with Buffalo Bills and Montreal Alouettes at five different positions-mainly wide receiver, specializing in kickoff & punt returns
• Holds Buffalo Bills record for highest kickoff return average in a season (30.5)
• 1968 named Offensive MVP as quarterback with the Bills
• Former president of Buffalo Bills Alumni
• 1998 received the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., Distinguished Service Award for meritorious service to Buffalo Bills
• Inducted into PA Sports Hall of Fame in 2002
Eddie graduated from Kingston High School in 1958 where he quarterbacked and captained the 10-0 undefeated football team coached by Jim Fennell. In that year, Eddie was the leading scorer with 93 points in 10 games. He was also chosen All-State, along with All-Star in 1958 and All-Scholastic in 1957-58. He was also a member of the UNICO team. He was elected to the PA Big 33 team in 1958. Eddie had the honor of being selected to the Associated Press and UPI first teams All-State in 1958. Eddie also received letters in wrestling and track while at Kingston High School.
Eddie went on to the University of Notre Dame, where he played quarterback, defensive and offensive halfback. He averaged 31 yards per carry in his 3 years for the fighting Irish. Eddie ran back kickoffs and punts, as well as playing defensive halfback where he had 8 interceptions. He also scored 18 points on extra point tries in 1962, while scoring 3 touchdowns as a halfback. Eddie was also an undefeated wrestler at Notre Dame in his senior year and was invited to the national championships.
The Buffalo Bills signed Eddie in 1963 as quarterback and defensive back. Ed played 5 positions in his 6 years (70 games) with the Bills including quarterback, wide receiver, running back, safety on defense, and punt and kickoff returner. Eddie set a record of 73 yards on a punt return against Kansas City in 1966. His nickname was “Mr. Handyman” because of his versatile athletic ability. Eddie was considered the ultimate team player by the Buffalo Bills. He was named the Bill’s Most Valuable Player on offense by his teammates in 1968, the year he started as quarterback in the second half of the Bill’s season-. He holds the individual record for the Bills all-time highest kickoff return average for a single season with an average of 30.5 yards per return in 1963. He ranks third in most punt returns in a career with 68, and third in highest punt return average in a season with an 11.6-yard average in 1966. He also ranks second in most punt returns in a game with 6 against the Houston Oilers in 1964.
After retiring from football, Ed worked with Congressman Jack Kemp as his administrative assistant for 8 years, as well as working as TV and radio commentator for the Bill’s. Eddie and his wife Marilou reside in Hamburg, New York, where he is vice-president of Integrated Waste Ser-vices, where he is responsible for investor relations and new business development. They have 3 daughters, Victoria Jean, Kimberly Clair, and Christian.
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