Inductees

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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 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 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 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.

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.

About This Inductee:

• G.A.R. Memorial High School-All-Scholastic, All-American, All-State-football
• University of Michigan-All-American and All Big Ten
• Played in three Rose Bowls and was Gator Bowl co/MVP
• Outland and Lombardi Trophy finalist
• Twice Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year
• Drafted by L.A. Raiders in second round, with Raiders 1992-1995
• Signed as unrestricted free agent with Carolina Panthers 1996-1997
• 1996 played in NFC Championship game against Green Bay
• Inducted into PA Sports Hall of Fame in 2002

Greg graduated from G.A.R. Memorial High School, lettering 4 y football, basketball and baseball. Twice Greg was all-state and league MVP in basketball while earning all-league in baseball 2 seasons. In football, he was first-team All-American and Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year in his senior season as offensive lineman for G.A.R. Greg started 4 years at the University of Michigan, named All-American and All-Big Ten as senior captain.

Greg played in the Senior Bowl All-Star game and was a finalist for the Outland Trophy, awarded to college football’s top offensive lineman, while helping Michigan’s offense average 439.2 yards per game.

He was Big Ten Lineman of the Year as a junior in 1990 and part of an offensive line that shared Gator Bowl MVP honors after the Wolverines amassed 715 yards on total offense, setting Michigan and Gator Bowl records. Greg started 48 consecutive games as offensive tackle at Michigan.

In 1992, Greg was selected by the Raiders in the second round (32nd overall), where he played in 10 games as a reserve at both tackle and guard. In 1993, Greg was inactive due to a left ankle injury in a pre season game. In 1994, Greg rebounded, becoming starting right tackle versus Atlanta and starting the final ten games of that season. In 1995, Greg started 14 games for the Raiders.

Greg was the first unrestricted free agent signed by the Panthers in 1996. He played in the NFC Championship game against Green Bay in 1996. Greg started 58 games, playing in 68.

Greg is now retired from pro football and resides in Wyoming Valley with his family. Greg is involved in many business and philanthropic ventures and is the head football coach at Bishop Hoban High School.

Tom was an outstanding linebacker and halfback in high school and at the University of West Virginia. As a college senior he was on the All-Southern Conference team and played in the Senior Bowl. He was the fifth leading rusher in Philadelphia Eagles history, rushing for 3,563 yards in nine seasons (1963-1971). Tom was named to the Pro Bowl in 1968. After knee surgery, he played his final year with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1972. Tom was a broadcaster for the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League and wrote a column for the Philadelphia Inquirer. He also coached at Moravian College for two years.

About This Inductee:

• Hanover High School-linebacker and halfback
• University of West Virginia-All-Southern Conference, played in Senior Bowl
• Fifth leading rusher in Philadelphia Eagles history-3,563 yards in 9 seasons (1963-1971)
•1968 Pro Bowl, final season 1972 with St. Louis Cardinals
• Broadcaster for Philadelphia Bell of World Football League
• Wrote for Philadelphia Inquirer, coached at Moravian College
• Inducted into PA Sports Hall of Fame in 2002

The fifth-leading rusher in Philadelphia Eagles history was Tom Woodeshick of Hanover Township. Known as “Pocono Duke and “Woody,” Woodeshick rushed for 3,563 yards in nine years with the Eagles Woodeshick was an outstanding linebacker and halfback for Hanover Township High School. Woodeshick went on to West Virginia, with the help of Hanover superintendent Bernie McGuire, Jim Moran of King’s College, and Bill Lapinsky, he said At West Virginia, I started as a sophomore and played three years,” said Woodeshick. In my senior year we had the best defense in the country. We had a record of 8-2. In his senior year Woodeshick was named to the All-Southern Conference team. At 6 foot and 215 pounds, Woodeshick was a powerful pro fullback. “I really enjoyed my professional career,” he said. “It was a special year for me in 1968.1 gained 947 yards and was really upset that I didn’t gain 1,000 yards. I remember I had a 60-yard touchdown called back against Minnesota, and I missed one game with an elbow injury. I really wanted to run for 1,000 yards. It was also an honor to be chosen for the Pro Bowl that year.” Woodeshick was the NFL’s third-leading rusher that year, and gained 831 yards the following season. During off-seasons, he was a popular banquet speaker; kept in shape by running, lifting weights, and playing tennis, softball and basketball; and attended night courses at the Wharton School of Finance. Knee problems hurt his career in the early 1970’s, and in 1972 he underwent surgery for the removal of an inflamed bursal sac from his right knee. The Eagles released him before the 1972 season, and he played his final year with the St. Louis Cardinals before retiring. He was a broadcaster for the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League and wrote a column for the Philadelphia Inquirer for a time. He also coached at Moravian College for two years. Today he is married to the former Marcia Bluestein of Philadelphia and has two sons, Mike, 19, and Karl, a senior at Ocean City High School in New Jersey, where he plays football. Woodeshick returns to the Wyoming Valley quite a bit. “I hear more great things about Wyoming Valley,” he said. “I just might someday come back to live here with the greatest people in the world.”

U.S. Olympic Team member 1976 & 1980; inducted U.S. Rowing Hall of Fame; Heavyweight Single (1980); Heavyweight Double (1976); U.S. International Team (1973 & 1981); National Championship Lightweight Single (1979 & 1980); Quarter Mile (1971, ’74, ’78 & ’82); Double (1970-1974, 1978-1981); Quad (1978-1982); Heavyweight Quad (1979-1981); member LaSalle College “Explorers” team; inducted Susquehanna Valley Chapter Hall of Fame.

Weightlifting Olympic Gold Medalist (1972 & 1976); Silver Medalist (1980); Pan American Games Gold Medalist (1971, ’73, ’75 & ’77); Gold Medalist at World Championship (1973, ’74 & ’75); member, U.S. and International Olympic Committee (Sports Medicine); recipient of coveted Wheelchair Sports USA National Hall of Fame Award.

Mount Carmel High School, football, baseball; U.S. Army Feurth Tigers (Germany), football, guard, and linebacker, captain; Susquehanna University, starting linebacker and guard, captain, 1958-1961; Charter Member Susquehanna University Hall of Fame; Williamson Little All-American junior and senior years; All-Lutheran and Mid-Atlantic Conference Northern Division 1st Team; AP All-Pennsylvanian 2nd Team; AP All-American Honorable Mention; member Top 100 Susquehanna University Anniversary Team; Offensive line and linebacker coach, Susquehanna University, Delaware Valley College, Harrison High School, and Roxborough High School; Roxborough High School Hall of Fame.

Swam English Chanel (1979) at age 22, covering 31.0 miles of rough water in 11 hours, 12 minutes; first female athlete to win varsity letter at West Scranton High School (prior to PIAA recognition of girls’ sports); won four letters in high school; leading swimmer on Scranton YMCA team, capturing State and Regional honors; qualified for National Team finals at Swimming Hall of Fame (Florida).

Played semi-Pro baseball in Nova Scotia 3 years, Pierre SD 1 year. Coached high school baseball 36 years; 7 years at Stafford High School, Virginia; 2 years at Susquenita High School and 27 years at Pine Grove Area. Coached high school football for 25 years; 7 years at Stafford, 2 years at Susquenita and 16 years at Pine Grove Area. Selected High School All-American, All-State Football while playing for Schuylkill Haven. Played 4 years football and baseball at North Carolina State University; selected as one of the best backs of the 1950’s era at NC State. Selected First-Team ACC in Baseball for 2 years.

National Fast-Pitch All-Star; world Championship team member; tied world mark hitting homeruns in State, Regional, National, and World tournament games. Three consecutive years State Softball Tournament MVP. Hall of Fame Inductee The George Washington University, member of the George Washington University All-Century Men’s Basketball Team; All-Southern Conference Shortstop (baseball); led nation in stolen base percentage; Topp’s All-Star Shortstop, southern Region; member Scranton Miners, Eastern Professional basketball league. All-State basketball, Dunmore High School – averaged 30 points per game during senior in high school with high game of 68 points.

John Luckhardt, the “winningest” football coach in W & J history, served as Washington and Jefferson College’s head football coach for the past 17 seasons. His career coach record stands at 137-37-2, making him the fifth “winningest” coach in NCAA Division III football with a.784 winning percentage.

He began coaching at W & J in 1982, and rejuvenated W & J football. In 1984, he directed W & J to it’s first football title in 14 years and a berth in the NCAA championship playoffs.

Luckhardt-coached teams have won 14 Presidents’ Athletic Conference championships, including an unprecedented 11 consecutive, and have advanced to the NCAA playoffs on nine occasions. In 1992 and 1994, the Presidents advanced to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl and won the Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy as the best Division III team in the east. Additionally, Luckhardt marked his 100th career coaching victory during the 1994 season.

Among his honors have been a national Kodak Coach of the Year Award and a “Sportsman of the Year” award from the Eastern Football Officials. Luckhardt also is a 12-time recipient of the PAC Football Coach of the Year award and a record 11-time recipient of the Washington-Greene County “Coach of the Year” award. Additionally, the Wilkes-Barre Downtown Touchdown Club voted Luckhardt its “Coach of the Year” in 1992, 1993 and 1994.

Following the 1994 season and W & J’s second appearance in the Stagg Bowl, Danny Sheridan named Luckhardt the CNN “College Preview” Division III “Coach of the Year.”

Luckhardt was elected to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Board of Trustees in 1994 and is one of two Division III coaches elected to the 15 member board that includes two Division II coaches and 11 Division I coaches. The board is the policy arm of the AFCA, the country’s largest coaching organization.

Since his retirement from the head coaching position at the end of the 1998 season, Luckhardt now serves as a director of development for special projects while continuing his duties as the College’s director of Physical Education and Intercollegiate Athletics and a professor of Physical Education.

Luckhardt is a graduate of Purdue University where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees. As a senior, he played center and linebacker on the Boilermakers’ Rose Bowl championship squad. Named a Distinguished Graduate by Purdue, he was on the All-Big Ten Academic Team.

He began his coaching career at Purdue as a graduate assistant and served as an assistant coach working with the backfield and receivers at Northern Illinois University. Luckhardt served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Lehigh University before joining W & J. While Luckhardt was a member of the Lehigh coaching staff, the team compiled a 75-25-3 record, advanced to the playoffs five times, won four Lambert cups and won an NCAA National Championship.

All-American at the University of Washington: All PAC Ten-Team; (1959-’60); All Coast Team (1960); Rose Bowl Team Captain (1959-’60); Senior and All-American Bowl (1960). Played in the Canadian League (1961). Inducted into the Washington Hall of Fame (1984), National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame and the All-American Foundation Hall of Fame (1988). Named to “100 Year All Time Huskies Team” By the Tacoma Tribune.

One of the most successful collegiate coaches in the United States. Member of 3-time Team NCAA National Champions (Immaculata College). First women’s team to play in Madison Square Gardens on National TV; 3-Time “ National Collegiate Coach of the Year”. Coached at St. Joseph’s Colorado and Penn State.; over 500 career wins, 18 NCAA Post Season appearances, including a “Final Four”. 1988 WNIT Champion, Midwest Champion and five semi-final Regional appearances. Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

83 years old, and still golfing, gained PGA Membership in 1940. Head Pro, Windsor Country Club, VT Phoenixville Country Club, Susquehanna Valley Country Club, Berleigh Country Club and Mosellem Springs Country Club. His six-decade major wins include; Tuscon Open (1952), Philadelphia Open (1951& ‘62), Pennsylvania Open (1954 & ’62), Philadelphia Seniors (1973. ’75. ’76), Indian Springs Open (1968), Salisbury Open (1950), played in (6) US Open Tournaments, (8) National PGA‘s (2) Masters. Held course record at Plymouth Norristown (1963). Phoenixville (1982) Smyrna Beach Country Club of Florida (1962)

Sammy Angott, born in 1915, began fighting for free at age 17. Dozens of fights as an amateur made Angott a Golden Gloves champion in Pittsburgh, and led the fifth of nine children born to a Pennsylvania coal miner to his first professional fight in 1936.

“People were poor in the ’30s,” explained Angott years later. “A lot of people had to fight to make a living.”

His part of the purse was no more than $50 for many of those early pro fights. In fact, Angott began raising a family on the “security” offered by $35 he earned for a fight in New York City.

His wife. Evelyn Angott, two daughters and a namesake son stayed in Washington during the 15-year professional career in which Angott carved out a record of 97 wins, 25 losses and four draws. In less than five years, the boxer became lightweight champion, beating Davey Day in Louisville, Ky., for the National Boxing Association crown on May 9, 1940.

Angott retired undefeated as champion in 1942. But much as today, boxing careers were frequently interrupted before they were finally concluded. Angott returned to and retired from the ring several times during comeback attempts. He regained a portion of the lightweight title in 1943 by beating “Slugger” White, and again in 1945 by knocking out Ike Williams.

Angott’s pugilistic skills were recognized in the years before his death in 1980 by his induction into a dozen athletic halls of fame, including the Boxing Hall of Fame in the Ring Museum at Madison Square Garden.

Angott fought Sugar Ray Robinson (3 time), willie Pep, Fritzie Zivic, Beau Jack (2 times), Henry Armstrong. Ike Williams, Juan Zurita, Johnny Bratton – all Champions themselves.