Inductees

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.

University of Miami tackle; selected to Look Magazine and Paramount News 1952 All-American Team; recruited from West Scranton High School by the late Jack Harding; starred in 1951 Orange and 1952 Gator Bowls; drafted and played for NFL Chicago Cardinals; traded to Pittsburgh Steelers; severe shoulder injury ended pro career; coached at University of Miami and Service Team, 1955-57; elected and served as President, University of Miami Hall of Fame.

Football Collegiate All-State and All-American, Bloomsburg State University (1948); earned varsity letters, basketball and football; drafted and signed by Pittsburgh Steelers; played Eastern Pro Basketball League; scholastic coaching record 205-37 (Columbia High School), with 7 Conference, 3 PIAA District, and 1 Eastern Regional Championships; inducted into Bloomsburg University and Susquehanna Valley Halls of Fame.

Three- time Football Little All-American at Juniata College (1957, ’58 & ’59). leading scorer PA at the college Level (1957 & ’58); 312 points in four years at Juniat; single game rushing record, gaining 234 yards in 18 carries in a single game. Holds five Juniata scoring records.

Signed with LA Dodgers in1960; batted .301 in six years. Had to take an early retirement due to injury. Managed 12 years in the Dodgers Minor League with 860 wins, five Championship seasons; Manager of the Year four times in Florida State, Mideast and Northwest Leagues.

Coached football ten years, wrestling 34 years; baseball 32 years with 400 wins at Juniata and was Athletic Director (1977-1995).

Elected to Capital Area, Huntingdon County and Juniata College Halls of Fame.

NCAA Soccer All-American (1950); led Penn State to two NCAA Championships. Coached Fleetwood High School to two PIAA State Championships, 14 Conference titles, nine District Championships; two-time State and Conference Coach of the Year Honors. Had a 28 year career record of 512-99-48.

Took the Penn State baseball hitting title in sophomore year; earned six Varsity letters as a Nittany Lion. Spent six years in the Boston Red Sox system.

National Coach of the Year (1980); Inducted into National Soccer Hall of Fame (1997); was National Chairman of the NCSSA.

About This Inductee:

• Pittston Area High School-All State football
• Four-year starter at Penn State University
• Cotton Bowl MVP (1975), Outstanding Gator Bowl player (1976), Hula Bowl MVP
• Signed with NFL’s Miami Dolphins as wide receiver and punt returner
• Played in Super Bowls XVII and XIX; his touchdown in Super Bowl XVII
was second longest in Super Bowl history at that time (76 yards)
• Awarded Emmy for writing 1988 Olympic coverage for NBC
• Florida Sportscaster of the Year in 1998
• Inducted into PA Sports Hall of Fame in 2000

Only Lackawanna County athlete to play in both Super Bowl VII and Canada Grey Cup (1977); two years Washington Redskins, Houston and Green Bay. 1972 Redskins Super Bowl Team. Drafter by the Redskins
as All-Conference defensive end out of Arizona State. Defensive end with Ottawa in play-off win over Toronto; played with Calgary and Montreal before joining Ottawa in 1976.

Four sport All-Conference player at Dunmore High School

All-WPIAL, Big 33 and Parade All-American (MVP) out of Penn Hills High School. Four-year starter, All-East, All-American and Lombardi, Outland and Heisman Trophy finalist while with University of Pittsburgh. Selected to sportswriters’ “Best of the Last 25 Years” and Playboy All-Time All-American Team. A 1999 Inductee National Football Foundation Hall of Fame.

#1 NFL draft choice by the Atlanta Falcons; eight year All Pro Bowl, 1987 NFL Lineman of the Year.

About This Inductee:
• Wyoming Valley native
• 1890 with Baltimore Orioles, won 3 straight pennants
• Also played with Louisville, Brooklyn, Philadelphia and Detroit
• 1896 was top season, hitting .398, stealing 73
• Played in 1,285 games with 259 stolen bases, .314 career batting average
• Managed Detroit Tigers to 3 championships
• Elected to Cornell, St. Bonaventure Halls of Fame
• 1945 Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, NY
• Inducted into PA Sports Hall of Fame in 2000

Hughie Jennings was a star hitter and baserunner before becoming a standout manager in the big leagues. In the 1890s he blossomed as a great shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles, helping them win three straight pennants. A constant threat at the plate, his top season on the way to a .314 career batting average was 1896. That year, he hit .398, stole 73 bases and set a record in his specialty — being hit by pitched balls 49 times. After his playing days, he managed the Detroit Tigers to three championships. Jennings died in 1928 and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 1945.

Three time All-American at the University of Maryland and All-State High School performer. Outtland Trophy winner in (1952). Fourteen year NFL playing career, play a then NFL career 180 games with New York Giants and Cleveland Browns including eight title games. He had an All-Pro Year in 1964. Respected NFL Coach for 22 seasons. Inducted into the National College Foundation Hall of Fame (1993) and Polish American Hall of Fame in (1986)

NCAA 1-Meter and U.S. National 3-Meters Champion. Three time All-American at Ohio State, inductee into Ohio State and International Halls of Fame. Coached eight Olympic teams; producing divers who won five Gold. Three Silver and four Bronze medals. His divers also captured 13 World Championships, 14 Pan American Games and 135 U.S. National Gold Medals aand won 82 National Team Titles. He was named Coach of the Year 14 times.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Established Major League record for most relief appearances (1,050) and most innings pitched in relief (1,436.1), tied Major League record for most consecutive games won by a relief pitcher (3), established National League record for most career games pitched (1,050) and career games finished (638), established Pirate record for career saves (158). Presently is color analyst for Sports Channel on Philadelphia Phillies broadcast.

A 1950 Shamokin High School graduate, Don was a four-year letter winner and three-year two-way performer at Bloomsburg State on squads posting a 30-6 record. Conference champs 1951 – tie for first 1954. Don initiated varsity football at Exeter in 1959 and after suffering through a 3-21 record, had 18 winning seasons with undefeated championships in 1967 and 1970. Inducted into the Berks Chapter, Romanoski Chapter and the Pennsylvania Football Coaches Hall of Fame.

The Exeter School District in appreciation for his 39 years as a teacher, coach and administrator dedicated the district stadium in his name.

Reverend Daniel L. Towler, ED.D., “Deacon Dan”, a son of William and Evelyn Towler of Donora, Pennsylvania, Dan soon discovered that among his God-given talents was the ability to run with a football.

The sport helped provide him an education at Washington and Jefferson College. Then, while a four-time All-Pro for the Los Angeles Rams and still a student, his master’s degree from USC. When he reached that goal, although in his football prime, he walked away from the sport and heeded the call to the ministry.

Dan was a two-time All-State player at Donora High where he led that high school to Western Pennsylvania and titles in 1944 and 1945. Arguably the best high school team ever seen in our state. One publication ranked this team the #2 team in the nation after Texas High School team featuring Doak Walker and Bobby Layne.

At W & J (1948) his incredible 133 points in only eight games was the leading average-per-game (16.6) tally in the country and is still the top season total at W & J.

With the NFL Los Angeles Rams Dan gained 3493 yards rushing in six seasons, a Rams career mark that held up for over two decades. He led the NFL in rushing in 1952.

Dan was pastor at Lincoln Avenue United Methodist Church in Pasadena for a decade. In 1966, he became the campus minister and director of the Wesley Foundation at Cal State, Los Angeles. He went on to complete his doctorate at USC in 1969 and became Special Assistant to the President at Cal State, Los Angeles, a position he held for 19 years.

During that time, he was assigned to the University Development Office and began a program to establish support groups for the university and organized the Black Support Group and the Asian Support Group. He raised more than $200,000 in scholarship funds for the gifted, needy and minority students. He helped establish funding for athletics, including the Jogathon, the All University Fund Drive for Athletics, the Greenlee and Krinock Tennis Tournament, and men’s basketball. He also developed the Support Group Council.

Dan continues his ministry today at Cal State, Los Angeles, counseling and giving spiritual guidance to students who have problems and need guidance, or who simply need a campus friend.

Dan’s community service is broad in scope. He is a life member of the National Board of Trustees of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, past president of the NFL Alumni Los Angeles Chapter, a member of the L.A. Music Center Education Division, and member of the Tournament of Roses Committee in Pasadena, where he lives with his wife, Roslyn, They have a grown daughter, also named Roslyn.

Among the many honors bestowed on Dan are an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Washington and Jefferson; a Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Claremont School of Theology, where he has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 1975; an Outstanding Alumnus Award from USC; a Life Membership in Cal State Alumni and the university’s Distinguished Achievement Award in 1996; and outstanding service awards from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the cities of Pasadena and Los Angeles, the National Caucus and the California Coalition of Black School Board Members, and the California Youth Homes.

He died August 1, 2001 at the age of 73.