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
Dan Deacon Dan Towler
Deceased
Year Inducted:2000
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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.
William C. "Bill" Virdon
Living
Year Inducted:2000
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Signed by the NY Yankees in 1950; played 12 years in Majors with St. Louis and Pittsburgh; Sporting News Rookie of the Year in 1955. Compiled a lifetime average of .267, with 91 home runs, 502 RBI’s, and garnered a Golden Glove in 1962; played in 1960 World Series with the Pirates.
Managed 13 years with Pittsburgh, Yankees, Houston and Montreal; coached nine years with Pittsburgh.
Lewis E. "Lew" Worsham
Deceased
Year Inducted:2000
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Golf professional 50+ years; head Professional at prestigious Oakmont Country Club (1947-’82. Leading money winner in 1953, defeating “Slammin” Sammy Snead for 1953 USGA title, and winning coveted Tam-O-Shanter. Played in 17 Master’s Tournaments; inducted into PGA, Mid-Atlantic PGA and American Golf Halls of Fame.
Member of 1947 Ryder Cup Team.
Ralph Baker
Living
Year Inducted:1999
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Played outside linebacker for the New York Jetfot the New York Jets
From 1965 until 1974. Started 141 gams; 19 career interceptions
and defensive captain, 1973-74. First former player hired to the Jet’s
coaching staff, coaching linebacker, 1980-84.
Three- year letterman at Penn State; team captain; played in 1961 and 62 Gator Bowls; East-West Shrine Game and the Hula Bowl.
Played on Lewistown High School team that lost only 1 game in three Years. Ralph was an All – County selection and was a Honorable Mention on the All-State and Big 33 Teams.
Thomas D. Brookens
Living
Year Inducted:1999
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Major League Baseball player 1980-1990. Named “Player of the Week” In the American League during his Rookie Season. Singled in his first at bat playing for the Detroit Tigers during their World Series Championship season in 2984. He played every position that year but pitcher and named Sports Magazine Utility Player of the Year in 1985 and again 1986. Tom played 11 consecutive seasons in the American League; nine with Detroit, 1 with the New York Yankees and 1 with the Indians. His career batting average was .246 in 1,336 games.
Dr Arnold T. Greene
Deceased
Year Inducted:1999
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Considered by many as the most gifted athlete ever seen in Central PA Earned 11 letters at Huntington High School in Football, Basketball and Baseball. At Pitt, starting quarterback/fullback for three seasons in the
Golden days of Coach Jock Sutherland. Played fullback during Pitt’s 21-0 victory over Washington in 1937 Rose Bowl. A victory which led Pitt to National Championship.
Played minor league baseball with the Cincinnati Reds in 1938, coached basketball and baseball at Juniata College and was an avid scratch golfer in his later years.
A graduate of the Pitt dentistry Program in 1937.
James B. Heller Jr.
Deceased
Year Inducted:1999
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Penn State defensive captain – started every game 1970-71-72 – 3rd among top 5 Penn State career tacklers, #1 Greg Buttle 305 tackles 1973, #2 John Skoradon 274 tackles 1970-71, #3 Jim Heller 237 tackles 1970-71-72. Played in 3 major bowl games. Certificate of recognition by Quarterback Club of PSU for outstanding contributions 1970-71-72. All-time leading tackler for interior PSU lineman.
Bernard Lemonick
Deceased
Year Inducted:1999
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Lineman U of Pennsylvania 1948-50 – Bill Stern 1st team All-American, 1st Team All-American in 1950 by Newspaper Association, Colliers Magazine, Helms Foundation & All-East, All-State & All-Ivy. Played in East-West Shrine Game & College All-Star game in 1950. Also played in Senior Bowl 1951 – Coached at St. Joseph Prep., Philadelphia in 1951-52. Line Coach for U of P 1956-59. In 1985 was elected to National Football Foundation & Philadelphia Chapter’s Man-of-the-Year for College Hall of Fame. 1995 U of P & City All-Stars Chapter PA Sports Hall of Fame. 1998 Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
William E. "Bill" Lyon
Deceased
Year Inducted:1999
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In an extensive Journalistic career he spent 27 years at the Philadelphia
Inquirer. He has been nominated 5 times for the Pulitzer Prize and Chosen Sportswriter of–The-Year for Pennsylvania 11 times. Winner of the National Headline Award, and more than 70 national and state writing awards. He has written 3 books.
Covered nine Olympics, 26 Super Bowls, 27 Masters Tournament,25 US Opens, 31 Final Fours, over 100 championship Fights, the World Series and NBA and Stanley Cup Finals 21 College Bowl Games, the Triple Crown and the Indianapolis 500.
George H. Raveling
Living
Year Inducted:1999
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About This Inductee:
• Wyoming Valley native
• 1972-1983 head coach WSU basketball
• Won two NCAA tournaments (1980, 1983)
• Finished WSU career with 167 wins, 136 losses, 7 winning seasons
• Pac-10 and UPI Pac-8 Coach of the Year (1976), League Coach of the Year (1983)
• Assistant coach for USA team at 1979 Pan American Games
• West Regional coach at 1979 U.S. Olympic Sports Festival
• Assistant coach for U.S. Olympic Trials 1980
• Coached at University of Iowa & at University of Southern California
• Back-to-back 20-win seasons and NCAA tournament berths (1985, 1986)
• NCAA tournament (1991, 1992), NIT (1993, 1994)
Inducted into PA Sports Hall of Fame in 1999
Joseph J. "Joe" Shumock
Deceased
Year Inducted:1999
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3-sport star at Coal Township HS. Played for Rip Engle at Penn State. Coached football at Shamokin Catholic, Johnstown Bishop McCort and Abington high schools. Complied a career log of 149-50-9 which included 5 unbeaten seasons and winning streaks of 35 and 29 games. Coached NFL standouts Jack Ham and Pete Duranko. Seven-time Conference Coach-of-the-Year, assistant coach in Big 33 Game. Inducted into PA Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1993.
Steve Vacendak
Living
Year Inducted:1999
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All-State, All League, All-County and Dream Game MVP in high school at Scranton Prep. Atlantic Coast Conference Player-of-the-Year in 1966 and MVP in the 1966 ACC Tournament. Led Duke to NCAA Final Four appearances in sophomore and senior years. Team captain in 1966. Steve is a member of the Duke Hall of Fame.
Played on the Pittsburgh Plpers ABA Championship team and two other ABA Teams. Spent 11 years as Basketball Coach at Winthrup University and Five years as Associate Athletic Director at Duke
Owens J. Dougherty
Deceased
Year Inducted:1999
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Outstanding athlete garnering 18 letters in four sports at Dunmore High School. An All-Star in football and baseball. Led Penn State in rushing as a junior, captained 1950 Penn State team and earned All-East Honors.
Spent three seasons with the Penn State Baseballers and pitched 2 years in the Eastern League
As IUP baseball Coach, he led them to 138 wins and two appearances In the District 18 Division 2 Playoffs.
Also spent over 15 years as the IUP Football Coach. Gaining Coach of the Year honors in both sports
Agnes "Aggie" Stegmuller
Deceased
Year Inducted:1999
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Played Basketball and was an All-American Field Hockey player at Temple University. Served on the U.S. Olympic Basketball Committee from 1972-1974.
She was an International Field Hockey Official working in Argentina, New Zealand, Scotland, Canada, Australia and the American Cup.
She has been inducted into the Temple University and Delaware County Halls of Fame and the Delaware County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. She has been the recipient of Temple’s Stecher Award, Woman’s Sport Foundation and the F. Eugene Dixon Awards.
Eddie Berrang
Deceased
Year Inducted:1998
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Ed played defensive end at Villanova University. He Was drafted in the fifth round of the 1949 drafts by The Washington Redskins. He played for the Redskins in 1949 and 1950 and was traded to the Detroit Lions in 1951. The Lions traded Ed to the Green Bay Packers in 1952. His four- year NFL career included participation in 42 games.
Harry Coveleskie
Deceased
Year Inducted:1998
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Harry made his Major League debut on September 10, 1907 with the Philadelphia Phillies. After the 2009 season he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. He had a disappointing 2010 season, including a game in which he walked 16 batters and was out of the MLB for three seasons. Harry moved around the minors until 1913 when he regained his composure, winning 28 games in the Southern Association. This caught the eye of the Detroit Tigers’ scouts. He joined the Tigers in 1914, pitched over 300 innings, completed 23 of his 36 games, winning 22. He pitched for the Tigers for five seasons compiling a franchise’s all-time record ERA of 2.34.
Frank Girardi
Living
Year Inducted:1998
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Lycoming College Football Coach Frank Girardi retired as one of the nations most successful college football coaches. During his 36 seasons as the Warriors head coach, Girardi compiled a record of 257-97-4, which at the time, ranked 15th on the NCAA’s all time winningest coaches list. He ranked 5th among active NCAA coaches and 2nd among active coaches in NCAA Division III. He led Lycoming to 13 Middle Atlantic Conference Championships and 11 appearances In the NCAA Playoffs, including trips to the Stagg Bowl- NCAA Division II Championship Game in 1990 and 1997. The Warriors have tallied a winning record In 29 of Girardi’s 36 seasons. The Middle Atlantic Conference has honored him as Coach of the Year 12 times and Was the first recipient of the Tri-State Coach of the Year Award.
Donald "Red" Graham
Deceased
Year Inducted:1998
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One of the winningest basketball coaches in Pennsylvania. He guided North Catholic High School to an 801- 436 record from 1948-1999. Don was a 1943 graduate of Oliver High School In Pittsburgh where he was a three sports star. He had hoped to play football at Princeton, but Instead served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Upon his return he went to the University Of Pittsburgh.
He became the head Basketball Coach at North Catholic High School, that played in the Pittsburgh Catholic League. His teams won 3 State Catholic League titles and lost twice in the Championship Game. In 1978 the school joined the Western PA Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) and won 10 Section Titles.
The Graham’s are a basketball family; two sons played for their dad and at major colleges and two grandsons are playing professional basketball.
Dr Creighton J. Hale
Deceased
Year Inducted:1998
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Dr. Hale joined Little League as Director of research in 1955. He was a titan of the youth sports industry, accomplished safety innovator, and former President and CEO of Little League International. Dr, Hale served as Little League President from 1973 to 1994, and was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 1983. From 1994 to 2001, he served as special advisor to current Little League President and CEO, Stephen P. Keener. As President and CEO, he oversaw vast expansion of the Little League program domestically and abroad, the inclusion of girls in the Little League program, the creation of Little League Softball and the Little League Challenger Division and provided millions of children the opportunity to play baseball and softball.
Don Jonas
Living
Year Inducted:1998
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Don Jonas was an All-State quarterback at West Scranton High and on the Big 33 team. He was a starting running back at Penn State U for 3 seasons, and gained All-American mention. Don was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1962. He played with the Harrisburg Capitols of the AFL where he gained MVP honors. Subsequently, Don played with the Newark Bears and Orlando Panthers, gaining MVP honors in the Continental League. He was inducted into the Florida, Canadian and Northeastern Chapter Halls of Fame after playing for the Toronto Argonauts and Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Canadian League where he was an MVP. He was inducted into the Northeastern Chapter PSHF in 1987.
Mary Ann Messner-Smeltz
Living
Year Inducted:1998
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Mary Ann was a three-sport athlete at West Chester University and was an All-American in two of the three sports. She was a first team All-American in lacrosse in 1972-1974 and a U.S. Field Hockey All-American in 1974. In 1975, U.S. Lacrosse touring team was honored at the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame as a Team of Distinction.
Paul J. O'Hora
Deceased
Year Inducted:1998
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Paul was a quadriplegic, Paul became the inventor of the wheelchair “bowling stick” that has allowed other quads to participate in the sport. He has won numerous tournaments, and owns a high series of 548 rolled in the 1960s. Paul won the 1963 National Wheelchair games and the 1965 American Wheelchair Association scratch division title. A Korea war vet, he competed in 5 National Vets Wheelchair games and won a gold in bowling, the 100- and 200-meter races, and a billiards bronze in 1996. Paul has only missed one AWBA tourney in 35 years.
Dr Robert "Bob" Pollock
Deceased
Year Inducted:1998
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Bob was an accomplished athlete at Mt. Carmel High School garnering First-Team Tackle Honors. He moved on to the University of Pittsburgh. At Pitt he was a senior co-captain And played in the Sugar Bowl and Gator Bowl. His senior year he was named to the Senior Bowl, First Team All-Pennsylvania and All-East. Upon graduation, Bob was a successful dentist in Greensburg, PA and very active in his Church and community.
Dr Terry F Rakowsky
Deceased
Year Inducted:1998
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In Doylestown, PA, many residences do not know that their local dentist has a very sports-centered background. He earned five varsity sports letters at Penn State In football and baseball. At Penn State, Terry was a backup quarterback and Kickoff and punt return man. Although playing mostly as a backup, Terry was considered a team- mate making considerable contributions to the team’s success. He also was a high school girl’s- basketball coach for two full decades.
John Schweder
Deceased
Year Inducted:1998
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Bull Schweder played offensive line for Liberty High School in Bethlehem, PA and the University of Pennsylvania. He was drafted in the 1949 draft by the Philadelphia Eagles and traded to the Baltimore Colts. After one year and 11 games with the Colts, he went to Pittsburgh. He spent five seasons (1951 to 1955) with the Steelers and played 60 games on their offensive line.
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