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Inductees

For the past 60 years, The Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame has honored and inducted over 780 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. Through our future virtual museum, we educate and celebrate their achievements for years to come.

The Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame’s 2025 Induction Ceremony and Dinner is Saturday, October 18, 2025 at the Sheraton Hotel-Pittsburgh Station Square.

Ken Herock

Deceased

Year Inducted:2011

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Munhall H.S. in Western PA 1955-59; Football-All Conference, Volleyball, Basketball, and Baseball. West Virginia University 1959-1963; Tight-End 3 years starter. All-Conference, WVU Sports Hall of Fame, 1960’s All-Decade Team. Drafted by Oakland Raiders, 1963-1967, starting TE 1963-1965; Cincinnati Bengals 1968 starting TE; New England Patriots 1969 back-up TE/LB. Oakland Raiders 1970-1976; Scout, Coach, Personnel Director; Tampa Bay Bucs 1976-1986; Personnel Director (drafted Steve Young) Atlanta Falcons 1987-1996; Vice-President of player Personnel (drafted Bret Favre & Deon Sanders); Senior Executive of football Operations; Oakland Raiders 1997-1998, Green Bay Packers 1998-2001.

Sport:Football
Sponsoring Chapter:Western

Patti M Hower

Living

Year Inducted:2011

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Patti Coached for 32 years (1978-2009); coached 889 games; 599 Wins; 1992 & 1995 PIAA State Championships (Lebanon Catholic HS); 15 Years PIAA District Championships; 7 Years Conference Championships; 1995 PIAA State Coach of the Year; 100% Player Graduation; 21 Players Granted Academic Scholarships and Grant-In-Aids to College & Universities; Head Clinician for Scholastic & Collegiate Clinics; Recipient of Scholastic and Distinguished National, State & Community Service Awards & Citations.

Sport:Basketball
Sponsoring Chapter:Central

Doug Overton

Living

Year Inducted:2011

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Doug Overton was one of the finest guards to ever play in the Big Five (LaSalle University). During his four years he helped lead the Explorers to a record of 99 and 28 and Three NCAA Tourneys and one NIT appearance. He is the LaSalle University all time leader in steals (277) and assists (671) while scoring 1,795 points (15 ppg). Doug was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the NBA Draft in 1991. He played twelve seasons in the NBA with Eight different teams including Washington, Denver, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Charlotte, Orlando, Boston, and LA Clippers. His career high in assists was 18 vs. San Antonio and 30 points vs. Orlando.

Sport:Basketball
Sponsoring Chapter:Summit

Vince Papale

Living

Year Inducted:2011

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Delaware County Track star competed at St. Joseph’s University. Played sandlot football for 6 years before hooking on in WFL with Phila. Bell. Joined Eagles as walk-on for Coach Vermeil, played 4 years where he was known for his kamikaze style on special teams, before moving to TV and radio career. Involved in much charity work, which earned him Man of the Year for Eagles in 1977. Subject of the movie “The Invincible”. Married to Janet Cantwell, a former member of the US National Gymnastics Team.

Sport:Football
Sponsoring Chapter:City All Stars

Mike Pettine

Deceased

Year Inducted:2011

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Mike Pettine is simply the most successful high school football coach in Pennsylvania AAAA Football; his 327-42-4 record is a Pennsylvania AAAA record. After graduating from Villanova, Mike started his coaching career at Pius X High School in Pottstown as an assistant football and basketball coach from 1962 to 1965; in 1965 he came to Central Bucks West High School as a Social Studies Teacher and an assistant football coach.

In 1967 Mike became the Bucks’ Head Coach and the rest is a record breaking history. From 1967 to 1999, Mike’s teams won several league titles and 4 PIAA State Titles in ’91, ’97, ’98 and ’99. In 33 seasons of coaching football, his teams had 13 perfect seasons and a state record 59 consecutive wins. They even made a movie out of his 1999 season called The Last Game.

Mike had 16 undefeated season in his 33 years as a head coach, and passed away February 24, 2017. He was 76.

Sport:AD Director / Coach
Sponsoring Chapter:Bucks County

Bo Ryan

Living

Year Inducted:2011

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Chester, Pennsylvania native Bo Ryan was s three-sport standout at Chester High School (1962-65) and a four-year starter at Wilkes College. Starting as a prep coach in Pennsylvania, Ryan found fame at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville (1984-99). Owner of the best win percentage in Div. III history (353-76, .822), he won Four National Championships and four National Coach of the Year Awards. At the University of Wisconsin (2001-present), Ryan has captured Five Big Ten Championships and Two Big Ten Coach of the Year Honors. With the best win percentage in Big Ten history, Ryan has twice been named Div. I National Coach of the Year. Ryan also coached on three USA Basketball Teams, capturing two Gold Medals and one Bronze.

Sport:Basketball / Coach
Sponsoring Chapter:Delaware County

Blair Thomas

Living

Year Inducted:2011

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Blair Thomas a Philadelphia native led Frankford High to a league championship in 1984. He was selected to participate in the Big 33 All-Star game which consisted of the top 33 players in the State. Thomas attended Penn State where he was a member of the 1986 National Championship Team. He was the first player in school history to rush for more than, 1,400 yards in two seasons. He was a Heisman Trophy finalist and MVP of the 1989 Holiday Bowl and 1990 Senior Bowl. Thomas was drafted in the first round by the New York Jets in 1900. His NFL career spanned six seasons where he led NFL rookies in yards per carry and AFC rookies in total yardage.

Sport:Football
Sponsoring Chapter:Montgomery County

Troy Vincent

Living

Year Inducted:2011

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Troy is currently the Executive Vice President of Football Operations at the National Football League.

He was an 1988 All-State running back at Pennsbury High School and an All-Big Ten defensive back at Wisconsin. When he played college football for Wisconsin, he was named as a first-time nominee to the 2017 College Football Hall of Fame. On September 28, 2011, Vincent was named as one of the Preliminary Nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2012 in his first year of eligibility, and each year since.

He began his pro football career as the 7th overall pick in the first round of the Miami Dolphins in the 1992 NFL Draft. He spent 4 seasons with the Dolphins; in 1996 he became a Philadelphia Eagle where he earned 5 consecutive Pro Bowl selections at defensive back from 1999 to 2003. From 2004 to 2006, he played for the Buffalo Bills and the Washington Redskins. After 15 seasons of playing in the league, Troy continues to be nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and has been inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Philadelphia Eagles, the State of Pennsylvania, the University of Wisconsin and Pennsbury High School.

In his current position with the NFL, he employs the highest standards to enhance and preserve football and its value to society. His
transformational and visionary leadership approach promotes using the game of football to positively impact people’s lives through excellence and service by applying clarity, consistency and credibility to all aspects of football operations.

As a national leader and advocate against domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse, Troy’s commitment to LEADERSHIP OVER VIOLENCE has allowed him to have a powerful voice for the voiceless. Troy demonstrates his character and desire to affect change by visiting shelters, speaking to men’s groups and challenging others to lend their platforms to fight injustice.

He is the only player in history to have received the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year award, NFL Players Association Byron Whizzer White Award, Sporting News #1 Good Guy, and NFL Athletes in Action Bart Starr Award. He was previously inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame for the Philadelphia Eagles and was entered into the Hall of Fame for the State of Pennsylvania, the University of Wisconsin and Pennsbury High, his high school alma mater. Vincent also received the National Jefferson Award for Public Service for extraordinary public service and making the world a better place to live.

Sport:Football
Sponsoring Chapter:Bucks County

Dick Bedesem

Deceased

Year Inducted:2011

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Bedesem was one of the most successful football coaches in the history of Bucks County.

He graduated from LaSalle High School where he was an All-Catholic running back. In 1957, Dick became the first football coach at Bishop Egan H.S. He led Egan to 5 Catholic League Titles (1963, 66, 67, 69, 70), 6 Northern Div. Titles (1963, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70), and 4 Philadelphia City Titles (1963, 66, 67, 69); the 1966 team was ranked #5 in the Nation.

He also won a Suburban One Title at Neshaminy H.S. In 1973-74, Dick began his collegiate career with Wayne Hardin at Temple; from 1975-80, he was head coach at Villanova. In 1982 he joined Jackie Sherrill at Pitt; His final coaching position was as head coach at Delaware Valley College from 1987-91.

Dick was inducted into the PA Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 2004.

He died on October 6, 1999 at the age of 68.

Sport:Football
Sponsoring Chapter:Bucks County

Charles "Charley" Mehelich

Deceased

Year Inducted:2011

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Chuck was known as the “Iron Man” as a two-way starter at Duquesne University, Bainbridge, Fleet City, and Samson Naval Stations and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Owner Art Rooney told others, including Charlie’s nephew Hall of Famer Bill Fralic, that Charlie was the toughest football player he ever saw. He was inducted into Duquesne University Hall of Fame in 1975. After retiring from Pro Football, he taught and coached at North Catholic and Cheltenham High Schools from 1956 until his death in 1985. He was an assistant coach in Football and Head Basketball Coach, coaching Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson.

Sport:Football
Sponsoring Chapter:Western

Walter "Bucky" Harris

Deceased

Year Inducted:2010

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Raised in an orphanage. He joined the Marines to fight at Iwo Jima at age 16.

Earned a Basketball Scholarship at Gettysburg College where he was name All-State First Team basketball player in 1949, 1950 along with NBA Hall of Famer Paul Arizin and NBA star Larry Foust.

Named head Basketball Coach at Philadelphia Textile (now University). In 13 seasons, he compiled the 2nd best winning percentage (all-time Div. 11) with 242 wins, 54 losses leading his team to 6 NCAA tournaments. He coached legendary coach Herb Magee from 1959-163. His exceptional leadership at Philadelphia University for 43 years yielded a revered legacy.

He established a $500,00 scholarship there in memory of his son, Billy to help needy students.

The University paid tribute to Bucky by naming one of the basketball courts and an athletic field scoreboard in his honor.

He died at the age of 80 on Dec. 6, 2006.

Sport:Basketball
Sponsoring Chapter:Luzerne-John Popple

Sandy E Stephens

Deceased

Year Inducted:2010

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Former Uniontown High School quarterback Sandy Stephens was a sports hero of mythic proportions; he was a legend on the playgrounds in Uniontown.

Stephens starred on some great Uniontown football teams in the late 1950s. He started the final game of his sophomore year at quarterback and was the starter as a junior and a senior.

In 1956, the Raiders were 8-2 with losses coming at the hands of Mt. Lebanon, 28-13, and Monessen, 7-0. The 1957 squad was unbeaten at 8-0, but 16 players were stricken with the flu and two games were cancelled against Redstone and Baldwin. The Redstone game was rescheduled but Gardner points knocked the Raiders out of a chance to play for the title.

Stephens was disappointed that the Raiders were kept out of the playoffs by Gardner points in his senior season.

“The Asiatic flu was the real reason that we missed out,” Stephens lamented. “We didn't get a chance to play Baldwin and they were a good team and we would have had enough points. We would have been first or second had we been able to play them but we missed Baldwin and Redstone Twp. We made up the Redstone game at the end of the season but we couldn't make up Baldwin so that made us third in the Gardner race. Everyone wanted to see Clairton and Uniontown, all of western Pennsylvania wanted to see those two. My college roommate Judge Dickson was on the Clairton team. We had played against them in camp and that's how I got to know him, but they ended up playing Wilkinsburg because there were four undefeated teams and New Kensington was the fourth one. Wilkinsburg was the first team.”

Stephens had a soft spot for his football coach at Uniontown, Bill Power.

“We had two great teams that I played on,” Stephens opined “My sophomore year we kind of learned what the game was about under a real good coach in Bill Power.”

Stephens completed his brilliant high school career at Uniontown when he graduated in 1958. He had won 9 letters in all, three each in track, basketball and football. He scored the winning touchdown in the first Big 33 game and garnered All-State honors.

He was pursued by over 50 Division I colleges for football. He also had 6 basketball offers and interest from the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Philadelphia Phillies. Stephens chose to play football at Minnesota.

Stephens arrived at Minnesota with Judge Dickson, a fullback and linebacker, from neighboring Clairton. Stephens’ buddy from Uniontown, halfback Bill Munsey, joined him a year later.

“On our recruiting visit, Judge and I stood in front of the Radisson Hotel in downtown Minneapolis for three hours on a Saturday afternoon,” Stephens said. “We didn't see one black face. I told Judge, ‘We're still coming to Minnesota, and we're still going to the Rose Bowl.’

“I went to Minnesota because I thought I would get a chance to play quarterback and I wanted to play in the Big Ten. I felt like we had the best high school football in western Pennsylvania. I played against the best. I played in the Big 33 game. Out there where the Pennsylvania All State and All Americans beat the rest of the All Americans from the rest of the country. I wanted to go where I thought it was the toughest and roughest league because of the fact that they felt like I couldn't play quarterback and I wanted to go where the toughest league was to disprove them.”

At Minnesota, Stephens was a catalyst for a national championship team in 1960. That was a special year; the Gophers went from last in the Big Ten in 1959 to first in 1960.

After losing to Washington 17-7 in the 1961 Rose Bowl, Minnesota went 7-2 and beat UCLA 21-3 in the 1962 Rose Bowl. Stephens had an outstanding game scoring two touchdowns, a career highlight.

Stephens reaped the benefits of his outstanding 1961 season, as he was named Associated Press and UPI first-team All-American, first-team Sporting News All-American, All-Big Ten conference, and Big Ten most valuable player. He was fourth in the Heisman Trophy balloting behind Ernie Davis of Syracuse. Oddly enough, Davis was born in New Salem, outside of Uniontown, lived there until he was 12 years old.

“I knew Ernie extremely well,” Stephens recalled. “We played on the same midget ball club. Ernie and I played basketball at East End playground. He was also on the Benson midget league team. Ernie was the third baseman and I pitched. That's where I got my arm for football. I pitched in the midget league and the pony league. Ernie's father died when we were in seventh grade and he went to live with his mother in Elmira, N.Y. He would come home every summer. When Ernie and I made first-team All American football, we had never seen each other play. We knew we could both play basketball and baseball, but we never thought of each other as football players.”

When he graduated from Minnesota, Stephens was drafted by the New York Titans of the fledgling AFL and by the Cleveland Browns of the NFL. The Titans didn't want to put any contract money in escrow. The Browns were a different story.

Stephens' version was that Jim Brown, the great running back, called and said: “Sandy, if you think you're going to be the quarterback of the Cleveland Browns, you're crazy.”

Brown told Stephens that Cleveland and the NFL were not ready for a black quarterback.

Stephens wasn't going to stop being a quarterback, so he signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. In Canada, he bounced around for a few years. He had a tryout with the Kansas City Chiefs, but wasn’t the same player after a serious car accident.

Stephens never got the chance to play quarterback in the NFL and that haunted him until the day he died.

Stephens was inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, Rose Bowl Hall of Fame and is a member of the University of Minnesota Hall of Fame.

Stephens succumbed to heart failure and died on June 6, 2000.

Sport:Football
Sponsoring Chapter:Fayette County

Mike Denoia

Deceased

Year Inducted:2010

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Mike was a Great football, basketball star for powerful teams at Hazleton High and Scranton University. All-State, Little All-American. Recruited 1949 by New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears, Pittsburg Steelers of NFL and San Francisco ‘49ers of AAFC. Played in All-American Football Conference and Eastern Professional Basketball League, left-handed. Known as “Triple-Threat Quarterback” in passing, running, pass receiving. Drafted Korean War. In Germany, he quarterbacked the Munich Broncos to a Western Conference Championship. Find scholastic coach. In Greater Hazleton Area, Scranton University, Luzerne County and Delaware County Halls of Fame.

Sport:Football
Sponsoring Chapter:Delaware County

Elvetta Gemski

Living

Year Inducted:2010

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National Field Hockey High School Coach of the year 2004. Crestwood High School’s team had perfect 26-0 record, second consecutive championship. Elvetta created Crestwood’s field hockey program 1973. Qualified for state playoffs 20 years (7 Final Four finishes, 12 league, 15 district II championships, four Class 2A State Championships 1988-1999-2003-2004). Overall record 478-92-93. Helped numerous players obtain college scholarships, several members of national teams, one a member of 1996 U.S. Olympic field hockey team.

Sport:Field Hockey
Sponsoring Chapter:Luzerne-John Popple

Dick K Hart

Living

Year Inducted:2010

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Considered the greatest all around athlete ever to come out of Bucks Co., Dick Hart of Morrisville H.S., was the 1961 Lower Bucks Football Player of the year and an Honorable Mention H.S. All -American as a running back. He was named to All-Lower Bucks County teams in Football, Basketball, Baseball, and Track. Dick still owns the Bucks Co. Shot Put record of 64′ 3¾”. He is a member of the PA Track Hall of Fame. After graduation from HS, Dick turned down a full scholarship to Notre Dame to sign a Professional baseball contract with the Milwaukee Braves; he played four years of Minor League baseball then joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 1967. He was the starting guard for the Eagles, making the All-rookie Team in 1967. In 1972, dick finished his career as the starting guard for the Buffalo Bills; he retired after his second knee surgery in 1972.

Sport:Football
Sponsoring Chapter:Bucks County

John Jack Klotz

Deceased

Year Inducted:2010

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Jack Klotz was an outstanding Pro football lineman who started AFL career at age 27 because of service in US Marine Corps. After College graduation, made NFL Los Angeles Rams regular season roster, Drafted, enlisted in Marines. Returned to five year career in AFL with New York Titans and Jets, San Diego Chargers, Houston Oilers. 6′ 5″, 256 pound dominant offensive tackle. 1963 “Coaches and Players” All-Pro. Great athlete at PMC Prep in football, basketball, baseball, track and Pennsylvania Military College (now Widener). Three sport letterman. Football captain. 1955-1956 Little All-American recognition. Excellent work 30+ years in Chester “City team”, other community programs.

Sport:Football
Sponsoring Chapter:Delaware County

John “Cuskie” Petercuskie

Deceased

Year Inducted:2010

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Petercuskie, also known as “Coach” or “Cuskie”, is one of the premier football coaches in Bucks County. From 1960 to 1965 his Neshaminy Redskins compiled a remarkable record of 59-1-5, including a 51 game win streak. That’s a 91% win percentage over 6 seasons; if you take out the ties, it’s 98.33%! John was voted Coach of the Year 4 Times.

After Neshaminy Coach “Cuskie” served as defensive line coach at Dartmouth from 1966 to 1968, defensive coordinator at Boston College from 1969 to 1972, and Princeton University from 1973 to 1977.

In 1978 John joined the Cleveland Browns as Special Teams Coordinator where he remained until 1984. In 1980 the Browns won the AFC Division Championship. That same season, he coached the AFC Pro Bowl Team in Hawaii.

Coach came out of retirement in 1988 to coach the defensive line at Harvard 1988 and 1989; from 1990 to 1995, he coached the special teams and defensive line at Liberty University John coached football for 40 years. He was inducted into the PA Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 2004.

His 42-year coaching career was recognized by the following: Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, East Stroudsburg Football Hall of Fame, Pennsylvania Football Hall of Fame- Lackawanna County, Luzerne County and Bucks County, Neshaminy Hall of Fame, Scranton Hall of Fame, All American Foundation – Lifetime Achievement Award.

In 2010, a bronze statue of his likeness was unveiled at Harry P. Franks Stadium in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.

He died on April 20, 2018 at the age of 93.

Sport:Football Coach
Sponsoring Chapter:Bucks County

Alex Sandusky

Deceased

Year Inducted:2010

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Alex was a two-way starter at Clarion State College. Gained All-District, All-Conference, and All-American recognition at End in 1952 and 1953, He was an NAIA Hall of Fame selection in 1958 and Clarion’s All-Time team in 1961. Alex was drafted by the Baltimore colts in 1954; he started at Guard on the Great colt teams of the 50’s and 60’s for thirteen years. Alex was a Colt silver anniversary Honoree in 1978 and their 50-year team in 2002, A Western chapter Inductee in 2008.

Sport:Football
Sponsoring Chapter:Western

Harry F Schuh

Deceased

Year Inducted:2010

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Schuh, from Feasterville, was an all-state fullback at Neshaminy High School. In 1961, he joined the University of Memphis Tigers playing on the freshman team, per NCAA eligibility rules at that time, Schuh was moved to offensive tackle as a sophomore and thus began his legendary career as a Tiger and as a professional football player. He was an All-American tackle in 1963 and 1964.

From 1962-64, Memphis compiled an overall record of 22-5-1. In 1962, the Tigers gained their first victory ever against a Southeastern Conference team by knocking off Mississippi State in Starkville, 28-7. During the undefeated 1963 season, Schuh and his teammates fought third-ranked Ole Miss to a 0-0 tie at Crump Stadium and again defeated the 11th-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs and the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Upon completion of his playing career at Memphis, Schuh ranked as the most decorated player in school history. He was named to 11 All-America teams, including first-team selections to the Football Coaches Association, Time Magazine, The Sporting News, Associated Press and Playboy Magazine squads. He was twice selected to play in the College All-Star Game, which pitted top collegians against the NFL's championship team from the previous season.

In 1965, Schuh was drafted by the Oakland Raiders, selected in the first round of the draft. In fact, he was the second player taken in the AFL Draft behind quarterback Joe Namath. Schuh would play six seasons for the Oakland Raiders, three seasons for the Los Angeles Rams and one season for the Green Bay Packers before retiring after the 1974 season. He was an All-AFL selection and a Western Division All-Star for the Raiders and was a starter in Super Bowl II for Oakland. He would later be named to the All-Time Raider Team.

The University of Memphis honored Schuh on October 15, 2011, by retiring his jersey in a ceremony at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. He was just the fifth player in school history to be so honored. He was inducted into the M-Club Hall of Fame in 1981 and the Tennessee State Sports Hall of Fame in 1989.

He died in Memphis, Tennessee on May 20, 2013.

Sport:Football
Sponsoring Chapter:Bucks County

Frank Sheptock

Living

Year Inducted:2010

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First Team AP All-American 1983-84-85 as linebacker at Bloomsburg University. Captain for three years and leader of 1985 tam that played in the Division II Semi Finals. Career tackle leader at BU with 537 – Season 159 – Game 23 and namesake for Defensive Player of the Year at BU. 1997 Bloom U Hall of Fame and Named member of NCAA Div II Football Team of the Quarter Century – 1982 grad of Mount Carmel Area. Current Head Coach at Wilkes U (10 years).

Sport:Coach
Sponsoring Chapter:Ed Romance

Harold E Spooner

Living

Year Inducted:2010

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1953-1956: Football, Basketball, Track Williamsport High School. 1948-1956: Baseball Williamsport area. 1956-1957: Football, Basketball Columbian Prep, Washington, DC. 1957-1961: Football, Basketball, Baseball US Naval Academy. Quarterback Navy’s 1960 team to a 9-1 record and trip to the Orange Bowl with running back Joe Bellino, Navy’s first Heisman Trophy Winner. Victories over Boston College, Villanova, Washington, SMU, Air Force, Pennsylvania, Notre Dame, Virginia and Army. MVP first Navy-Air Force game. All-East Selection, Honorable Mention All-American. 1961: Quarterback coach Plebe Team with Roger Staubach at quarterback.

Sport:Football / Baseball / Basketball
Sponsoring Chapter:West Branch Valley

Bill Malinchak

Living

Year Inducted:2010

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As an athlete, William J. “Bill” Malinchak enjoyed success on the scholastic, collegiate, and professional levels. That pattern of achievement and accomplishments continued for Malinchak as a successful businessman in New York City.

Malinchak is a 1962 graduate of Monessen High School. He was an outstanding scholar-athlete, lettering in football, basketball, and baseball. He was a member of the Greyhounds’ 1961 WPIAL championship football team which defeated Wilkinsburg 7-6 in the Class AA title game at Forbes Field to cap a perfect 11-0-0 season. As a senior, he was the leading scorer among receivers in the WPIAL and earned All-WPIAL, All-PIAA, and All-American honors. He was chosen to play in the Big 33 game at Hershey and the Wigwam Wiseman Game in Texas.

Bill later became an All-Big Ten Conference and All-American wide receiver at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana in 1963, 1964, and 1965 before graduating in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business management.
He was the number one draft pick of the Detroit Lions and from 1966 to 1976 he played in the National Football League with the Lions and the Washington Redskins. He was a standout receiver with the Lions and one of the top special teams’ players in the NFL with the Redskins. He led the league in blocked punts in his final campaign with the Redskins. In 1972, Malinchak suffered torn knee ligaments early in the season and was placed on the Redskins’ injured reserve list. Expected to be out for the remainder of the season, Malinchak started practicing with the Redskins so he’d be available for the regular season finale. To get activated he had to clear waivers but didn’t. The San Diego Chargers claimed him. At the age of 28 after four years as a wide receiver in Detroit and two in Washington, Malinchak chose to retire instead of going to San Diego. Bill ended up getting traded back to Washington where he played two seasons before hanging it up for good as a pro athlete.

Since 1976, Mr. Malinchak has been a member of the New York Commodity Exchange, specializing in gold and silver trading. He also was a member of the New York Coffee, Sugar, and Cocoa Exchange and the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange.
Mr. Malinchak is married to the former Pamela Duswalt of New York. They are the parents of four daughters.

Bill once appeared on the original television show, The Dating Game, with brother Tom, who was a good basketball player at Penn State. In the late 1960s, Malinchak was one of four players from Monessen who progressed to the NFL. The other Monessen athletes include Doug Crusan, Eric Crabtree, and Sam Havrilak.

Sport:Football
Sponsoring Chapter:Mid-Mon Valley

Roy G. Snyder

Living

Year Inducted:2009

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The 2009-2010 swim season will be Coach Snyder’s 46th at Wilson and 52nd year coaching overall. Snyder has led the Bulldogs to 4 PIAA State championships, 15 PIAA District 3 and 25 Central Penn League titles while compiling a 458-90-1 overall record and a 363-56 league record. Currently the Bulldogs have won 98 straight league contests stretching over 13 years. Snyder has coached the Bulldogs to nine NISCA National Dual Meet championships ranking him as the coach with the highest number of such wins in the nation.

He has coached more than 150 All-American swimmers and water polo players, 2 national high school record holders, 15 undefeated teams (13 in swimming, 2 in polo), 25 state individual and relay champions and has coached more than 200 swimmers and polo players who have gone on to complete at the collegiate level. He has been inducted into four Sports Halls of Fame including the PA State Aquatic Hall of Fame at PSU. As a competitor, Roy was a record holder, six-time PIAA District II champ, Eastern Regional champ and a state silver-medalists for Allentown HS (1954) and a record holder, captain and NCAA qualifier for East Stroudsburg University (1958).

Roy also served as Wilson’s athletic director for 18 years.

Sport:Swimming
Sponsoring Chapter:Berks County

Greg L. Manning

Living

Year Inducted:2009

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In high school, he scored 859 points in one season (1977), 1,296 total points. Broke the Steel-High School record with 45 points against York High, set PIAA State record by scoring 57 points against Nanticoke, First Team 1977 AP All-State, First team 1977 UPI All-State, 1977 Central Penn League Champions, 1977 AAA Eastern Champions, 1977 State runner-up. Full scholarship University of Maryland, member of 1,000-point club, three-time All-ACC Academic selection, 1980 All-ACC Tournament, Academic All-American, top FG% of any guard in ACC history (58.3%). Twice named ACC Rookie of the Week, twice named ACC Player of the Week, led conference in FG% (64.3%) and FT% (90.8%) in 1980, only guard to ever do so. In 1981, named most outstanding Student-Athlete at Maryland, played in two final “Sweet 16” Games. A 7th round draft pick by the NBA Denver Nuggets in 1981.

Sport:Basketball
Sponsoring Chapter:Capital Area

Willie Marshall

Living

Year Inducted:2009

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Set five American Hockey League records during 20-year career (1952-1972) that still stands (Games Played: 1,205; Goals: 523; Assists: 852; Points: 1,375; Career hat tricks: 25). Won one Calder Cup with Pittsburgh and two with Hershey. Calder Cup playoff records include 71 assists and 119 points. Hershey No 16 Jersey retired. The Willie Marshall Award, established in 2003, is given to the American Hockey League’s leading goal scorer for the regular season. Member of All-Time AHL Team. Played for Toronto in NHL and Pittsburgh, Hershey, Rochester, Providence and Baltimore in the AHL. Inducted into the American Hockey League’s Inaugural Hall of Fame class, 2006.

Sport:Hockey
Sponsoring Chapter:Central
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