|
Mission Statement
Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame
Founded in Alliance with PAL
In a break from the tradition of showering honor
after honor on today’s athletes, a move is under way to bring
overdue recognition to the people who help athletes become great.
The Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame has been founded with the
express purpose of honoring the outstanding coaching legacy that has
developed over the years in Montgomery County.
A select group of people with a vast and varied
background in Montgomery County sports was formed to serve as the
selection committee. Annually, this group goes through a list of
nominees for a new class of Hall of Fame inductees.
The induction banquet is held at Westover Country
Club in Jeffersonville, Pa. and always takes place in the fall –
often times on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.
In founding the Hall of Fame, the committee has formed an alliance
with the Norristown Police Athletic League. Norristown PAL will be
the recipient of funds from the induction banquet and houses the
Hall of Fame in a prominent area of the new PAL Center. Formerly an
armory in Norristown, the new PAL Center underwent a major
renovation and houses a gymnasium, a learning center and a computer
center for use by area youngsters.
John Pergine, a legendary area athlete who was an
All-America linebacker at Notre Dame and played in the National
Football League with the Los Angeles Rams and the Washington
Redskins, was elected the first president of the Montgomery County
Coaches Hall of Fame. He then appointed Dale Hood vice president,
Jim Davis chairman of the Selection Committee and Tony Leodora
secretary/treasurer. A large Advisory Board, consisting of prominent
individuals throughout Montgomery County, was formed and handled
operation of the banquet.
Anyone born or raised in Montgomery County, or
anyone who was born outside the county but spent a significant
portion of their coaching career in the county is eligible for
induction to the Hall. Nominations can be made by contacting any
member of the selection committee or by writing to MCCHOF, 803
Northview Blvd., Norristown, Pa. 19401.
HALL OF FAME SELECTION COMMITTEE
Jim Davis - Chairman -- A three-sport athlete at Bishop
Kenrick High, he went on to earn all-league honors in football and
all-city honors in baseball at Valley Forge Military Academy. He
went on to play football at Kutztown. He is president of Telephone
Diagnostic Services in Norristown, a member of Cedarbrook CC and
lives in Penllyn.
Bob Bloss – After breaking into the journalism business as a
sports writer at the Times Herald, Bloss then ventured into a long
career at TV Guide as an advertising and sales promotion specialist.
Upon retirement he became engaged in freelance writing and authored
two books, Baseball Managers and Baseball Rookies of the Year. He
lives in Plymouth Meeting.
Jim Church - A legendary sports figure in the North Penn area
for many years, he is now sports director for WNPV radio 1440-AM
where he did weekly play-by-play on high school basketball and
football games for many years and still provides analysis. He hosts
a weekly one-hour sports show at 9 a.m. He resides in Telford.
Larry Curran – A track and football standout at Norristown
High, he went on to coach and teach at Upper Merion High. He retired
from teaching but still serves as a PIAA track and field official.
He also stays busy with a number of community projects. He lives in
West Norriton Township.
Steve Dimitry – Bishop Kenrick nd West
Chester University graduate. Has played softball for over 30 years
winning a state and national title. Serves as ASA Montco Deputy
Softball Commissioner, ASA of PA State Slow Pitch Commissioner and
also National ASA Eastern Territory Classification Director.
Involved in many levels of youth sports coaching baseball, softball
and basketball. Lives in Jeffersonville.
Dale Hood - A quarterback and first baseman at Norristown
High, he went on to a semi-pro baseball career and played
professional softball for the Philadelphia A’s. Active on many
levels in the local sporting scene, he now lives in Limerick and is
a real estate and insurance broker.
Tony Leodora – Secretary/Treasurer - A Plymouth Whitemarsh
and Villanova grad, he was sports editor of The Times Herald for 15
years. He was editor of Philadelphia Golf and Golf Traveler
magazines and now is associate publisher and editor of GolfStyles
Philadelphia magazine, as well as president of a golf-specific
public relations, marketing and event management company. He is a
Philadelphia Sports Writers Association past president and host of
the GolfStyles Live radio show on WNTP 990-AM.
Bill Lessig - A Norristown High and Villanova graduate, he
has been a civic leader on many levels. Other posts included
president of the Montgomery County Development Corporation, chairman
of the Greater Norristown Corporation, president of Rotary and a
member of Norristown Borough Council. He lives in Worcester and is
vice president of Silas Bolef Electrical Contractors.
Mike Morsch – A transplant from the Midwest, Morsch fell in
love with the Montgomery County area when he moved here and took a
job as editor of the Times Herald in Norristown. After a brief
hiatus, he returned to the area as executive editor of Montgomery
Newspapers. A baseball fanatic, he is an avid collector of anything
that has to do with the sport. He lives in North Wales.
John Pergine - A three-sport star and a member of the state
championship basketball team at Plymouth Whitemarsh High, he went on
to become an All-America linebacker on some of the greatest teams in
Notre Dame history. During an eight-year career in the National
Football League he played for the Los Angeles Rams and the
Washington Redskins.
Jim Serratore - A graduate of Norristown High and Temple, he
served as president of the Norristown High Parents Club. He is
active in sports at the community level and after six years as a
statistician was elevated to assistant coach of Norristown High
basketball. A resident of East Norriton, he serves the community as
an East Norriton commissioner and is a sales representative for
Samson Paper Co.
Gary Smith – A teacher and coach in the Colonial School
District for many years, he recently retired and currently is
involved in a number of projects in the golf industry. He is the
event coordinator for the Montgomery County Amateur Championship and
works with TL Golf Services on a number of other golf events in the
area.
RETIRED Selection Committee Members
George Schools - A graduate of St. Matthew’s High in
Conshohocken, he was a three-sport star earning all-league honors in
baseball. He went on to an active career in Montgomery County adult
sports, including winning a state softball championship at the helm
of Al’s Cold Cuts. He is retired and lives in Plymouth Meeting.
- Retired from selection committee in 2008 and replaced by Steve
Dimitry.
HONOR ROLL SELECTION COMMITTEE
Jim Davis - Chairman
John Pergine
Tom Catagnus
Jim Serratore
Steve Dimitry
Tony Carfagno
This Map shows where these inductees have either come
from or coached at:

Home
| About Us | Inductees
| PAL Beneficiary | Press
Release | Board of Directors
| Banquet
Guest Page (Nominate a Coach | Email
Us
|