Montgomery County Hall of Fame About us Mission Statement

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: