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. Currently, legendary Sportswriter and PA State Hall of Famer, Tony has been elected as the new President.

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 - 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. A recent inductee into the Valley Forge Military Academy Sports Hall of Fame for his accomplishments while a student there. He is president of Telephone Diagnostic Services in Norristown, a member of Cedarbrook CC and lives in Penllyn.

Tom Brady - A basketball and baseball star at Bishop Kenrick High School. Became a highly successful ASA Softball Umpire, held State District Umpire-in-Chief position and Montco Umpires President position. Turned his interests to High School sports as he was a PIAA official for many years and currently is the PIAA District-1 Assignor. He is a retiree from the United States Postal Service He resides in East Norriton.

Tom Catagnus - CHAIRMAN – A basketball star at Bishop Kenrick High School, leading the team to the Catholic League Championship. He went on to be a successful coach in his own right. He founded Security Services & Technologies and is currently the President. he also serves as Vice President for Corporate Accounts for ADT-Advanced Integration. He is a member of Golf Tournament Committee of the ASIS Greater Philadelphia Chapter.

Steve Dimitry – Bishop Kenrick High and West Chester University graduate. Involved with softball for over 30 years winning local, state, national and world titles. Serves as ASA Montco Deputy 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 (ENLL & WNLL), softball (WNGAA) and basketball (ENGAA & WNGAA). Employed at Lockheed-Martin for many years. 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. Still plays softball and has been named a National MVP Award winner. He is known throughout the country as one of the most talented and respected Senior Softball players. Active on many levels in the local sporting scene, he now lives in Limerick and is a real estate and insurance broker.

Tony Leodora - President - 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 enshrined in the Philadelphia City Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. He is a Philadelphia Sports Writers Association past president and host of the Golf Styles 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. He was an NCAA All-American and also listed on many all-time Notre Dame teams selections. He is enshrined in the Philadelphia City Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and in 2007, he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.

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.

HONOR ROLL SELECTION COMMITTEE

Jimmy Davis - Chairman
Tom Brady
Tom Catagnus
Steve Dimitry
Joe Rowan

This Map shows all the Townships, Boroughs and Municipalities in Montgomery County -

There is a listing below by Township or School District where the HOF members are from: PLEASE - we need YOU to nominate some people from these Areas:

Hall of Fame/Lifetime Achievement Recipiants
Norristown - 7
Plymouth-Whitemarsh - 5
North Penn/Lansdale - 4
Lower Merion - 4
Ursinus/Collegeville - 4
Archbishop Kennedy/Conshohocken - 3
Bishop Kenrick/Norristown - 3
St. Pius X/Pottstown - 3
Upper Merion - 2
Lansdale Catholic/Lansdale - 2
Methacton/Worcester - 2
LaSalle/Springfield - 2
Montgomery County - 2
Germantown Academy/Upper Dublin - 1
Souderton - 1
Pottstown - 1
Trooper/Lower Providence - 1
Gwynned Mercy/Lower Gwynedd - 1
Montgomery County Community College/Whitpain - 1

Honor Roll Recipiants
Norristown - 10
Bridgeport - 4
Plymouth - 4
St. Matthews/Conshohocken - 2
Methacton/Worcester - 2
St. Patrick's/Norristown - 3
East Norriton - 2
Souderton - 2
Upper Merion - 2
Collegeville - 1
West Conshohocken - 1
Conshohocken - 1
Visitation BVM/Lower Providence - 1
Epiphany of our Lord/Plymouth - 1
St. Titus/East Norriton - 1
Spring-Ford/Royersford - 1

We Need People Nominated from these Areas:
Hatboro-Horsham Area- currently 0
Upper Moreland/Lower Moreland Area- currently 0
Perkiomen Valley/Skippack Area- currently 0
Upper Perkiomen/East Greenville/Pennsburg Area- currently 0
Abington/Cheltenham Area- currently 1
Spring-Ford/Limerick/Royersford Area- currently 1
Wissahickon/Whitpain/Ambler Area- currently 1
Upper Dublin/Fort Washington Area- currently 1
Pottsgrove/Pottstown Area- currently 2
Whitemarsh/Springfield Area- currently 2