Montgomery County Hall of Fame Press Releases

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The Hall of Fame Newsletters will be an attempt to keep sports-minded fans in Montgomery County informed, entertained and up to date with happenings concerning the Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame.

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Newsletter #3

May 2008

Editor – Bob Bloss

Twenty-three men and women have been inducted into the prestigious Coaches Hall of Fame since its 2002 founding. Their plaques, with their facial likenesses and lists of major achievements, are on display at the Norristown Police Athletic League facilities – the former Stewart Armory -- on Harding Boulevard adjacent to Elmwood Park.

Class of 2002 – Beth Anders, Tom Lasorda, Henry Stofko.

2003 – Jim Crawford, Mike Pettine, Dick Shoulberg

2004 – John (Fritz) Brennan, Henry DeMito, Art Kehoe, Bob Schaefer, Bobby Wine

2005 – Jim Algeo, Geno Auriemma, Al Cantello, Marge Watson, Bill Werkiser

2006 - Dan Dougherty, Jim Mich, Vince Panzano, Bob Shoudt

2007 – Steve Harner, Phil Martelli, Brian Thomas

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The Coaches Hall advisory board also cites individuals who have volunteered time and guidance to their municipalities’ athletics and recreation programs over long periods of time. Their names are inscribed on our Community Coaches Honor Roll. Those saluted from 2002 through 2007 are: Sal Bello, Frank (Doc) Bishop…Tony Chiccino, Al Cianciulli, Ralph (Skag) Cottman…Sullivan (Heels) Gelet…Rod Johnson…Charles McPherson, Sal Melito, Earle Mercadante, John (Bing) Miller…Victor Negron…Willie Richet, Charles Romanowski, Nick Rotondo…Pete Vardakas…and Pat Walsh. From time to time the Hall recognizes other special decades-long accomplishments. Recipients of our Lifetime Achievement Awards, to date, were Joseph (Joe) Brown in 2005 and James Randolph, 2007.

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Rod Johnson, a 2007 Coaches Honor Roll inductee, described his feelings about last year’s induction festivities in a letter to Advisory Board secretary and Hall of Fame co-founder Tony Leodora. We share Johnson’s gracious letter with you:

Belated Thank You............

Tony and Members of the Committee,

I have had time to reflect on the spectacular induction evening, and I must say

it was much more than I ever envisioned. Over the years I have had the

opportunity to be involved in various ceremonies, to include Hall of Fame

Inductions, but I had never been a part of something so well choreographed.

First of all, I was shocked at the turnout. I understood that Phil Martelli

would be a big draw, but there were more than just Phil fans at this festive

affair. I was touched by the piece on Brian Thomas. What a great story that

was. I was humbled by the articulate message spoken by Jim Randolph. His love

for his wife, his spirituality, and his commitment to young people was evidenced

by his passionate delivery.

It was apparent to me that I was amongst some of the most respected and

accomplished men in the area. I felt that my resume paled in comparison to those

I rubbed shoulders with on that special evening. I had once made a comment that

I began coaching to please myself, but realized after a few years that I was

coaching because of my love for our young people. I understood, even at a young

age, that those who I coached were so impressionable. My ultimate desire was to

teach them properly and enjoy their individual and collective success. After

twenty five years I still get chills when I teach, they listen, and success is

achieved.

I wish to express through this letter my sincere appreciation for the accolades

that I received that evening. The committee was awesome and quickly made me

feel part of the â€œnew family of inducteesâ€. Thanks to all who made this a

special event for me and my family.

Rod

Rod L. Johnson

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Similar appreciative sentiments were expressed by 2007 Hall of Fame inductee Steve Harner,in a card he sent to the Advisory Board. He wrote: “I cannot put into words how I feel or felt when we received word about the selection. It is truly a great honor, one I will always cherish. The banquet is the most enjoyable evening I have ever experienced. The memory of that evening will be with me forever.”

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A member of the Community Coaches Honor Roll was recently accorded a very special recognition. One of two newly-completed softball fields at the Elmwood Park Zoo complex was named for Sullivan (Heels) Gelet who has devoted years of time and talent to fostering softball as a vital ingredient of the borough’s recreation structure. Gelet was introduced by Hall of Fame board member Steve Dimitry at the dedication ceremony.

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Henry DeMito, Class of 2004 and a member of our Advisory Board, was recently inducted to the Philadelphia Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Also honored were ex-NFL and University of Delaware quarterback Rich Gannon and former Temple basketball standout John Baum, but DeMito attracted the largest contingent of supporters among the 400 attendees. From Hank’s acceptance speech: “I always told my players we play together, pray together, and stay together through life.” His show of support at the banquet is testimony to that fact.

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Addditional recent accolades for Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame honorees: Geno Auriemma, veteran University of Connecticut leader, was again named Division One Coach of the Year by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. …Steve Harner has been installed in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame. At the induction ceremony, while Steve was coaching elsewhere, his official citation was accepted by longtime Harner family friend Audrey Pyle, widow of Coach Jim Pyle, Harner’s former wrestling mentor and coaching associate. ….Lansdale Catholic High’s Jim Algeo, following completion of his 40^th consecutive season as Lansdale Catholic High head football coach, was honored by the Maxwell Football Club as winner of the first Robert T. Clark Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Game of Football. Robert Clark was the football club’s executive director for many years.

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The 20^th annual Fritz Brennan Golf Outing is booked for a 1 P.M. Shotgun start on Tuesday, June 17, at Edgmont Country Club near Newtown Square. Beneficiary is the Fritz Brennan Scholarship Fund that assists former Lower Merion High and Harriton High School football players with their college expenses. Brennan (Hall of Fame class of ’04), was the longtime head football coach and athletic director at Lower Merion. Contact tournament chairman Bill McMillan, 610 667-3215, to register to participate. Entry fee of $125 covers golf, cart, dinner, prizes, and the scholarship fund.

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More on golf: Mike Pettine Sr., Hall entrant in 2003, registered his first hole-in-one during a winter round at Groves Golf & Country Club near Tampa, Florida. He swung a 9-iron to ace the 130-yard second hole. …The GolfStyles Live program recently captured the grand prize, as the Best Golf Radio Show in America, at the media awards presentation during the annual PGA Merchandise Show in Florida. A year earlier, in the program’s very first year, it earned second-place recognition. Our own Tony Leodora is the show’s creator and host. The show airs Saturdays from 7 to 8 a.m. in the Greater Philadelphia area on WNTP, 990-AM. It originates live from a variety of locations, including Ray’s Diner in East Norriton Township. The show also can be heard on the website at www.golftalklive.net.

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Hall of Fame vice-president Dale Hood conducted his annual Winterfest at a different venue in early 2008, the newly renovated Holy Savior Club in Norristown. Numerous friends of the Hall, and several of the coaches already inducted, attended the popular early-year get-together. Proceeds benefitted the Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame and its philanthropic ventures. Among its charitable funding was a substantial contribution toward scholarships for the three Giongo sons, survivors of a Conshohocken family tragedy. Hall of Fame board member and Montgomery County Sheriff John Durante, along with Times Herald editor Stan Huskey, headed the successful drive that netted more than $106,000 toward the Giongo project.

Newsletter #2

December 2007

Editor – Bob Bloss

Greetings of the Seasons – the holiday season, the tournament season, bowl games season, and all the trimmings that go with them. And, from the Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame, this newsletter brings you sincere good wishes for 2008 and for all its good promise and good health that’s in store for you.

We’re very happy to report that our most-recent Hall of Fame Induction Program at Westover Country Club attracted the second-largest turnout in the banquet’s six-year history. More than 500 tickets were distributed for the October 16^th celebration honoring Hall of Fame inductees Steve Harner, Phil Martelli, and Brian Thomas. Formal salutes were also raised to Community Coaches Honor Roll honorees Frank (Doc) Bishop, Tony Chiccino, Rod Johnson, and Earle Mercadante, and to Lifetime Achievement recipient Jim Randolph. This year’s celebration was surpassed in attendance only by the initial commemoration when the legendary trio of Beth Anders, Tom Lasorda, and Hank Stofko were the Hall’s first inductees in 2002. The Coaches Hall of Fame officers and advisory board extend their sincere appreciation to you large number of Montgomery County sports followers whose annual support is gra! tefully welcomed.

P.A.L. (the Police Athletic League) is the primary recipient of the proceeds. Plaques that signify each honoree’s Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame enshrinement are wall-mounted and on display for the public at the Norristown P.A.L. building – formerly the Stewart Armory -- on Harding Boulevard adjacent to Elmwood Park.

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On the subject of Halls of Fame, several of our Hall’s notables have recently been similarly honored by other organizations:

Beth Anders – by the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in mid-December. Phil Martelli is already a member there.

Montgomery County Coaches Hall president John Pergine, Phil Martelli, and Tom Lasorda - by the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame on November 3^rd. Pergine for his Notre Dame, Los Angeles Rams, and Washington Redskins football prowess following a stellar high school basketball and gridiron career at Plymouth-Whitemarsh; Martelli for his nationally-acclaimed college basketball coaching; Lasorda for his Hall of Fame baseball achievements. Unable to attend the ceremony, Lasorda sent an inspiring three-minute video, much of which paid tribute to Pergine as a great athlete and a great person.

Hank DeMito, one of our 2004 honorees - by the Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic High School Hall of Fame in early October. He was a standout scholar-athlete at St. Patrick’s High, the forerunner to Bishop Kenrick. This year was doubly-special to DeMito. He and his wife, Bobbie, celebrated their 40^th wedding anniversary in July.

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Another 2004 Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame entrant, football’s Art Kehoe, completed his second season as an assistant coach at the University of Mississippi following two decades in a similar post at the University of Miami, then an annual national title contender. Upon completion of the relatively-unsuccessful Mississippi season this fall, head coach Ed Orgeron was dismissed. However, his successor, Houston Nutt, has retained Kehoe as associate head coach/offensive line coach.

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Jim Mich, Hall of Fame class of 2006, completed his third season as football analyst with cable television’s PCTV which covers parts of Chester, Berks, and Montgomery counties. The retired head coach at Pottstown’s St. Pius X High School, whose football facility is christened Jim Mich Stadium, was featured on the cable station’s Monday Morning Quarterback program which reviews the weekend’s high school games.

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Unless you’re travelling to some warm climates soon, golf might not be foremost in your mind. But here’s something to renew your vigor for the “ancient and royal” pastime this winter. You can catch Hall of Fame secretary/treasurer Tony Leodora each Saturday at Ray’s Diner and Malt Shop, Germantown Pike just east of DeKalb in East Norriton, for “Breakfast with the Golfers.” There Tony does a live remote broadcast of his award-winning GolfStyles Live radio show on WNTP, 990-AM, every Saturday from 7 to 8 A.M. Plenty of informal golf talk follows the show.

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At least two of the Hall’s members, who are still active scholastic coaches, have met with major won-loss success during the past year. Bob Schaefer led the Cheltenham girls basketball team to its second PIAA Class AAAA championship late last winter. Schaefer, another 2004 Coaches Hall of Fame inductee, had posted a sparkling 629-136 career record with Cheltenham as the 2007-08 season recently got underway. A second current Hall member, Lansdale Catholic’s Jim Algeo (Class of 2005), directed his 2007 PAC-10 champion footballers to the PIAA state quarterfinals before suffering a disappointing loss to District Two winner Dunmore High. The 2007 campaign was Jim’s 40^th successive season at Lansdale Catholic which will enter the Philadelphia Catholic League next year. Three years ago (2004) Algeo’s Crusaders won the state AA championship.

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Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame advisory board member Jim Church was honored recently by the Pennridge Chamber of Commerce for his 40 years of skillful play-by-play broadcasting and sports commentary. Primarily covering scholastic sports, Church has been one of Montgomery and Bucks counties’ leading and widely-recognized sports figures for 40 years. His weekly radio show airs on Lansdale’s WNPV 1440-AM Saturday mornings at 9 o’clock.

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Vice president Dale Hood has announced the date for his annual mid-winter sports dinner, proceeds going to the Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame. It will be held on Wednesday, February 13. The annual chat-and-chew fest is moving to a new venue, the recently renovated Holy Savior Club on East Main Street in Norristown. To reserve a spot, call Dale at 610-331-5344.

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Steve Harner, who was noted earlier in this newsletter as one of a trio of 2007 Coaches Hall of Fame inductees, delivered one of several inspirational messages to the men, women, and youngsters attending the celebratory ceremony at Westover. Of the 23 coaches named as Hall of Fame members to date, Harner is the first whose primary coaching assignments focused on the sport of wrestling. He volunteered to share his thoughts with the Hall’s committee and this newsletter’s readers:

“To the Committee: I cannot put into words how I feel or felt when we received word about the selection. It is truly a great honor, one I will always cherish. The banquet is the most enjoyable evening I have ever experienced. The memory of that evening will be with me forever. --- Thank you, Stephen Harner”

Newsletter #1

October 2007

Welcome to the first edition of the Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame Newsletter … an attempt to keep sports-minded fans in Montgomery County informed, entertained and up to date with happenings concerning the Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame. With the banquet date – Tuesday, October 16 at Westover GC – fast approaching, there is quite a bit of news. First, and foremost, is a review of those being honored. Hope to see you in attendance for the best sports night of the year in Montgomery County.

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Three new members are being inducted into the Coaches Hall of Fame, bringing out total to 23 inductees in our six-year history.

The new inductees are: Phil Martelli, the St. Joseph’s University and former Bishop Kenrick High basketball coach; Steve Harner, the former longtime Norristown High and current Williamson School wrestling coach; and Brian Thomas, the Ursinus College baseball coach, who also spent many years with the Perkiomen School and Perkiomen Valley American Legion.

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For the second time in the history of the Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame, the Selection Committee has decided to bestow a Lifetime Achievement Award. It goes to Jim Randolph – a great athlete from Norristown, a community leader, a very successful baseball coach at Montgomery County Community College and an athletic director at Montgomery County Community College.

Randolph’s legacy, on so many different levels, made him a natural choice for the Lifetime Achievement Award. The only other time the award was announced, it went to the late Joe Brown. He was a pioneer in the athletic programs at St. Pat’s and Bishop Kenrick High School, where he also coached basketball.

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Four new names are being added to the Montgomery County Community Coaches Honor Roll, which casts the spotlight on those who have volunteered to further the cause of youth sports over the years. This category has grown in popularity each year, as people realize the thankless sacrifices that have been made by so many for so long.

The new honorees are: Earle Mercadante, longtime coach, official and administrator for Plymouth Township Little League and Plymouth Jr. ABA; Frank “Doc” Bishop, who has led the East Norriton Junior American Legion program for years; the late Tony Chiccino, who tirelessly directed adult sports in Bridgeport for year; and Rod Johnson, who coached American Legion baseball in Spring City.

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Former Hall of Fame Inductee Bobby Wine (Class of ’04), made an appearance on The Times Herald television show which was filmed at Norristown High. The hour-long show was hosted by Times Herald managing editor Gordon Glantz.

Although the former Phillies Gold Glove shortstop and current Atlanta Braves advance scout recounted a number of baseball stories during the show, much of the time also was spent discussing the Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame. Wine recounted how memorable it was the night he was inducted and congratulated the people who will be honored this year. Also on the show with Glantz and Wine were Hall of Fame vice-president Dale Hood and secretary-treasurer Tony Leodora.

The show will air at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 9, Thursday, October 11 and Sunday, October 14. The show airs on the Norristown public access cable channel 27.

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Legendary Plymouth Whitemarsh High basketball coach Hank Stofko, a member of the first class of Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame inductees, was honored on the occasion of his 80^th birthday earlier this year at Plymouth CC. More than 75 of Stofko’s former players and coaches gathered for the event.

Dennis Kuesel, a star basketball player and pitcher in the late ‘60s, organized the event. The evening contained an assortment of tales, highlighted by Stofko, pulling from his detailed memory and going around the room to tell a story about every player and coach in attendance.

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It has always been a tradition at the banquet to have a guest speaker with some kind of tie-in to one or more of the people being honored. This year’s banquet presented the perfect opportunity to showcase one of the best speaking talents in the Delaware Valley.

Bill “Speedy” Morris, the pride of Roxborough and head basketball coach at St. Joe Prep, will be the guest speaker. Of course, Morris had many legendary battles on the court with Phil Martelli. First, when Morris coached at Roman Catholic and Martelli coached at Bishop Kenrick, the rivalry was introduced. Later, when both moved to the college level, the LaSalle-St. Joseph’s University clashes made Big 5 history.

Morris now has a very busy schedule on the banquet circuit and even has made a few appearances in area comedy clubs. His son is an accomplished performer on the comedy club circuit.

Tickets, priced at $55 are available from any Hall of Fame Advisory Board member or by calling 610-279-9220.