Mid Mon Valley HOF to hold 22nd annual banquet
The Mid Mon Valley All 缅北禁地 Hall of Fame will hold its 22nd annual banquet at The Willow Room in Rostraver Township on Friday, June 19, at 5:30 p.m. This year, seven new inductees will be welcomed into the 缅北禁地 Hall of Fame conceived by newspapermen Floyd France and John Bunardzya. This brings the total number of inductees to 226.
鈥淭he class of 2015 represents a group of outstanding individuals who have graced the Mon Valley with their brand of athletic excellence,鈥� Steve Russell, MMVASHOF general chairman said. 鈥淭he Selection Committee has again studied hundreds of worthy candidates and this year elected another distinguished class. As one of the oldest 缅北禁地 Halls of Fame in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we have our roots in the early 1950s with the election of Stan Musial and Bert Rechichar. With two greats like those men we obviously have a high bar of excellence in our selection process.鈥�
The Mid Mon Valley All 缅北禁地 Hall of Fame selected its inaugural class in 1951, and there were no selections in 1954. Hall of Fame Classes were then selected from 1955 through 1970, and there were no selections in 1971-72. Classes resumed in 1973 through 1977. The Mid Mon Valley Hall of Fame was dormant from 1978 through 1995 before resuming in 1996.
The Mid Mon Valley Chapter of the Pennsylvania 缅北禁地 Hall of Fame is pleased to welcome these Valley sports standouts:
Bill Blick: A 1964 Rostraver High School graduate, Blick was a two-sport three-year letterman athlete in football and basketball and was captain of both teams as a senior. He was the leading scorer on the basketball team and all-section in both sports. A recipient of the Westmoreland County scholar athlete award, Bill was the punter and shared quarterback duties with starter Roger Sullenberger on the 1962 WPIAL Class A football championship team that shared the crown with Carmichaels after a scoreless tie in the title game at Uniontown. In basketball, Coach George Everett continually sang Blick鈥檚 praises and started him on an eventual 24-year coaching career at Penn Hills High, where he guided the team to the first-ever WPIAL Class AAAA basketball championship in the school鈥檚 long history in 1987. Penn Hills defeated Central Catholic, 64-44. Blick received a full scholarship to Temple University and became a three-year football letterman and captained his senior team.
Eugene Gladys: A 1977 Monessen High School graduate, Gene was a three-letter athlete in football, basketball and track. As quarterback and linebacker he was twice named to the All-Big Ten Conference and was a Big 33 participant. Receiving a scholarship to Penn State, Gene in 1980 was the senior team鈥檚 second-leading tackler and one of the defensive standouts. He had the distinction of playing in three Bowls: Fiesta, Liberty and Sugar. Drafted by the NFL New Orleans Saints in the 1981 eighth round he made the team but injuries eventually forced his retirement from football in 1982.
Jack Green: A 1949 Charleroi High School graduate, Green earned 11 varsity letters with four each in football and baseball along with three in basketball. In high school baseball Jack hit a home run off future Dodger pitcher Ed Roebuck of Brownsville High School. At Charleroi he received the prestigious Leslie Morgan award. With a scholarship to Duquesne University, Jack was a member of the football and baseball teams until his education was interrupted with his service in the Army. For over 20 years Jack was a respected football and basketball official.
Phil Pergola: A 1964 Monongahela High School graduate, Pergola has a basketball coaching career that touches five decades. Phil continues coaching today at Ringgold High School for a second stint, his total basketball scholastic record stands at 592 wins and 505 losses with stops at Mon Valley Catholic and Charleroi High. One of the winningest coaches in Pennsylvania, he led his Ringgold teams to a WPIAL Class AAAA championship in 1990 and captured the state PIAA Class AAAA title in 1995. Over the last decade at California High School Coach Phil guided the Trojans to eight WPIAL playoff appearances while also performing athletic director duties.
Bill Ryczaj: A 1962 Elizabeth Forward graduate, Bill was a three-year basketball and baseball letterman with First Team All Section and Honorable Mention All-State recognition. Recruited by West Virginia University basketball, as a freshman he averaged for the season 26.6 points per game. A good shooter and three-year letterman, Bill captained his senior squad for the Mountaineers. After graduation Bill coached high school basketball in Virginia. Later he was an assistant coach at WVU under Joedy Gardner for three years. Bill also was an assistant at Southern Methodist University under coach Sonny Allen. Following his coaching career Bill was vice president and regional sales manager for Bike, Shutt and Russell Athletic. Later, he performed duties for the president of WVU in Charleston recruiting students for WVU. Today Bill is a popular motivational speaker.
Yancey Taylor: A 1990 Ringgold High School graduate, Taylor rewrote the basketball record book at Ringgold. Yancey is the Ram鈥檚 career leader in scoring (1,626), assists (437), and three-point baskets (108) as well as the single-season leader in scoring (700) and steals (107). Taylor led the Rams to the 1990 WPIAL Class AAAA title. At Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Taylor finished with a total of 1,257 points, 406 assists and 424 free throws. He was inducted into IUP鈥檚 Hall of Fame in 2013.
Ron Forsythe: A 1953 Brownsville High School graduate, Ron was a third basemen turned pitcher. After stellar high school performances he was signed to a Brooklyn Dodger contract by Major League scout Jimmy Russell of Fayette City. Starting out in Union City, Tennessee Class D League he posted a record of 11-11, with a 3.90 ERA in 1955. His final year in the Minor Leagues was 1960 at Green Bay. He finished his professional baseball career with a 37-34 record and an ERA of 4.26. After completing his college degree, he eventually became a popular Cal U English instructor and was an assistant to Cal U baseball coach Mitch Bailey. Mr. Forsythe passed away at age 71 in 2006.
Russell pointed out that the selection committee holds that one of the annual inductees should be esteemed posthumously and praised Forsythe.
鈥淎s an athlete, member of the Peace Corps and outstanding Cal U professor, Ron Forsythe is this year鈥檚 truly extraordinaire honoree,鈥� he said.
Along with the Hall of Fame inductees, eighteen senior scholar athletes from the local Mon Valley high schools will also be honored. Those high schools include Belle Vernon Area, Bentworth, Brownsville, California, Charleroi, Elizabeth Forward, Monessen, Ringgold, and Yough.
Tickets for the June 19 banquet are $40 and seating is limited. To reserve tickets contact Steve Russell, Hall of Fame General Chairman, at 724-258-3823 or email at stephenrussell1106@comcast.net.
George Von Benko鈥檚 鈥淢emory Lane鈥� column appears in the Monday editions of the 缅北禁地. He also hosts a sports talk show on WMBS-AM radio from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.