4th Annual Banquet

 

INDUCTEES

EARL DALLABRIDA

Earl Dallabrida began his athletic career in Kulpmont High School where he was a tree letter-man. He played forward on the basketball team, ran the sprints, High jumped and Broad jumped in track and played both ways in football. He was primarily a running back, but did some passing and all of the punting. Defensively he played a deep safety and ran back most of the punts.

Because of an automobile accident in which he was a passenger, Earl played only a few games in his Senior year, but still rated high in the selection of All-State.

Graduating in 1942, although being contacted by several schools, Earl spent the next years in the armed forces.

Shortly after World War II professional or Semi-professional football became very popular in this area. It was in this brand of ball that he would be remembered.

In our immediate area the Anthracite Maroons presented to the fans some very exciting football. This team was made up of players from Mount Carmel, Kulpmont, Marion Heights, Shamokin, and out-lying districts. In the present day of specialists in football, a coach would have difficulty determining Earl’s best position, because he was an outstanding, deceptive running back, a fine receiver and at times a passer. He also did the punting. Defensively, as in school, he played deep safety and probably was best remembered for his punt returns.

During this era of semi-pro ball, he also played some with the Pottsville team and the Shenandoah Presidents.

Earl is still in our area and resides in Marion Heights.

 

WILLIAM E. RUFFING

Bill was a 3-sport athlete during those rough and tumble years between 1915 and 1920. He starred in football and baseball; but was outstanding as a basketball player. He captained the basketball team at Mount Carmel in both his Junior and Senior years.

He played semi-professionally with the Locust Gap Celtics in the area Big Five League. He was also Player-Manager of the Maysville Tennis Club for 15 years, when tennis was a sport played competitively on a club basis in this area. Later he was an outstanding golfer at the Fountain Springs Country Club.

He was recognized for forty years of management of Athletic Association finances at Mt. Carmel High School with a Booster Club award in 1967. Perhaps most notably, he was Treasurer of the committee responsible for the construction of the Mt. Carmel High School Stadium in 1934. He presently serves a Executive Vice President of the Union National Bank in Mt Carmel, and never misses a Penn State home game.

 

TIM KATONA

Tim showed early promise as a trackman in elementary school and Junior Olympic competition. In high school he competed in sprints, hurdles, and relays with great success. When the 330-Intermediate Hurdles event was introduced in 1973, Coach Gerry Breslin recognized him as a natural for the event because of his ability to alternate steps as he approached each hurdle. He was undefeated in that event throughout the League and Championship season. He capped his high school career with a victory in the State Championship Meet.

He competed as a member of the University of Pennsylvania track team for two years; and was a member of Penn’s 1974 Ivy League Championship Team. He gave up the sport to concentrate on academics in 1975, nd became a Dean’s List Student. He graduated from Penn in 1977 and is now a successful electrical engineer for the Sperry-Univac Company in Southern California.

 

GEORGE EDWARDS, JR.

Dubbed as “a wrestler’s wrestler”, Edwards, a son of Mr. and Mrs. George Edwards, 500 North Second Street, Shamokin garned one of the most phenomenal records ever recorded by a high school performer. Edwards registered an amazing 74 victories, five losses and one tie, including tournament competition.

In addition to his brilliant log, the performer had broken almost every record in Shamokin High wrestling history in his high school career. He had broken six records, one of which is his own, and tied two.

After high school, George entered Penn State and continued his winning ways. As a freshman he was 8-0 and the following three years as a varsity performer his record was a brilliant 28-2-1. An All-American in 1965, he also placed second in Easterns and garnered a fifth place in National competitions.

After four years as freshman coach at Penn State, he became head coach at University of Virginia in 1968. At that school his wrestlers have won 28 individual ACC championships and the team three ACC titles. Six of his wrestlers have won or shared six most valuable awards in that conference. His teams have won more matches than any other Virginia wrestling coach.

 

ROY SANDERS

Roy Sanders, a versatile athlete in Coal Township High School and at Millersville State College, made himself most note-worthy as a football quarterback, although he did exceptionally well as a basketball and baseball player and a boxer.

Sanders quarterbacked Coal Township teams that beat some of the coal region’s toughest rivals. Among them was Mahanoy City. C.T. upset Mahanoy in 1928 by a 14-0 score at Maysville. Under Roy’s inspiring pilotship Coal halted four Mahanoy touchdown drives, one of them on the Demon’s three-inch line. In addition to his yeoman job of running the team, Roy tossed two touchdown passes and booted a pair of bonus points.

Sanders was head football coach at Coal Township High in 1946 and served as co-coach with Ed Sutt in 1945. Sanders never wanted to be head coach. He took the job in time of emergency and as a standby favor. Roy performed as a forward in basketball, shortstop in baseball and could box with dexterity. Sanders as a pugilist was might handy with a right uppercut punch. Roy was a big gate attraction at the former Moose Hall at Lincoln and Market Streets when he and Frankie Houser tangled on windup boxing features. Roy was quite a “Joe” - cheerful and jolly and a guy who recognized a person’s good points rather than misgivings and pitfalls.

 

WALT MARSHALL

Marshall’s football career is colorful and spectacular. He has become one of the leading grid tutors in Pennsylvania, by coaching the Purple Demons to the first Eastern Conference Championship in the history of this community. A man of winsome disposition and pleasing personality, Marshall has garnered extensive admiration in the ranks of players, officials and fans.

Coal Township provided Marshall with his first coaching job. He tutored the Demons in 1939 and 1940. After taking the boys to camp in the summer of 1941, he left Coal Township to accept a position at Northeast Catholic High in Philadelphia. After spending three years there, Marshall embarked on a college coaching mission.

In 1944, he joined Milt Piepul as an assistant coach at Dartmouth College. After one year with the Green Wave, he moved to Lafayette College in Easton, PA., in 1945. In 1946, he went to Canisius, Buffalo, NY, where he spent two years as a mentor.

Marshall’s last collegiate coaching assignment was at Auburn University in Alabama. He coached there in 1948 and after spring practice in 1949, returned to Coal Township. His teams are undefeated in 19 straight games, including one tie. Marshall has seen his crews roll up a total of 610 points and hold the enemies to a combined aggregate of 158 in two seasons.

Marshall’s top achievement came when the Demons trounced Swoyersville for the Eastern Conference title.

From all of us to Marshall we say: “Well done. May you attain still greater heights.”

 

ED STAVENSKI

Ed Stavenski was a star football player at Kulpmont High School under the late Mike Terry. He earned a football scholarship to Duquesne University at a time when scholarships were given only after a tryout. After graduation from Duquesne, he returned to Kulpmont to teach.

Along with coaching football, he was asked to coach basketball and baseball, a job that took all his time. He did all this partly because it was not his custom to say “no” but mostly because of his dedication both to youth and sports. If you ever played on any of his teams there was no limit to what he would do to show his appreciation for your participation and he didn’t stop if money was involved – he spent lavishly on his boys.

After the jointure with Mount Carmel, he continued to teach and served as an assistant coach under Coach Joe Diminick.

 

JOHN “PET” MULDOON

Pet was an outstanding sandlot athlete, competing in baseball, football and boxing. As a professional boxer he won 22 of 24 bouts; and in one fight was credited with a 28-second knockout. He also coached boxing at Kulpmont High School in the early 40’s. He was an outstanding shortstop for the Mt. Carmel Jednota Society Team which competed on a statewide basis with teams from as far away as Allentown, Pottsville, Reading and Scranton. He once batted against Grover Cleveland Alexander in an exhibition game against the touring House of David team. He is one of perhaps a half-dozen men who were instrumental in organizing Little League Baseball in Mt. Carmel. Later, he coached the Moose and Our Lady’s Teams to outstanding records. He was also an umpire for a number of years; and is probably the leading authority on baseball’s rules in this area.

For years many taproom arguments were settled with a phone call to Pet’s home. As a football player he was a speedy, pass-catching end. No less an authority than Gerry Breslin once remarked that Pet had the “best hands he had ever seen.”

 

CLEMENT J. PATRICK

Clem started boxing at the age of 17. During his carrer he had46 bouts, winning 41 losing three and drawing 2. At one time he was the Jr. Heavyweight Champion of the Anthracite Region. He became a policeman in 1934, and rose to the rank of Lieutenant in the Mt. Carmel Police Department. He was honored a number of times for police work with citations from the F.B.I. and was a qualified fingerprint expert. He was President of the Anthracite Lodge, Fraternal Order of Police. He had 24 cartoon ideas published by the popular Jimmy Hatlo’s “They’ll Do It Every Time,” and contributed 14 Ching Chow Cartoons. Clem was an outstanding boxer during the period when boxing flowered in the Coal Regions.

 

RICHARD KASHNER

Dick Kasner has been well-known in baseball in this area since he played in high school. He became one of the top hitters in hardball and was equally impressive on defense, earning a try-out with the Philadelphia Phillies. Later moving to softball, he played and managed teams around the area for 14 years on various teams.

In recent years Dick has been involved in helping the youth of our area get the chance to play organized sports. He had been a Teener League Coach for 13 years, playing a very important role in the builsing of the Glenn L. Parks Memorial Field. Retiring from that league in 1980, he now coaches the American Legion team which he formed this past year.

Dick was also one of the founders of the Shamokin-Coal Township Little League. He has been president for the past 9 years and has headed the building of 3 field, one with lights, which were paid for by the league itself. The organization now includes 25 teams, a Pony League, 80 coaches and over 400 boys and girls.

Dick also helped start the Shamokin Area Youth Basketball League, which has been going for 5 years and includes about 200 boys. He also had a hand in the formation of the Lower Anthracite Girl’s Softball League.

Dick has been a tribute to this area and is well respected by both youth and adults for his contributions to the many athletic programs in our region.

 

GLENN “BONES” ADAMS

Graduated in 1949 from Mt. Carmel High School. An all-around athlete, Bones won 11 of a possible 12 letters as a High School star. He was 1948 Player of the Year in the Anthracite Area, and was also a second team All-State selection that year. One of Mt. Carmel’s most highly sought athletes ever, he received more than 50 college scholarship offers. At the University of Pennsylvania he was the second leading scorer on the Frosh basketball team, topped only by Ernie Beck who later became an All American and Pro Star. Bones was a 3-year letterman in football at Penn. During his career there he was All Ivy, All East and Honorable Mention All American. He held Penn’s single season passing record until 1963, eclipsing the previous records of All American Red Bagnell. In 1951 he ranked third nationally in punting average. In 1952 he was selected National Player of the Week, after a game in which he threw 4 touchdown passes against Dartmouth. That same year Bones compiled more than 1300 yards total offense, and helped Penn rank fourth nationally in passing statistics. Despite injuries that cut short his career and limited his plying considerably, Glenn Adams was a leader in what was probably the U of P’s finest hour.

 

ED TAYLOR

Ed started as an assistant coach for the Maurer’s Dairy team in 1952 and became its head coach 5 years later. During that period his teams won 5 Division Championships and 3 overall League Titles. His teams won the Championship Trophy in the Shamokin-Coal Township Post Season Little League Tournament both times they were invited. Maurer’s Dairy has given up sponsorship of the team at the end of this season. Next year’s team will be sponsored by the Mt. Carmel Area Rescue Squad. But that’s about all that will be different. Ed Taylor will be back, starting his 30th year of coaching kids sports. A real record, more impressive even, than his gaudy won-lost record.

 

RALPH VICTORIANO

Ralph was born in Lavelle, PA October 4, 1928. As a young boy he attended school at Butler Township, where he was active on the basketball and gymnastic teams under Coach Paul Wolfgang. During these years he was also a member of the school orchestra. After graduation Ralph enlisted in the U.S. Army and after auditioning became a member of the 371st Army band of the Fort Leavenworth Post, where he also was a member of the basketball team. Ralph coached local Little League teams for four years and still supports sports through sponsorship and in advertising.

Ralph belongs to the following fraternal and church organizations Masonic Lodge 255, where he served as Past Master, Reading Shrine, Bloomsburg Consistory, Shamokin Elks Lodge, Shamokin Aero Club, The Lincoln Club, Gowen City Church consistory, and Gowen City Cemetery Association, where he presently serves as president. In addition Ralph was a charter member of Ed Romance Sport Hall of Fame serving as Secretary-Treasurer for the past two years.

 

TONY MOSELLA

Tony was an outstanding three sport athlete at Mt. Carmel High School, and later played football professionally with the ANTHRACITE MAROONS. He became a sports trainer in 1948 at Coal Township High School. He moved to Mt. Carmel in 1952 and remains there presently. He also spent a short period of time as athletic trainer at Susquehanna University. He has been active as both trainer and Head Coach in Little League Football in Mt. Carmel since 1962. While Coaching basketball at St. Peters his teams won 2 Diocesan Championships. As head coach of the Mt. Carmel Jets he produced 4 undefeated teams and 2 Schuylkill County Championships. Many of Mt Carmel’s outstanding high school and college players got their start under the tutelage of Tony Moella. He is also known in local track circles and has been the chief starter at Mt. Carmel High School Track Meets for 40 years.

 

SCHOLAR ATHLETE

MARK JANASKIE

Mark, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Janaskie, Shamokin was chosen as a 1981 Scholar Athlete by the Ed Romance Lower Anthracite Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.

A graduate of Shamokin Area High School, the scholar athlete was a four-year starter in basketball, being co-captain in his junior and senior years. He was selected to Keystone Big 9 first team in 1980-81, SVC first team in 1979-80, several region All-Star Teams and received honorable mention on the 1980 and 1981 All-State Teams.

As a three year starter on the football team, he received honorable mention on the All-State Team. In school, he was a member of the National Honor Society in junior and senior years, was a 3-year member of the Student Council, was a homeroom Representative in 10th and 12th grades, president of the Chemistry Club in his senior year, and a member of Youth Education Association.

Mark is enrolled at Bucknell University majoring in Biology.

 

SCHOLAR ATHLETE

ANNETTE ZAMBONI

Annette Zamboni, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Zamboni of 609 Chestnut St., Kulpmont, Pa. Has been selected Scholar-Athlete to the “Hall of Fame.”

Miss Zaboni’s achievements include many trophies for individual and competitive cheerleading, gymnastics, in which she appeared yearly in the “Alice Higgins Dance Review.” baseball and basketball during elementary school. In high school she participated in girl’s track in which in 1979 she made it to District 4-Track and Field Championship in Williamsport, Pa. During her high school years she participated in long jump, broad jump, and high jump. In her senior year she also added running to her accomplishments. Miss Zamboni also competed in the 2nd Quad County All League Meet. She also came in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in the Breslin Relays.

Scholastically was valedictorian at Mt. Carmel Area High School, Class of 1981. During her high school years, Miss Zamboni served as president of the National Honor Society and Vice-President of Quill and Scroll and National Athletic Honor Society. She was Student of the Month and a member of the varsity cheerleading squad, yearbook staff, girl’s track team, glee club, concert chorus, pep club, French Club, operetta, news reporting staff, Calculus League, prom committee, class day committee, stadium usher and assembly program committee. Miss Zamboni also received the Chef’s Trophy, which is for dedication in sports.

Miss Zamboni is currently attending Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture, Doylestown, Pa. Majoring in biology.