1984 Inductees


Larry Buckley 

Braddock High School:  Graduated, 1935

BASKETBALL:  WPIAL championship team 

Carnegie Library League Basketball:  floorman and outstanding rebounder 

Potomac State College:  Football and basketball 

Other Basketball:  Service teams during WW II, Official military and civilian games in Pacific Area, member Hawaiian Basketball Officials Association 

Joseph Camic 

Rankin High School:  1936-40

BASKETBALL:  Varsity three and a half  years 

Duquesne University Basketball:  Starred three years, 1940-43, Return 1946 (after years in armed forces), led team to NIT in New York, All-State team, All-Star teams, Honorable Mention All-American, Named on Duquesne University All-Time Team, 1963 

National Basketball Association Tri-Cities Blackhawks and Boston Celtics: 1947-50 

Rudy Celigoi 

Scott High School:  1949 graduate

FOOTBALL- star three years under Coach Johnny Reed 

Rutgers University Football:  Varsity three years, no losing season 

Coaching Career:  Scott High with Johnny  Reed, Fran Rogel, Joe McCune 

Other Career:  Superintendent North Braddock Schools, named Superintendent Swissvale Schools 1970, named Asst. Superintendent for finance for Woodland Hills School District 1981, one of organizers and First President East Boros’ Chapter of PA Sports Hall of Fame 

Henry Clougherty 

Swissvale High School:  1938 graduate, class President

FOOTBALL:  three year letter earner, captain (1st to captain both football and basketball same year)

BASEBALL:  three year letter earner

BASKETBALL:  three year letter earner, captain 

St. Vincent College:  Freshman football and basketball 

Service:  Marine Corps, 1941; Purple Heart and two Presidential Citations 

University of Pittsburgh Football:  Center, 1945-46 

Coaching Career:  Swissvale Junior High School, football and basketball, Head Football Coach at Swissvale High School 1962-63, Pittsburgh Post Gazette Coach of the Year 1968, 1971 

John Cortazzo 

Native of Wilmerding, PA 

Fast Pitch Softball:  Wall Serbs 1946-48,  Chuck’s Grill, Leon’s Bar and  Lionhart Inn, two World Tournaments, appeared against Eddi Feighner’s King and His Court five times, well-known catcher and outstanding power hitter 

Baseball:  Eastern County League 1949-57, Korea in service 1952-54, South Trafford and Duquesne Zemps 1956-57 

Awards:  McKeesport Sports Assn. Award 1979, numerous MVP awards 

Joseph Fabel 

East Pittsburgh:   1934 graduate

FOOTBALL:  three years, end and punter

BASKETBALL:  rated one of best from district 

University of Pittsburgh:  Played for Doc Carlson 

Independent and Semi-Pro Basketball:  North Braddock Vikings, Willigs of  McKeesport, Cardon Big Five, Wilmerding Airbrake, East Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Ironmen of BAA (forerunner to present day NBA) 

Service Career:  Bomber pilot during WW II in Pacific Theatre 

Helen Evans Kasprisin 

Basketball:  Played 1930’s and 1940’s,   Goldenson Vanities, Westinghouse AA team- won many AAU-AMA championships 

Softball:  Played 1930’s and 1940’s, Goldenson Vanities won Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph Championship Trophy, nicknamed by Sun-Telegraph sports writer Julius Levine as “Little Arky Vaughan” 

Raymond McEwen 

St. Thomas High School

FOOTBALL:  Center and linebacker 

Football/Semi-pro:  Braddock Marshalls, North Braddock Collegians, Coach Ed Paulley switched to end position, All Star performances with East Pittsburgh Firemen and McKeesport Olympics, finished career with East Liberty Papales 

John McGinley 

Born and raised in Braddock, graduated from Braddock High School and the  University of Pittsburgh 

Service:  Officer in US Navy, WW II

Sports Career:  Public Relations and Sports Promoter, Rooney-McGinley boxing organization, promoted first World Heavyweight Championship in Pittsburgh, 1951, Champion Ezzard Charles vs. Jersey Joe Wolcott, Vice-President Pittsburgh Steelers Football Club 

Basketball:  Carnegie Club and Moore-Dillingers

 Jack never lost his affectionate feeling for Braddock and its people 

Joseph Nemetz 

Braddock High School:

FOOTBALL:  Fullback, 1947-50, led team to 19-0 win over Scott High senior year (1st time 26 years)

BASEBALL, BASKETBALL, TRACK 

Arizona State University Football:  Fullback, praised for power running and elusiveness 

Other:  Served in Korea with the 7th Ranger Battalion 

Joseph Pantalone 

Community Athletics:  Chairman Athletic Committee in Turtle Creek, expanded athletic program at Turtle Creek High School, opened playgrounds and gyms for maximum use 

Coaching Career:  Helped organize and coach first Midget Football team in Turtle Creek, Began and coached St. Coleman’s basketball and football, Managed Little League, Pony League and American  Legion baseball teams, Aided many young boys and men, including:  Leon Hart, Jim Kelly,  Joe Caprara, “Babe” Caprara, Paul Martha and Eddie Silverio 

Bernie Sermes 

Braddock High School:  1938 graduate

FOOTBALL:  Halfback under Coach Jimmy Conroy, scored three touchdowns against Rankin High School 

Duquesne University Football:  1938-41, Hallback for Coach Buff Donelli, team lost one game in three years, scored three touchdowns against Manhattan College at Polo Grounds in New York 

National Football League Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Cardinals 

Official Career:  WPIAL football 25 years