2003 Inductees

Front row (L-R): Cmdr. Gary Sandala, Ann Pekar (wife of the late Joe Pekar), John Patella, Tom Organ, Dan Pacella and Master “C.S.” Kim. Back row (L-R): John “Steamboat” Varoscak, Paul Holzshu, Tim Conroy, Dr. Michael Rogal.
Tim Conroy
Tim was a four-
On May 3, 1977 Tim recorded his first no hitter. Just ten days later he pitched his second no-
In June 1978, less than a week after his graduation from Gateway, the Oakland Athletics took Tim in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft. Ten days later, Tim made his debut pitching against the Kansas City Royals and Hall of Famer George Brett. In his next start, Tim lost a heartbreaker 1-
In 1985, Tim was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1987, Tim pitched, in front of family and friends, against the hometown Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1987, Tim was a member of the National League Champion Cardinal team. Tim was the Chief Scout for the Eastern United States for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Paul Holzshu
Paul began his basketball career at Gateway High School as a sophomore in 1964. His career culminated in a dominant senior year that led the Gators in scoring and rebounding. He was named Most Outstanding Player in the conference and was voted to the WPIAL All-
At Clemson, Paul played against some of the best players in the country, including: Nate Archibald, Dave Cowens, Charlie Scott, John Roach and Will Hetzell. Paul graduated from Clemson in 1972.
Soon after graduation Paul moved into the coaching ranks as an assistant at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He coached at Penn Hall Academy, Slippery Rock University, and Garrett Community College in Maryland. While at Garrett, Paul was named the 1977-
In 1980, Paul established the Metro Index Basketball Camp. Paul went on to coach at East Allegheny and Franklin Regional High Schools. In 1992, Paul was the head man at Penn State-
Paul became Athletic Director at Yough School District before accepting the same position at hometown Gateway. He was soon asked to take the reigns of boys basketball coach and against long odds led the Gators to a 2001-
Master C.S. Kim
Grandmaster C.S. Kim has been studying the traditional martial art of Tang Soo Do consistently over the past 53 years. He has dedicated his life to the growth and preservation of the Martial Arts. Master Kim is the President and Founder of the International Tang Soo Do Federation.
In 1963, Master Kim instructed the United States military stationed at OSAN Air Force Base in Korea, prior to entering the Korean military. While in the military, he was an instructor to the Korean Tiger Division troops for 4 years. In 1967 and 1968, he was the Korean Tang Soo Do Champion. Master Kim was the 1969 Korean Team Captain at the Fifth Asian Karate Championships in Malaysia. He was again the Korean Team Captain in 1970 at the 1st World Karate Championship held in Tokyo, Japan.
Master Kim moved to the United States in 1972. He was named USA Team Coach in 1980 for Tang Soo Do.
In 1988, Master Kim was inducted into the Karate Hall of Fame located at Madison Square Garden. In 1995, he was selected “Man of the Year,” by Black Belt Magazine. Past winners of this elite award include: Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris and Steven Seagal.
Master Kim has been featured in over 19 National and International Martial Arts Magazines. He has also produced 6 professional videotapes. Master Kim has authored “Authentic Tang Soo Do” recognized as the leading reference text for the traditional martial artist.
Tom Organ
Tom graduated from Braddock High in 1960. While at Braddock, Tom played both baseball and football. He was a member of the Braddock football team in an era of unparalleled success, which included a 58 game unbeaten streak under legendary coach Chuck Klausing.
After graduating from Braddock High School, Tom went on to California State University where he played baseball and majored in education.
After graduating from Cal State, Tom accepted a teaching position in the East Allegheny School District. He was an assistant football coach from 1964-
In 1996, Tom became the head football coach at Gateway High School. Then in 1999, Tom led the Gators to their first playoff appearance in 13 years.
Tom captured the Coach of the Year award in 1984, 1986, 1992, 1993, and 1999. Tom retired from coaching and eaching in 2002.
Joseph E. Pekar
Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Pie Traynor once said about Joe: “The lad is a wiz on both offense and defense. He is blessed with a good arm and keen eye, with a .359 batting average.”
Joe began his athletic career at Scott High School in North Braddock. There he lettered in three sports.
After a highly successful high school career, Joe had four more successful years at Slippery Rock University in both baseball and football.
Soon after graduation, Joe joined the United States Army. He began his football coaching career as an assistant at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
In 1957 – 60, Joe became head football coach at North Braddock Junior High; in 1961 as head baseball coach at Scott High School, where they won the section title; and as head baseball coach at Wilkinsburg High School during 1962-
He then went on to become head football coach at North Syracuse High School in New York. During his first campaign with the team Joe led North Syracuse to the conference championship. Joe coached at North Syracuse for four years until he would become head coach at Norwin High School. In 1969, in his second campaign with the Knights, Joe was named Foothills Conference Coach of the Year.
In 1974, Joe became Assistant Principal at the Baldwin-
Dr. Michael Rogal
Mike began his career as the starting center on the 1969-
He soon began to work in a rapidly growing industry, Sports Medicine. Dr. Rogal was a pioneer of sports medicine programs in the eastern suburbs. Mike became a driving force to establish programs at school districts like Penn Hills, Riverview, Plum, Gateway, Franklin Regional, Burrell, Norwin, East Allegheny, Woodland Hills, Central Catholic and Penn Trafford, to name a few. Mike is the founder and President of the East Suburban Sports Medicine Center, Ltd.
Mike is the primary orthopedist at Penn Hills since 1982 and Riverview High School since 1987. He has been the doctor for the NBA Hoops Summer Basketball Classic, the Dapper Dan Roundball Classic, and the Kick-
Having treated over 20,000 high school, college and professional athletes, as well as referees, coaches and other sports personnel has brought Dr. Rogal many awards such as: William T. Fralic Foundation Community Service Award, Penn Hills School Board Recognition of Excellence Sports Award, Penn Hills High School Football program Dedication, Penn Hills Sports Hall of Fame, Pittsburgh Hoops Classic-
Gary Sandala
Gary is a 1978 graduate of Plum High School where he participated in three varsity sports (wrestling, cross country and physical fitness). Gary was named Plum’s Co-
Gary went on to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy. Gary earned his “wings of gold” and was designated a Naval Flight Officer specializing in flying the S-
Gary continues to be active in youth sports by coaching the Navy Junior Wrestling Team and by officiating youth soccer.
John “Steamboat” Varoscak
John began playing in organized sports at Braddock Jr. High School where he was a member of the 1950 Junior High basketball team that was undefeated. In 1952 he moved to Rankin.
In 1954, John, along with Nick Davis, co-
After graduation, John attended the University of Louisville. There, John played basketball and was a member of the 1956 Cardinal team that won the prestigious National Invitational Tournament and finished the season ranked #1 in the country.
In 1959, John was a member of the United States Special Forces Team that won the Council of International Sports Tournament in Brussels, Belgium. In 1960, He was captain of the United States Special Forces Team that won the “International Tournament” in Alexandria, Egypt.
Upon his return to the U.S., John was employed within the Pittsburgh Public School system for thirty-