1978 Inductees

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Jimmy Belmont 

Native of North Braddock, PA. 

Professional Boxing:  14 years; Leading middleweight contender, defeated former champions Jackie Fields and Babe Risko, never given chance at title match 

Paul Birch

 

Homestead HS:  BASKETBALL

Duquesne University:  All-American, teams lost all but four games in four years 

NBA  New York Celtics: five year Captain,  Ft. Wayne Pistons (now Detroit Pistons)- coach 

NBL  Youngstown Bears and Pittsburgh Ironmen:  player and coach. 

Other Coaching: PIAA Class A basketball champions Homestead 1939, 1973 General Braddock 1973, teams at Homestead, Rankin and General Braddock; won over 400 games during his tenure. 

Inductions:  PA Sports Hall of Fame, 1976.

John Coleman 

Turtle Creek HS:  FOOTBALL- 1922-25 

Duquesne University and St. Bonaventure College:  football 

Semi-Pro Football: East Pittsburgh Firemen. 

Coaching Career:  football/basketball East Pittsburgh High School; teams won over 100 games in football and several WPIAL section basketball titles; Westinghouse Corp. National Championship girls basketball teams. 

Inductions:  Western Pennsylvania Coaches Hall of Fame. 

Les Getz

Les Getz was a native of Swissvale 

Semi-Pro Baseball: Rated one of best Western PA  semi-pro baseball players in days when the area semi-pro greats were making more money than the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

Other:   Sponsor and supervisor of youth athletic programs in Swissvale and Allegheny County. 

Richard “Dick” Groat 

 

Swissvale HS

BASKETBALL

BASEBALL-  Sun-Tele Hearst Junior All-Star game  

Duke University:   basketball All-American, baseball 

Major League Baseball Pittsburgh Pirates 1952 (military service two years, rejoined Pirates 1954), 9 seasons with Pirates, also played with St. Louis, Philadelphia and San Francisco; lifetime batting average .286 compiled during 1,929 games. 

Inductions:  Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, 1969. 

Brue Jackson 

Brue Jackson was a native of Rankin. 

Braddock High School: outstanding athlete 

Duquesne University: full time trainer for the Dukes athletic teams 

Pittsburgh Steelers: first trainer 

Frank Klaus 

Frank Klaus was born in East Pittsburgh, PA. 

Boxing:  former middleweight champion of the world; 84 professional fights in 14 year career, lost two; won 25 by knock-out, 19 by decision, two draws, won four on fouls;  boxed in 32 contests where no decisions were announced, but newspaper ringsiders awarded him decision in every one 

Nick Kliskey 

Nick Kliskey was a native of North Braddock. 

North Braddock HS:

FOOTBALL-  All-Scholastic fullback two years

BASEBALL-   pitching star 1929-30 WPIAL baseball championship teams 

University of Pittsburgh:  football, played three years at center; All-American second team 1939 

Semi-pro- baseball:   pitcher 

Coaching Career:  Pitt Assistant football coach 1939-43; high School football:  Oakmont and Munhall 27 years, overall record of 101-67-18, Munhall team four time Steel Valley Conference title winner 

William “Foxy” Miller 

University of Pittsburgh:   Football standout 

Coaching Career:  High School Turtle Creek Union, played New Castle to 14-14 tie for WPIAL title 1923, California and Johnstown High Schools 

John N. Reed 

Resident of Braddock 

Braddock HS:  

BASKETBALL

BASEBALL

FOOTBALL  

Penn State University:  Basketball All-American, member of baseball team 

Coaching Career:  High school:  Braddock football, basketball/baseball/football North Braddock High School, achieved a 26-13 win over Miami High in a Christmas day game; football/baseball Canton Ohio H.S., football Monessen H.S. 194-41, finished career at Scott High;  Overall career total of 204 football wins, three WPIAL grid titles, three WPIAL baseball crowns, one each WPIAL and PIAA basketball championships;  Canton H.S baseball three Ohio scholastic titles 

Inductions:  Western Pennsylvania Football Coaches Hall of Fame. 

Fran Rogel 

North Braddock Scott HS:

FOOTBALL: Rated by Reed alongside Nick Kliskey as the best all-time fullbacks, named to successive All-WPIAL teams 

Penn State University: football, Look All-American 1948 

National Football League Pittsburgh Steelers: fullback 1950- 57, All-Pro 1956, most rushing yards for Steelers in five of eight years of pro career 

Coaching Career:  HS football- North Braddock Scott and Highlands 

Inductions:  Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, 1967 

Simeon “Simmy” Velar 

Resided in Turtle Creek 

Turtle Creek Union HS:

FOOTBALL:  All-Scholastic fullback 1922-23

BASKETBALL

Earned six varsity letters in football and basketball 

Duquesne University: football.