Montco Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame

Montco Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame

Inducts an excellent Class for 2016

By Jack Coll

9-21-16

I was looking over the inductees of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Montco Chapter for 2016 and couldn’t believe the amount of talent being inducted and honored on September 30.

An old classmate of mine Bobby Baker who quarterbacked the Upper Merion Vikings under legendary coach Fran Murphy back in the early 1970’s shattered high school records across the state of Pennsylvania and beyond with receiver Bobby Thomas on the receiving end of a good portion of his passes. This is an honor long-overdue for Bobby who led the Vikings to two Suburban One Titles in a very tough league that included Abington, whom Baker and his team-mates were part of one of the greatest comeback victories in high school history, a 27-24 victory chronicled in the book “Incredible Football Feats.”

Baker went on to play at Florida State and Temple University, and coached at Temple and Upper Merion High School as well.

Another high school standout I had the pleasure of watching and is being inducted on September 30 is Joe Bello.  Joe was a gifted athlete on the gridiron with Archbishop Kennedy High School back in the early 1980’s.  Joe was an All-League Football Selection three years on BOTH offense and defense, a rare accomplishment in any sport.  He went on to gather many awards and led the Bicentennial league in a number of categories including the rushing title in his senior year as well as led the league in touchdowns, not to mention he was second in receiving, was a standout on defense and captained the Montgomery County All-Star game.  After helping his Saints team win back-to-back championships he went on to play at Delaware Valley University and was a team Most Valuable Player in his junior year.

Another long over-due inductee happens to be an old friend of mine, (And perhaps friend to a thousand other guys he affectionately calls “ROCK,” Hank Cisco.  Hank I’m sure is being inducted for the many great moments in his professional boxing and referee days, but he certainly should be inducted for having been a great guy to a great many residents, businesses, and for the programs he developed for the youth of Norristown.

From time-to-time you can catch Hank off-guard talking about his visits to the Mike Douglass Show on National TV, and he’ll talk about being in the ring with all the champions of the day and how he mixed it up with the likes of Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali, and Matthew Saad Muhamed among others.

Hank often likes to talk about his friendship with the former Philadelphia Mayor and Police Chief Frank Rizzo, to which Hank was called upon to serve as a pall-bearer for Rizzo when he passed away.

I would like to believe that Hank is being inducted for his role in starting the Norristown Police Athletic League (PAL) Boxing program.  Hank’s boxing program kept hundreds of Norristown’s children off the street and in gymnasium’s over the years.  Acting as coach, teacher, mentor and father to dozens of these children helping them to grow and become a positive influence in the community.  As a Norristown Police officer for more than two decades, Hank taught the children respect, respect for not only police officers but respect for adults, parents, teachers, and play-mates.

That’s what Hank will always be remembered for, and I want to believe that he’s being inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Montco Chapter for his contributions to the Norristown community.

Another old friend Scott Palmer, the former Channel 6 Action News Sportscaster is being honored with induction as well.  Scott could spin a sports story, he made no bones about it he was a hard-core Philadelphia sports fan.  If you watched Scott sitting at the sports anchor desk during the sports segment of the news, if he had to report on a Philadelphia loss, he couldn’t say it but his facial expression always started the segment with the look of “Damn, they lost,” when the Philadelphia sports team won it as if Scott played in the game and was very excited to report the game.

Scott found his real calling when he left Channel 6, after more than two decades of reporting the sports news and joined the Philadelphia Phillies organization. Scott’s enthusiasm rose to a whole new level.  He’s not only the Phillies Director of Public Affairs he can also be seen on the Phillies Pre-Game Show, “Behind the Pinstripes”

Scott stands tall as he jumps at the opportunity to support and be part of Phillies charitable and youth sports causes.  When talking to Scott he brings a lot of behind the scenes developments and a high grade of excitement when ever discussing the Phillies.

I personally believe the thing that pushed Scott over the top for induction into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Montco Chapter has been his excellent, first class, high standards announcing abilities at the Annual WMMR Granny Grand Prix Racing Event held once a year, now that is some classy event, with a first class announcer, sponsored by Philadelphia’s Number One Radio station WMMR 93.3.

Rounding out the induction class Lewis Scott was another gifted athlete out of Upper Merion High School where he played football in the mid 1960’s but excelled at track.  Lewis was the Pennsylvania State Champion in the 440 and 880 placing third in the 100 helping Upper Merion to a Second Place finish in the State Track and Field Championship.

Lewis went on to play starting defensive back for the Oregon Ducks in the 1965 Rose Bowl.  He later played defensive back and special teams for the Denver Broncos.

Gene Coder was a Norristown High school legend as a Basketball, Football and Tennis record setter and champion.  He led Norristown to its only State Championship in 1948.  Gene led the Norristown team over Ford City before 8,500 fans at the Palestra.  Gene is already a member of the Norristown Hall of Champions for winning the PIAA State Tennis Doubles Championship, the Ray Musselman Memorial Football Award, and (Most Valuable Player) and the Harold Tyler Memorial Basketball Award, (MVP).

Demer Holleran, possibly the most dominant and decorated Squash player in United States history.  Demer is a member of the United states Squash Hall of Fame, she led the Princeton Tigers to the 1989 NCAA Squash title, she was also a four time College A;;-American and won the NCAA Women’s individual squash titles in 1986, 1987 and 1989.  Along with her squash she also found time to be named All-Ivy League in Field Hockey and Lacrosse.

Demer as a professional won six hardball and six softball US Singles titles, ten national doubles titles, three world doubles titles and one world mixed-double title.  She was also a US National Squash Champion for 16 straight years in either singles or doubles.

As a coach at the University of Pennsylvania for nine years she led the Quakers to an undefeated season and NCAA Squash championship in 2000.  Demer also coached the United States National team for four years.  Demer went on to open and run the Fairmount Athletic Club in Upper Merion, continuing to support the regional sports community.

If you’re a sports fan the name Tom Lonergan is a familiar one, he’s been on the sports scene going back nearly five decades.  Tom was a three sport standout at Cheltenham High School before taking his talents to La Salle University.  Following school he coached the girls’ basketball team at Bishop McDevitt High School from 1984 to 1999, before moving on to Central Bucks East from 1999 to 2013 he currently coaches at Gwynedd Mercy Academy.

Looking back at his career even Tom is amazed at the amount of awards and championships he has collected along the way.  He was Philadelphia Catholic League Coach of the Year six times while winning an unbelievable four Catholic Championships, eleven Suburban One Championships with a 90% winning percentage in Suburban One Conference play. Tom was named the Philadelphia Inquirer Coach of the year several times over and Coach of the decade for Bucks/Montco in 2000.  Other titles he picked up along the way included Suburban One Coach of the Year, the Philadelphia Daily News Coach of the Year Montgomery County Coach of the year, six times, and Southeastern Pennsylvania Coach of the Year.

Tom’s induction is well earned, well deserved, and long overdue, it’ll be good to see him at the induction ceremony.

Another Cheltenham Alum being inducted is Chad Levitt.  While at Cheltenham High School Chad’s name was all over the newspapers for his accomplishments in football, wrestling and track.  Chad was a First Team All-League, All-Academic, and All-Montgomery County in football, First Team All-League in Shot Put and the 4×100 relay.  He was a PIAA State Qualifier in wrestling, and was the All-Time leading rusher in Cheltenham and picked up a handful of awards before heading to Cornell University.

While at Cornell Chad went on to star and set records in football for four years and was a three time All Ivy League selection First Team, Ivy League Player of the Year, EVAC Division One-AA Player of the year, Associated Press All-American and left Cornell with the record for most 100 yard games.

Following college Chad was a fourth round pick by the Oakland Raiders, and also played with the Chicago Bears and was a contributing member on the St. Louis Rams Super Bowl XXXIV Championship Team.

Sal Bello is truly one of the great “Unsung Hero’s” in our time not just in the sports world but a great humanitarian.  Sal has always been proud of his native Bridgeport roots and the community of Bridgeport has always been proud of Sal.  His involvement in sports goes back to Bridgeport High School where he was a three sport co-captain in football, basketball and baseball.  Sal picked up a number of high school awards including First Team intercounty basketball and football and honorable mention All-State in football.

It wasn’t just his high school years that brought Sal his induction into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Montco Chapter, it’s what he has contributed to Montgomery County since.

Sal was the co-founder of the Bridgeport Softball League and served as its first President, he later served as Norristown’s softball president.  As a coach and president Sal led the SSS (Triple S) softball and flag football teams to State and National prominence.  He grew the Flag Football team to the largest in the state winning 14 league championships.  His softball teams won over 80% of all games recording more than 50 tournament championships.

Sal, behind the name of his restaurant Peppers Italian Restaurant has sponsored dozens of teams and worthwhile causes for decades. He has donated scoreboards, fence, lighting, a tractor, printers and equipment for an assortment of sports and causes.

You can find Sal’s name in the Bridgeport Hall of Fame, the Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame and now in the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the 2016 class.

If you plan on going to the September 30, Induction Celebration Banquet being held at the Valley Forge Casino Resort, 1160 First Avenue in King of Prussia, there are still tickets available by contacting Chapter President David Ritting at 610-256-0300, or by contacting the Hall of Fame website; http://www.montcosportshof.rg/2016inductionceremony.html

It promises to be an eventful and memorable evening with a lot of familiar faces, I’ll see you there.