AUBURN - Auburn High School's fifth annual Athletic Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony at the Holiday Inn was rife with nostalgia from the smiles of old friends to the yellowing news clippings hung around the banquet room.
From its inception, it was this feeling of pride in the rich tradition of Auburn athletics that the hall of fame hoped to shine a light on in three distinct categories honoring coaches and players as well as honorary members.
“We look for people who have been dedicated to Auburn High athletics and who have supported the great tradition of athletics in Auburn,” Chairman Dick Williams said.
This year 10 inductees followed in the footsteps of some of the legendary figures that preceded them, such as Bob Dean, Leo Pinckney and Jerome “Brud” Holland.
Edwin Blatz was a physical education teacher for 29 years who dedicated his life to sports, not only as a teacher but also as coach of both high school track and swim teams.
Sadly Blatz passed away in 2000, but a long-time family friend and fellow teacher Preston Wilson was on hand to accept for the Blatz family.
“He was a raconteur,” Wilson said. “Growing up, his son Doug and I were as close as brothers. He had a very good sense of humor and had a very stable family, the type of man you wanted to be around. It is hard to know what makes some one so good, but he was humble. But he could motivate when motivation was needed and praise when praise was needed.”
Bob Connor was 1973 Section III singles champion for No. 2 singles and in 1975-76 went on to be the Section III No. 1 singles champion as well as earning the title of Central New York Cities League Tournament singles champion in 1974 through '76 before going to Alma College in 1977 wracking up more than 80 collegiate singles and doubles wins.
“This was a great surprise,” Connor said, echoing the sentiments of all his fellow inductees. “There are a lot of memories here. The teams I was on my junior and senior years were really good and this is a chance to reflect and remember those friendships and remember what a great town Auburn is and how great the tennis community is.”
Athletes and teams would not be what they are without support and dedication from their fans, the ones who are there to mourn defeat and cheer on victory.
One of the biggest fans in the history on Auburn football Edward “Fast Eddie” DeFelice who attended 254 consecutive football games over a span of more than 30 years both home and away was welcomed into the Hall of Fame with open arms.
“I love football,” DeFelice said. “I played some serious ball when I was stationed in France in 1935. I've been going to games since the late 1940s. I remember some bad weather when we had to shovel the field when we played Ithaca, but I was glad to be at every one of the games.”
At 87, DeFelice can't make as many games as he would like anymore but said he still keeps up on the team and presented the Hall of Fame with the game ball he was presented in 1983 signed by the entire team.
There is no arguing the popularity of football and its importance to Auburn, something the next three inductees have all played a role in.
Robert “Bo” Gallager distinguished himself on the gridiron as a member of the 1975 undefeated high school team and was selected as All-Central New York offensive tackle before going on to Wyoming Seminary Prep School where his team went undefeated. From there Gallager went on to Temple University before injuries cut his career short. These days Gallager said he enjoys watching his sons play.
“I'm very proud of the guys I played with,” Gallager said. “This is a really nice gesture and I'm proud to be a part of this. Both of my sons play and I try to tell them that anything worth doing is worth sacrifice. If it was easy everyone would be doing it. It is worth the challenge.”
William “Rollo” Lowery averaged 10 yards a carry when Auburn was undefeated in 1953 and 1954 as well as being a star on the baseball diamond leading the team in batting.
“Playing for coach Bob Dean and keeping the undefeated streak going two years that was so great,” Lowery said. “Football was the main thing, but I liked baseball equally. In 1956 I tried out for the Red Sox in Florida. It is a tough thing, but they gave me a last look. I missed by just an inch. But this is the best award I've ever had anywhere.”
Leon Matthews' life has been dedicated to football.
Matthews played for three undefeated seasons in Auburn as well as undefeated seasons at St. Francis Prep School and John Carroll University before returning to Auburn to help found the Pop Warner program in 1960.
“I never believed this would happen,” Matthews said.
“I'm unbelievably humbled. I was very fortunate to play with 10 other guys who all wanted to win. When I was at John Carroll there was a pee-wee program so when I came back here I wanted to get something like that started so the kids here could learn about football.”
Albert “Hunky” Nicholas was a three sport standout in football, basketball and baseball, being named to the CNY All-Star team in 1950.
“Athletics were a big part of his life,” Nicholas' son Peter said. “He wasn't domineering about it, but he understood what could be gained from playing a sport. He wasn't the kind to seek awards but he would've been very happy to get here and see all these people, he would've loved it.”
Mike “Duke” Pagano made his presence known on the basketball courts for West High leading the team in 1953 in total scoring and average points, as well as earning eight varsity letters and dedicating 35 years of his life as a referee.
Another multiple letter star was Jack Walsh earning them in football, basketball and baseball in the 1930s before going on to play for Notre Dame and serve in the Air Force in World War II as well as donating much of his time and expertise to the community and youth sports.
Rounding out the class of 2005 was Robert “Woj” Wojner, who was told he was too big to play Pop Warner football, but was not detoured from pursuing his passion becoming one of Auburn' all-time finest linemen as well as twice being selected Little All-American while playing for Ithaca College.
Wojner summed up the sentiment of the whole night.
“Everything comes full circle,” Wojner said. “This is very touching and heart felt to be able to come back here and see all these old friends and remember the good friendships. I had a wonderful time growing here and I'm very fortunate to have been able to play for Auburn.”
“We look for people who have been dedicated to Auburn High athletics and who have supported the great tradition of athletics in Auburn,” Chairman Dick Williams said.
This year 10 inductees followed in the footsteps of some of the legendary figures that preceded them, such as Bob Dean, Leo Pinckney and Jerome “Brud” Holland.
Edwin Blatz was a physical education teacher for 29 years who dedicated his life to sports, not only as a teacher but also as coach of both high school track and swim teams.
Sadly Blatz passed away in 2000, but a long-time family friend and fellow teacher Preston Wilson was on hand to accept for the Blatz family.
“He was a raconteur,” Wilson said. “Growing up, his son Doug and I were as close as brothers. He had a very good sense of humor and had a very stable family, the type of man you wanted to be around. It is hard to know what makes some one so good, but he was humble. But he could motivate when motivation was needed and praise when praise was needed.”
Bob Connor was 1973 Section III singles champion for No. 2 singles and in 1975-76 went on to be the Section III No. 1 singles champion as well as earning the title of Central New York Cities League Tournament singles champion in 1974 through '76 before going to Alma College in 1977 wracking up more than 80 collegiate singles and doubles wins.
“This was a great surprise,” Connor said, echoing the sentiments of all his fellow inductees. “There are a lot of memories here. The teams I was on my junior and senior years were really good and this is a chance to reflect and remember those friendships and remember what a great town Auburn is and how great the tennis community is.”
Athletes and teams would not be what they are without support and dedication from their fans, the ones who are there to mourn defeat and cheer on victory.
One of the biggest fans in the history on Auburn football Edward “Fast Eddie” DeFelice who attended 254 consecutive football games over a span of more than 30 years both home and away was welcomed into the Hall of Fame with open arms.
“I love football,” DeFelice said. “I played some serious ball when I was stationed in France in 1935. I've been going to games since the late 1940s. I remember some bad weather when we had to shovel the field when we played Ithaca, but I was glad to be at every one of the games.”
At 87, DeFelice can't make as many games as he would like anymore but said he still keeps up on the team and presented the Hall of Fame with the game ball he was presented in 1983 signed by the entire team.
There is no arguing the popularity of football and its importance to Auburn, something the next three inductees have all played a role in.
Robert “Bo” Gallager distinguished himself on the gridiron as a member of the 1975 undefeated high school team and was selected as All-Central New York offensive tackle before going on to Wyoming Seminary Prep School where his team went undefeated. From there Gallager went on to Temple University before injuries cut his career short. These days Gallager said he enjoys watching his sons play.
“I'm very proud of the guys I played with,” Gallager said. “This is a really nice gesture and I'm proud to be a part of this. Both of my sons play and I try to tell them that anything worth doing is worth sacrifice. If it was easy everyone would be doing it. It is worth the challenge.”
William “Rollo” Lowery averaged 10 yards a carry when Auburn was undefeated in 1953 and 1954 as well as being a star on the baseball diamond leading the team in batting.
“Playing for coach Bob Dean and keeping the undefeated streak going two years that was so great,” Lowery said. “Football was the main thing, but I liked baseball equally. In 1956 I tried out for the Red Sox in Florida. It is a tough thing, but they gave me a last look. I missed by just an inch. But this is the best award I've ever had anywhere.”
Leon Matthews' life has been dedicated to football.
Matthews played for three undefeated seasons in Auburn as well as undefeated seasons at St. Francis Prep School and John Carroll University before returning to Auburn to help found the Pop Warner program in 1960.
“I never believed this would happen,” Matthews said.
“I'm unbelievably humbled. I was very fortunate to play with 10 other guys who all wanted to win. When I was at John Carroll there was a pee-wee program so when I came back here I wanted to get something like that started so the kids here could learn about football.”
Albert “Hunky” Nicholas was a three sport standout in football, basketball and baseball, being named to the CNY All-Star team in 1950.
“Athletics were a big part of his life,” Nicholas' son Peter said. “He wasn't domineering about it, but he understood what could be gained from playing a sport. He wasn't the kind to seek awards but he would've been very happy to get here and see all these people, he would've loved it.”
Mike “Duke” Pagano made his presence known on the basketball courts for West High leading the team in 1953 in total scoring and average points, as well as earning eight varsity letters and dedicating 35 years of his life as a referee.
Another multiple letter star was Jack Walsh earning them in football, basketball and baseball in the 1930s before going on to play for Notre Dame and serve in the Air Force in World War II as well as donating much of his time and expertise to the community and youth sports.
Rounding out the class of 2005 was Robert “Woj” Wojner, who was told he was too big to play Pop Warner football, but was not detoured from pursuing his passion becoming one of Auburn' all-time finest linemen as well as twice being selected Little All-American while playing for Ithaca College.
Wojner summed up the sentiment of the whole night.
“Everything comes full circle,” Wojner said. “This is very touching and heart felt to be able to come back here and see all these old friends and remember the good friendships. I had a wonderful time growing here and I'm very fortunate to have been able to play for Auburn.”
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