Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall Of Fame 2011 Inductees
Charles P. Ahlborn, DMD
Charles Ahlborn not only was an elite performer on the hard court and gridiron but also excelled academically at Rostraver High School. From 1957 through 1960, Ahlborn was a superb scholar-athlete for the green and white. As co-captain of the high school football team and president of his senior class, Ahlborn demonstrated leadership and citizenship. Ahlborn was born on April 18, 1942, the son of Frederick H. and Johnette Whitfield Ahlborn.
In 1956 and 1957, Rostraver went winless on the football field. “Chuck” Ahlborn helped bring the futility to an end as a dominating two-way player. Under new head coach Ed Hogan, the 1958 campaign began with a 12 to 0 victory over Ellsworth in which Ahlborn “was outstanding on both offense and defense.” In a 6 to 2 hard fought defeat to rival Bellmar, Ahlborn “put on one of the most brilliant one-man shows ever seen in Bellmar Stadium.” His 107 yards rushing on twenty-eight carries led the Leopards’ offensive charge. In the season’s sixth week, Rostraver vanquished Ligonier 33 to 12 despite the fullback suffering an injury. To finish with a fourth victory, a thirty-one yard touchdown reception and thirty-three-yard interception return by Ahlborn sparked a 32 to 6 rout over Penn Joint. This outstanding season earned the recognition of honorable mention for the All County and All WPIAL Class A teams.
The honors continued into the 1959 season with Ahlborn being named the captain of the Rostraver squad. In the Leopards’ opening four-game winning streak, Ahlborn set the pace with ninety-two yards rushing and a touchdown in a 38 to 21 win over West Newton and returned an interception forty yards for a score to stifle Freedom, 14-0.
This tremendous start to the year set up a showdown with undefeated Bellmar. In front of an over flow crowd of 6,000 at Rostraver Stadium, Ahlborn dueled with Bellmar star back Milt Dupree. The fullback’s 104 yard effort was bested by eight more by Dupree. The Hurricanes strong line play was the key edging the Leopards, 19-0.
Ahlborn ignited the bounce back from the Bellmar setback with 190 yards and two touchdowns to again overwhelm Ligonier for the year’s fifth win. Leading the way for the Leopards in their last two victories, Ahlborn accumulated five touchdowns and over two-hundred yards rushing versus Brentwood and Penn Joint. An “indelible mark in the Rostraver football record book” guided the Leopards to seven wins compared to two losses. With a school record eighty-four points scored and over one thousand yards rushing in his senior season, Ahlborn earned the following honors: Sun-Tele “A” Team, All WPIAL, All County, and United Press International All State Honorable Mention. Ahlborn would be recognized forty years later in September, 2000, by induction into the first class of the Belle Vernon Area Football Hall of Fame.
With a three-year increase from zero to four to seven wins, the Rostraver gridders joined in on the success experienced by Leopard cagers, and Charles Ahlborn was a focal point on both teams. As a sophomore, Ahlborn was named to the “All Section 10A” Second Team. 157 points put the forward on the all section first team in his junior season. Defeating Kittanning in the 1960 playoffs, Ahlborn, a senior, contributed eleven points. The Leopards won section championships in the three straight seasons that Ahlborn was on the squad.
With a strong class rank of fifth, Ahlborn received one last award at Rostraver- the first Judge David H. Weiss Trophy. This prize was given to the most outstanding scholar-athlete in Westmoreland County. Academics were the focus of Ahlborn making a college decision. He considered Army, Navy and the Air Force trimming the list to Pitt or Ohio State. With its reputation and improvements, Ahlborn “figured that (he) couldn’t go wrong at Pitt.” His choice of the University of Pittsburgh guided him to further football success and ultimately professional accomplishment.
The Pitt coaching staff with a surplus of fullbacks switched Ahlborn to center, and the convert enabled the Rostraver grad to letter as a freshman and for three years on the varsity team. Anchoring the Panther freshman team’s offensive line, head varsity coach John Michelosen said Ahlborn “shows every indication of developing up to his potential.”
Ahlborn, 6’2”, 210 lbs, emerged as a varsity starter late in his sophomore year but, plagued by injuries early as a junior, Ahlborn in his senior season in Oakland was spectacular. The Panthers outscored opponents 236 to 130 on their way to a nine win and one loss record. Ahlborn and his teammates in the trenches paved the way for 3,772 yards total offense. Pitt’s lone setback was to the Roger Staubach led Navy who would end the year nationally ranked at number two. President John F. Kennedy’s assassination abruptly ended the Panthers’ season. The national tragedy caused “the postponement of the Penn State game and the cancellation of any bowl plans” for the University of Pittsburgh. The Blue and Gold would place fourth in 1963’s final poll. Charles Ahlborn remarked on his time at Pitt in 1983, “Just winning was the big thing. Playing on the number three team in the country is something not too many people get.”
“In those days, the best kids from the smaller schools were fullbacks or linebackers,” said Ahlborn. “Thirteen of the 33 players in my class went out for fullback, so going to the line wasn’t a problem. As a sophomore at Rostraver I played guard, tackle and end.” One of the players Ahlborn beat out to earn a starting job at Pitt was Marty Schottenheimer, who went o to coach four teams in the NFL. Ahlborn was a two-year starter where the quarterback his senior campaign was Redstone’s, Fred Mazurek, a Mon Valley Sports Hall of Fame inductee in 2002.
In the summer of 1964, Ahlborn joined fellow Panther teammates Paul Martha and Rick Leeson in the AFCA Coaches’ All American Game in Buffalo.
No post season appearance was about all this outstanding team did not achieve. A favorite of successful coach Foge Fazio, the 1963 team would go onto greater accomplishments as professionals. With success at Pitt Stadium and in the Cathedral of Learning, this 1963 group of Panthers would succeed in the following careers: doctors, dentists, lawyers, engineers, educators, law enforcement, religion, and business.
Charles Ahlborn would attain his initial goal for attending the University of Pittsburgh, over the Ohio State University, graduate Pitt Dental School. Following his 1967 graduation, he enlisted for two years in the United State Army. After his military duties, Ahlborn established a private dental practice in West Newton before partnering with fellow Pittsburgh Panther football player Andy Sepsi in Brownsville.
Dr. Ahlborn has been married to his wife Betsy (Lynch) for forty-six years and is a father of two (Jeffery and Jennifer) and grandfather to six.
Dr. Charles Ahlborn is role model to the twenty-first century student-athlete. He was a battering ram on the gridiron, a crafty competitor on the basketball court, and a key cog in a big time college football program. With all of these athletic feats, Dr. Ahlborn succeeded as an exemplary scholar.
John “Hoss” Hostetler
John is a 1963 graduate of Charleroi High School. He participated in football, basketball, and baseball. To call John a scrapper would be an understatement. He was one of the fiercest competitors ever to play for the Charleroi Cougars. He would fight you tooth and nail until the final whistle and sometimes after the final whistle. John had a definite passion for sports and a definite passion to win. In today’s terminology he had focus and he had intensity.
In football John played for legendary coach Rab Currie and was a two-year starter. He was a hardnosed pass catching end with good hands and good moves and a hard hitting defensive back on the other side of the ball. As a junior he caught 20 passes for 265 yards and five touchdowns. He made honorable mention all Big Six Conference. As a senior, John caught 30 passes for 487 yards and four touchdowns. He was also considered one of the best blockers on the team. In one particular game against rival Clairton, John took out three Bears with one swoop to enable teammate Stan Kemp to return a punt 64 yards for the game winning score. He made first team all Big Six Conference, honorable all-state, and played in the prestigious Big 33 all-star game in Hershey, Pennsylvania. In 1986 John was inducted into the Charleroi High School Football Hall of Fame’s first class.
As a basketball player John played for Coach Henry Pennline and was the sixth man as a junior. As a senior John was a starting forward and was a co-captain on the team that went 18-4. He was a rugged rebounder and a tenacious defender. For his efforts John earned honorable mention all section.
In baseball John was a two year starter as a catcher for Coach George Chacko. He possessed a strong throwing arm for eliminating enemy base runners. He also played left field and catcher in American Legion baseball for the Charleroi Magicians.
After graduation John received a football scholarship to Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina where he played for legendary coach Frank Howard. He was a three year winner at end for the Tigers. During his stay at Clemson the Tigers either won or shared the A.C.C. title three out of four years. He graduated in 1968 with a degree in education. After serving in the United States Army and a tour in Vietnam, John returned to South Carolina. He began teaching in the Walhalla school district as a physical and earth science teacher. He became an assistant football coach and girls basketball and track coach. In 1973, John became the head football coach at Walhalla. His players knew him as serious and even driven coach who kept them in top physical condition. Part of the team’s practices involved running the famous and arduous “Hostetler Hill” at 6 on a Saturday morning. John remained the head coach of the Razorbacks until 1976.
John later became principal of Walhalla High School, a position he held for 21 years. It was under his guidance and passion for excellence that he led an extremely successful effort to restructure and raise academic standards. By eliminating the general and remedial courses and requiring all students to complete a challenging program of study, John was named the 1996 South Carolina prep tech principal of the year for his outstanding effort. Under his leadership Walhalla became one of the top high schools in South Carolina. It was named one of the top ten “New American High Schools” in the nation in 1996 by the Department of Education.
Many of his students whom he taught have become very successful in their chosen fields. He is respected and admired for his dedication to the education profession. He has mentored many younger professional in the teaching profession than can ever be imagined. For his dedication and passion for education the auditorium at Walhalla High School bears his name, The John H. Hostetler. John retired after thirty years of service. He is married to the former Linda Haile and they have two sons, John and Greg.
Charles “Yogi” Jones
When people refer to professional football, goals, aspirations, how they want to be remembered, and where they lie in the great scheme of things, most of the time you can be certain they are referring to playing in the NFL. What many fail to realize is that there are so many other leagues featuring bright stars that compete at a high level.
Arena football puts a new and exciting twist on the game, having it be played indoors with a shorter field to offensive enthusiasts delight. There was the short lived XFL which prided itself on being a more extreme, less regulation league. For obvious reason, this league never really caught on and the franchise folded after one season.
On a national standpoint, other countries have started to take notice of what is quickly becoming “America’s favorite sport,” and as a result have created their own leagues. Some of the most noted of these leagues are the Canadian Football League and the recently folded European Football League. These leagues possess some of the finest athletes in the world, and just like the NFL, they require keen eyes to spot talent to fill their rosters, and one man has seen these entire leagues close enough to provide that eye.
Introducing Charles “Yogi” Jones, a standout during his days at Ringgold High School, Jones received the Adidas All-American award from Scholastic Coach Magazine. This award recognizes the top 100 academic high school football players in the nation. Jones also became captain on the University of Pittsburgh 1982 team along with future Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in public administration. Following his playing days for the Panthers, Jones would go on to coach at the collegiate level for Pitt. He would also spend time with Rutgers, Tulane, and James Madison before his talents would be taken over seas.
From 1999 to 2002, Jones worked as defensive assistant coach in NFL Europe in Frankfurt Germany, helping to lead the Frankfurt Galaxy to a championship in ’99. Jones also had the unique opportunity to work as Fellowship intern for the Miami Dolphins and the Cleveland Browns. His success with the Browns led to a full time position in 2002. On his opportunity at the time, “I did internship for the Browns last year. They asked me if I was interested so I thought I’d give it a shot. I’ll be doing advance scouting and evaluating players.” His previous experience with the team has aided his transition to the NFL. “When I was here last year, I had a sense they were doing a lot of good things. They’re going in the right direction.”
Despite his long hours and constant connection with the team, Jones rarely was able to watch the team play. He travels often which also takes time away from his family. This is the most difficult part for “Yogi.” “The toughest part is that my family is back in Virginia. I’ll see how this goes. It may be only a one-year thing.”
Jones soon made his way back to Europe in 2004 as a linebackers coach for the Hamburg Sea Devils. He would also keep his ties with the NFL serving as an intern for the Cincinnati Bengals during their training camp. “I like working with the pro players to keep up with the game and learn the latest techniques. “
Jones’ extra work and effort translated during the 2007 season. Hamburg finished the season 7-3 and would face the Frankfurt Galaxy for the league championship. Frankfurt had played in eight championship games and won half as many. Despite a rough start, the Sea Devils would go on to win their first World Bowl, defeating the Frankfurt Galaxy 37-28. “Winning it all made for a good season. It was time well spent. I felt it was something special and rare to win it all as virtually a new team.” Unfortunately, NFL Europe would not enjoy equal success as it folded two weeks later.
Most recently, Jones finds himself back in the college scene as a linebackers coach and defensive coordinator for Bethune-Cookman University. Despite all of his travels, Jones has always put family first. His children Morgan and Mallory have translated their father’s athletic talents into their own lives; both being heavily noticed for their basketball abilities. Jones is the son of the late lady of the Mon Valley, Loretta Jones Manus, an original member of the selection committee of the Hall of Fame.
Don Law
Versatility and endurance are two words that describe the most successful athletes. It is only fitting that these two words be used to describe Don Law, a four- sport star during his days at Brownsville High School during the 1960s. “I played all the sports. That’s the way we grew up. Every season you came out to play. I loved basketball the best.”
Despite his love of basketball, on the football field is where Law left his 6-0, 230 pound mark. Despite not having a home field and playing against schools with higher enrollments, Law led Brownsville to a 7-3 record during his senior year. Law attributes much of his success that year to his coach, Jack Henck. In high school as a sophomore Law was a tackle and then played offensive end and linebacker.
“He was my track coach, and he also coached me in basketball and in football. He was my fitness guru. He was way ahead of his time with weights. He really was a physical trainer. If you worked out for Coach Henck, you felt you could play with anybody. When I coached track and field I still used his workouts.”
Law also played catcher for the Brownsville High School baseball team. “The Legion team back then was great. We had some serious baseball back then. The level of play when you were 14 or 15 years old was amazing, and you really had some people that were committed to teaching baseball.”
Law’s talents almost lent him a career on the diamond; however, Law chose to dig his cleats into the gridiron instead. After being named to the Prep All-American football squad, All-County, and All-State squads, it seemed fitting that this was where his future lied once he graduated in 1966. The eight letter winner in baseball, football, basketball, and track was heavily recruited by 120 schools. In the end Law would find himself in Spartan Green.
“I fell in love with Michigan State on a recruiting visit when I was escorted by Bubba Smith and George Webster...I considered four schools before settling on Michigan State. The four were Nebraska, Minnesota, Notre Dame, and Michigan State. Coach Daugherty brought all the big recruits to Green and White game at the same time, and a lot of us decided to go to Michigan State.”
After a season of freshman ball, Law began his Big Ten career with the Spartans. “I started every game and played defensive tackle at first then switched to linebacker.” Law finished his sophomore year with 71 tackles. As a junior, Law made the second team All Big Ten and made first team All Big Ten during his senior campaign. He was also named to the Notre Dame 20 year All Opponent Team. Despite the obvious amount of talent, the Spartans finished with records of 3-7, 5-5, and 4-6 from 1967 to 1969.
Law graduated from Michigan State in 1970 and tried his hand at professional football. He played with the Pittsburgh Steelers before being hurt in a preseason game against Miami and unfortunately was cut. Law played with a semi-pro team in Norfolk before he went to Denver the following season. After a crushing knee injury, Law decided to go back to school to obtain his Master’s degree in marketing.
After he graduated Law moved to Atlanta where he began to work for Mayor Maynard Jackson. After bouncing around the working industry for a few years Law settled down and married a girl he worked with. They moved to Erie, PA where Law and his brother Scott went to mortuary science school. He moved back to Atlanta in 1990 and worked for the school system before coming full circle back to Brownsville, PA in 1994. His parents had become ill and Law returned to take care of them as well as the family business. He would lose both parents over the next six years but continued to work in the family business.
Law currently lives in Arnold City, PA. He has two sons and a daughter. He continues to contribute much of his success to the Mon Valley area. “You can’t find better people than those in the Mon Valley and Fayette County...You have a hard working ethic here. In my era you had honest people. They gave you their word and stuck to it.“
Michael Moorer
Not to be confused with the man boxing with capitalism, Michael Moorer fought his way to the top of the boxing world. Born on November 12, 1967 in Brooklyn, New York, Michael Moorer grew up in Monessen, Pennsylvania. A Monessen High School graduate in 1987, he joined the football team as a senior playing defensive and tight end and linebacker. His grandfather, Henry Smith, always believed it would be in boxing where his grandson would truly triumph. Moorer became a boxing student at Charleroi’s Hilltop Athletic Club. Michael also won numerous awards as a Mon Valley Vocational Technical student. Following graduation Michael trained at Kronk under Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward in Detroit. Moorer would go on to become boxing’s first world heavyweight southpaw champion!
Moorer made his debut March of 1988 and was an instant knockout, as his opponent Adrian Riggs can attest. In his first fight, Moorer knocked out his challenger in the first round. This was the start of a busy and productive opening year. Moorer would go 11-0 during his first year and would go as far as to challenge for the newly created WBO lightweight title. As he did with all of his other opponents that year, Moorer won the fight via the knockout of Ramzi Hassan.
In 1989, Moore retained his WBO light heavyweight championship with a sixth round TKO over Mike Sedillo at Auburn Hills, Michigan in a fight televised on ESPN.
From there, “Double M” began a successful title reign, defending his title nine times, including once against former WBA champion Leslie Steward and a first round knockout win over Jeff Thompson at Resorts International in Atlantic City. His successful defense carried on into 1990 winning three more matches. In December 1990 Moorer retained his World Boxing Organization light heavyweight championship with an eighth round knockout of Canadian champ Danny Stonewalker at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena. In 1991, Moorer took his show to the Heavyweight division and enjoyed equal success. In 1992, Moorer earned the right to face Bert Cooper for the WBO heavyweight championship, slugging his way to a fifth round knockout.
In 1993, Moorer hired Teddy Atlas as his trainer. By early 1994, Moorer had earned a bout for the IBF and WBA titles against Evander Holyfield. Despite a second round knockdown, Moorer would go on to win the majority decision and become the new champion. His first defense of the title did not go as fortunately. In one night, November 5, 1994, Moorer would lose his title and perfect record to George Foreman.
After the IBF title was vacated in 1996, Moorer was given and seized the opportunity to become champion again. In a 12 round split decision, Moorer triumphed over Axel Schulz. He would hold the title for the next 17 months before losing to Evander Holyfield.
Moorer would retire at the end of 1997. After three years Moorer decided to return to the boxing ring. He enjoyed bits of success including a 64 second knockout against Brazil’s Rodolfo Lobo. The two-time heavyweight champion knocked out Philadelphia’s Terrence Lewis in the second round in Concho, Oklahoma in 2001. In mid 2004, Moorer handed Vassiliy Jirov his first knockout loss. In 2008 he knocked out Shelby Gross in 32 seconds at the Shaikh Rashid Hall in Dubai. After the fight, Moorer would once again retire and begin his own work as a trainer.
Moorer ended his career with a record of 54-4-1 including 40 knockouts. He began his career with 26 knockouts putting him into an elite group of boxers to win at least 20 fights in a row by knockout. Moorer continues to train up and coming boxers as well as making frequent commentating appearances on ESPN’s fights cards. This year Michael trained unbeaten heavyweight Mariusz “the Polish Giant” Wach in Memphis, Tennessee for a match with Jonathan Haggler in Newark, New Jersey for the vacant WBC Baltic heavyweight title. Wach defeated Haggler February 19, 2011 with a third round knockout.
Moorer has four children, sons Michael II and Makai and daughters, Morgan and one on the way arriving in July.
In Moorer’s role today as a boxing mentor he has the following philosophy: “I love what I do. I love being a teacher. I’m trying to teach mental toughness because you have to have that in boxing. I know I was difficult to train at times, but I don’t carry that around with me now. If fighters are receptive to what I’m teaching them, then they’ll amount to something, I believe, because I had great teachers.”
Willie “The Whip” Ross
If you mention top scholastic basketball players of the late 1950s and early 1960s, the name Willie Ross, who played center, is sure to enter the conversation. Ross, a wiry 6’2” sharpshooter, earned that distinction with an outstanding varsity career at Rostraver High School before graduating in 1961. Nicknamed “The Whip,” Ross was recognized as a matchless driver, a good passer and an accurate shooter. Willie was born on March 9, 1942 to the late Eugene Ross and Laurice Ross Banks, who survives and resides in the Mon Valley.
“No question about it, Willie was one of the best players ever in this area,” said Jim Weir, a longtime coach and athletic director at Rostraver. “He had natural ability and he worked hard to refine and improve those God-given talents.” As a sophomore and junior, Ross was the leading scorer and Most Valuable Player in the WPIAL’s section 10-A, where the Leopards won three consecutive section championships. Rostraver, coached by George Everett, moved to the much stronger section 5-A for the 1960-61 season, but that didn’t throttle Ross. He held his own against the likes of Uniontown, Charleroi, Monessen, Donora, California, Monongahela, and arch-rival Bellmar. “That was a darn good section,” said Weir. “Every team was tough and had good coaches .Some of the best players in the WPIAL were in section 5, guys like Daryle Ruby and Don Yates. Every game was worth the price of admission.”
Ross continued his streak of scoring titles by leading all section 5 point makers with 386 points and a 27.5 average in 14 league games. He compiled that mark with 145 field goals and 96 free throws to finish ahead of the closest challenger, Bellmar’s Daryle Ruby (329, 23.5). Those who were fortunate enough to see players like Ross will remind you that many of his baskets were made from what is now known as the three-point range. Had that system been in effect during the Ross era, they are quick to note, the point totals would have been much higher.
Although their teams were not in contention for the league championship, Ross and Ruby squared off in one of the most anticipated games of the 1960-61 season at the Bellmar High School gymnasium, where a standing room only crowd watched Ross win the scoring duel 25-23 while Bellmar won the game 69-65. They also saw John Daniels of Bellmar steal the show for Ross and Ruby as he led all scorers with 26 points. Sports editor John Bunardzya of The Valley Independent noted in his post-game story that, despite a close guarding job by Tom Johnston and Daniels, the uncanny Ross still managed to collar 25 points to nose out Ruby, who had 23.
Among the spectators at the game was John “Red” Manning, Duquesne University’s youthful coach. There was no question he liked Ross. Manning would be thrilled when Ross decided to continue his basketball career and education at Duquesne.
In 22 games as a senior, Ross sizzled for 606 points, giving him a three-year career total of 1,480 points in 72 games for a 20.6 average. The 386 points scored by Ross in 14 league games were the most since Charleroi’s Jim Chacko racked up a record 413 points in section play two years earlier. Ross was a unanimous choice for All Section 5-A first team.
As a college player, Ross, who earned All-State honors in his final scholastic season, was a three-year starter at Duquesne, where one of his teammates was Willie Somerset, of Farrell. The Dukes went 43-26 during Ross’ career. Ross competed in the National Invitation Tournament in New York City as a junior. Duquesne drew a first-round bye and lost to Army 67-65 in overtime in the quarterfinals.
Ross finished his career at Duquesne with 1,014 points and snared 624 rebounds in 66 career games. He averaged 14.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per game during those three seasons and averaged a double-double as a junior (15.5 ppg and 10.8 rpg) and as a senior (12.4 points and 10.6 rebounds). He finished career as the Dukes’ ninth leading all-time scorer but slipped out of the Top 20 list as other Duquesne standouts moved ahead of him. His 9.5 career rebounds per game average ranks eighth on Duquesne’s all-time list and his 27 rebounds against Kent State on February 2, 1965, stand as tied for third-highest single-game total in school history. Ross also had a rare 20-20 game with 20 points and 22 rebounds against St. Bonaventure on February 24, 1965.
Ross graduated from Duquesne University with a degree in education and moved to the West Coast. He was employed as special manager of operating room services at Stanford University Medical Center. He passed away at the age of 47 on December 5, 1989. Tonight we are honored to have Willie’s daughter, Jennifer Ross Halton, represent her father, Willie’s mother Laurice Ross Banks and the Ross family in the audience.
Willie’s career continues to be heralded by the players with whom he played and those he played against. There can be no greater tribute than those words given by your peers. High School player Daryle Ruby recalled, “Ross was one of the fiercest competitors. We had some great battles all through junior high and senior high school. He was a great player and unfortunately died as a young man. He had a nice career at Duquesne.” University teammate Willie Somerset also appreciated Willie’s talents, “He was always focused and very quiet, He wasn’t a rah, rah guy and he always carried out his assignments and always lived up to his expectations. He was an awesome ball player!”
Paul Zolak
It is easy to acknowledge the special things an athlete does. When a forward averages 20 points a game or a pitcher consistently throws 7 strikeouts per outing he is considered an all-star. Likewise, the effect a coach has on the game can be measured, typically by wins and losses. For many who watch high school sports, there are really only two layers, players and coaches, but if you take another step back, there stands a figure who allows these athletics to function. He goes unrecognized by parents and students but has equally as important a role in carrying out a team’s season. He is the athletic director, and nowhere is there a better example of how one affect’s his school than Paul Zolak.
Paul Zolak is a Donora native and that now resides in Belle Vernon. Before he oversaw the life of a student-athlete, Zolak was one. Zolak graduated from Donora High School in 1965. There, he was a standout in both football and baseball. He continued pursuing athletics at California University of Pennsylvania where he was the starting kicker and backup quarterback. During the 1968 season, Zolak and the Vulcan’s tied East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania 28-28 to share the PSAC championship. Zolak was a key component to the victory converting on all four of his extra point attempts. The Vulcans were down to the Warriors by two touchdowns on three separate occasions before tying the game.
After earning his degree in 1969, Zolak returned to his Donora roots. The Mon-Valley has always played a significant role in his life. “The Mon Valley is synonymous with sports and sometimes maybe too much, especially on a Friday night when you go to a high school football game.” Paul would earn a master’s degree from West Virginia University in curriculum and instruction.
He worked as an assistant football coach under Lou DeFelices and Chuck Abramski for nine years while also teaching for eight. Shortly afterward, he began his career as the full time Director of Athletics for twenty-years when Donora and Monongahela merged in 1979. The schools would form Ringgold. During his tenure with Ringgold, he oversaw Ringgold becoming the first high school field to install turf. He also oversaw the Rams achieve several championships. Two that stick out for Zolak are the High School football team’s AAAA Quad A Division 2 Championship in 1982. The other was the boys’ state basketball championship in 1995. It was the first time a WPIAL team had won the state championship. “That state title in basketball was probably one of the ultimate experiences. There was that miracle finish by Czar Walsh and then to go to Hershey was something.” The miracle finish that Zolak refers to was a half-court heave sunk by Walsh in the closing seconds of regulation to take the game into overtime.
That same year Zolak was the recipient of the Dick Kohl Tri-County Memorial Award. Zolak would transfer to Bethel Park High School in 1997, but not before he would be recognized for another award. In 1997, he was the recipient of the Region IV Athletic Director of the Year award. Though he is happy to be recognized for his accomplishments, the real joy Zolak finds is working with students. “I really enjoy the kids and we had a great and diverse group of students at Ringgold. It’s a different type of student at Bethel Park but the fun part remains dealing with the kids as opposed to the political end of it.”
Zolak would serve as a member of the WPIAL’s basketball, football and softball committees. He also served on the WPIAL Board of Control for a two year term as the athletic director’s representative followed by a two-year term as president of the WPIAL Athletic Directors Association representing 135 schools.
His dedication to students did not go unnoticed as the awards continued to pile in for Zolak. In 2004, he received the Pennsylvania State Athletic Director Association’s Distinguished Service Award. “The fact that this award was voted on by my peers, some 450 athletic directors across the entire state, makes it very special. This is really a cut above the Region IV award and quite an honor.” In 2005, he would receive the Michael Duda Award for Athletic Achievement, given to a California University of Pennsylvania graduate in recognition of their “special contributions, including leadership and service, at the state, district, and local levels.” This award, distributed by the California University of Pennsylvania Alumni Association since 1987, was of special significance to Zolak. The honor lies in the significance that the man who the award is named for, Michael Duda, had in Zolak’s life. “He was instrumental in me developing a desire to strive for success in academics and ultimately parallel that with athletics.” Zolak was the third Donora native to receive the award, after Fran LaMendola and Bill Sento.
Zolak retired in 2004 but returned to the position in 2005 and then again in 2006 as interim athletic director and consultant for Bethel Park High School. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame throughout the first decade of the 21st century. If you ask him, he would not trade the work he did for anything. “Not one day in 35 years did I hate going to work, and to be recognized by people you admire is just a humbling experience.” Zolak currently resides in Belle Vernon with his wife, Daryl. They have two children Scott and Heather and four grandchildren.
Past Inductees
Read about our past Inductees here!