Inductees 2013
Class of 2013 Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame Inductees:
In back, from left are Roscoe Bright representing Michael Bright, Brian Miller Bowman, Bill Lee and Larry Papini. In front are Gary Cramer, Cathy Floriani wife of the late Bernie Floriani and Ron Paglia
Brian Miller Bowman
From a young age, it was obvious to everyone who saw Brian Bowman play just how physically gifted and athletically talented that he was. Obvious to everyone, that is, except to himself. Born Brian Miller, he was an extraordinary athlete who looked at his two older brothers as athletic role models yet did not realize his own personal skill set until he attended Ringgold High School.
On the gridiron, the Donora native followed the footsteps of his older brother, Glen Davis, while once he stepped on the hardwood, he took after older brother John Miller. A 1991 Ringgold graduate, Bowman is considered one of the top athletes in school history and his statistical expertise is the only proof needed. He began playing football at the age of seven and basketball two years later and over the course of time he stood out to those who saw him play.
He played high school football under Joe Ravasio, and his talents unquestionably stood out on offense as a running back, as a defensive back in the secondary, and on special teams. Despite missing a game during his senior season, Bowman tallied 960 yards rushing, added a combined 569 yards receiving and in the return game, and was the conference scoring champion. His talent and production during his senior year garnered Bowman numerous football accolades including being picked first-team on the All-State team, earning a spot in the Big 33 game, being chosen for the first-team All-Section team, receiving a spot on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Fabulous 22 team, being named the Washington Observer Reporter Offensive Player of the Year, and winning the Valley Independent Player of the Week twice.
The game that stands out from Bowman’s senior year took place on October 26, 1990 when Ringgold hosted Mt. Lebanon. The Blue Devils were coming off of two consecutive shutouts, and considering that the weather had been atrocious for a few days which hampered the field, things looked bleak offensively for both teams. However, Bowman ran for a then-school record of 279 yards in Ringgold’s thrilling 30-28 win. He had all of the traits and skills needed to make him special, and college coaches noticed. Bowman had the game-breaking speed, the peripheral vision, uncanny cutting ability, and he also had soft hands. Most importantly, he was a leader. Whereas some people try to be leaders and will talk the talk, Bowman led by example and walked the walk.
Bowman’s future would take place on the football field, but he had one more season of basketball to play under Phil Pergola. As a junior during the 1989-90 season, he was a key starter on the Rams team that went 29-3, won the WPIAL AAAA title, and reached the PIAA championship game. However, things started slow Bowman’s senior year. After the team started 0-3, they ended the season with a record of 17-5 and Bowman further entrenched himself with his dominance in a second sport. Bowman set a school record with 39 points against Latrobe Area during the 1990-91 season, and the mark stood for 20 years until broken in 2011.
Bowman’s strong senior season on the hard court garnered him nearly as many athletic accolades as he earned in football. His basketball skills earned him third-team All-State honors, All-Section first team, and selection to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Roundball Classic All-Star game. He graduated as the third leading scorer in Ringgold basketball history with 1,337 points, and to this day he holds steady in third place as one of only seven players in Rams history to have reached the 1,000-point plateau. He still owns a pair of school records with 238 career steals and seven three-pointers in one game.
With his future now squarely in front of him, Bowman was not sure which route to go so he reached out to Ravasio and Pergola to help him decide his next step. After graduating from Ringgold, Bowman went to the prestigious Fork Union Military Academy. Bowman’s next stop after leaving the Virginia school would be back to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and to its state school, Penn State.
It did not take Bowman long to establish himself in Happy Valley, and he would make quite the name for himself with the Nittany Lions. The start of Bowman’s time in State College correlated with Penn State’s start in the Big Ten, and Bowman had one of the greatest careers of any defensive back in school history. He finished his career with 154 tackles (115 solo, 39 assisted), had 12 interceptions, forced three fumbles, and had 13 tackles for losses. An aggressive player and a big hitter with a proven ability to have a knack for the big play to affect the outcome of big games, Miller had the speed, instinct, and a great desire to hit players for the betterment of the team.
Perhaps the cornerback’s biggest play came during his sophomore year at Penn State. In Penn State’s first-ever contest in Ann Arbor, Miller preserved a 31-24 win with an interception in Penn State territory with 2:53 left in the contest. The win would propel Penn State to its first Big Ten title, the Rose Bowl and the Big Ten’s first-ever 12-0 mark. Bowman finished with six tackles in that game, all solo, in the important victory. And how fitting is it, considering Penn State’s offense that year, which produced ten NFL players and a mind-numbing 47.8 points per game average, that Bowman’s defensive play was the game-clinching play?
How key of a player was Miller for Penn State? He is one of only eight Penn State players to earn All-Big Ten honors three times, along with former or current NFL players Courtney Brown, Bobby Engram, Jeff Hastings, Paul Posluszny, Evan Royster, Stephen Wisniewski, and Alan Zemaitis.
During his senior year, he was a top candidate for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the top defensive back in the country. A hamstring injury that season affected Bowman’s speed and performance, yet he still earned a tryout with the New Orleans Saints. At Penn State, he earned a degree in Rehabilitation Education and while his path did not end in the NFL, he followed in the footsteps of three of his mentors, Ravasio, Pergola, and his head coach at Penn State, Joe Paterno.
Miller began coaching football in 2002 when he was hired as an assistant coach at Marvale High School in Phoenix, AZ. Three years later, he returned home to Pennsylvania and coached one year at Harrisburg High School before a three-year stint as an assistant at Susquehanna Township before being hired as an assistant at Central Dauphin East High School.
He took over the Central Dauphin East High School program in 2010 and led the team to a 4-6 record, but he resigned after the season. His one season total of four wins matched the programs total from the previous four seasons.
Bowman returned to Arizona recently, and was hired as a school counselor at Glendale High School. He was also recently hired to take over Glendale’s struggling football program, which has won a total of six games over the last five seasons.
So while Bowman’s NFL prospects were derailed by an injury, he is well into the next chapter of his sports career. He gets to work with young kids, much like Ravasio and Pergola, along with their respective staffs, did with him and his role of working as a guidance counselor? He credits Ravasio, Pergola, and Paterno for how they guided and taught him and it is his way of doing the same.
Bowman’s induction tonight is the latest chapter in his athletic career, and while he keeps moving forward, the Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame recognizes Brian Bowman for his past athletic achievements and prowess by adding him as a member of the Class of 2013.
(Grateful acknowledgement to Bill Hughes for this biography)
Michael C. Bright
Michael C. Bright attended Monessen High School where he excelled at football and basketball. While playing at Monessen, Michael received many honors of achievement for both sports and academics. His football awards included All-Conference (Tri-County South) and Honorable Mention All-State. During his senior season, he led his team to a first place finish in the conference and a first round playoff berth. Michael was also a member of the National Honor Society and was a 1988 graduate of Monessen.
Michael’s play on the basketball court was extremely impressive. As co-captain of the PIAA Class A Boy’s State Championship team, Michael led the Greyhounds to a 24-5 record while recording Monessen’s first Class A basketball state championship. Michael’s play on the court was one that had not been seen for many years before, and is still remembered as one of the most electrifying and crowd pleasing careers ever. He would receive ‘alley-oop dunks’ from all around the court, delivering monster slams on opposing teams and hit long-range three pointers when needed. Blocks and steals were not officially counted but Michael clearly led the team in both categories; opposing teams found it almost impossible to score on the Greyhounds led by Michael’s tenacious defensive presence. It was once heard by an opposing fan during the 1988 state playoff tournament against Forbes Road High School that, “he is too good (speaking of Michael). Someone should check to see if he is a college player. I think our team is playing a college team…” Michael was the first sophomore to start under the legendary and current coach, Jo Jo Salvino. As a note, it was Michael’s tip in basket with 6 seconds left in the game that clinched Monessen’s 1988 state championship title.
At the end of his high school career, Michael was awarded the Judge Charles E. Marker Scholar Athlete Award (for basketball), given to the most outstanding scholar-athlete in Westmoreland County.
After high school, Michael attended famed prep school Fork Union Military Academy (FUMA) located in Virginia. While a student at FUMA, Michael led the Blue Devils to an impressive 21-8 season record. FUMA played other post-graduate schools as well as Division I and II junior varsity programs (such as North Carolina, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Pennsylvania, and Navy just to name a few). He averaged 12 points and 8 rebounds as a starter. Michael was again awarded the scholar-athlete award for post-graduates for his play on the court and academic achievements in the classroom where he graduated 1st in a class of 125 postgraduate students.
Michael went on to enroll at Bucknell University. While at Bucknell, Michael set numerous school and conference records. One of only three freshmen to start under 30 year head coach Charlie Woollum, Michael left Bucknell with school records for most 3-pointers made in a career (206), most steals in a career (113 more than 2nd place), and most steals in a season 94. Michael also made 9 straight 3-pointers in one game setting a school and Patriot League record. Michael was one of only two players in the history of Bucknell basketball to record more than 1,500 points and 800 rebounds. He received the 1993 Christy Mathewson Award for the Most Outstanding Senior Athlete at Bucknell University. Michael’s play was also recognized by the East Coast Athletic Conference and Patriot League as he was given all conference honors 3 of his 4 years (one year injured) and the Patriot League’s Most Valuable Player award his senior season. Michael graduated as the Patriot League’s all-time leading scorer in 1993. In 2001, the Patriot League named Michael to the ALL-DECADE TEAM for (1990-2000) for Men’s Basketball. In 2005, Bucknell honored Michael by inducting him into the prestigious Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame. It was stated that, “(Michael) was one of Bucknell’s all time greatest players.” Note: Unfortunately, there are too many awards, citations and recognitions to list for Michael regarding his play at Bucknell. However, all are very special and meaningful and will always be treasured.
After college, Michael had the opportunity to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA), pre-season rookie league as a member of the Charlotte Hornets. Michael was drafted in the 3rd round of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) by the Rockford Lightening. After a brief stay in the CBA, Michael played in the Hong Kong Professional Basketball Association as a member of Sea Power. Michael helped Sea Power to a 1st place and 2nd place finish in two separate cup seasons. His play earned him a spot on the Hong Kong All-Star Team that competed in the 1994 Asian Professional Basketball Tournament.
Michael has spent the last 18 years working for YMCA’s in various states across the country with his most recent position as President and Chief Executive Officer of the YMCA of Newark & Vicinity, New Jersey. He is married to Christinia whom he met at Bucknell University. Michael and Christinia live in Rockland County, New York where they are raising three incredible sons Debon (16), Michael Jr. (12) and Marlen (6).
Gary Cramer
A 1966 Belle Vernon Area High School graduate, Gary Cramer, wore number 21 for Leopard football where he was the versatile jack-of-all-trades playing tailback, safety, kicker and punter his senior season under BVA coach James K. Russell. The coach called Cramer one of the best players he ever coached in his four decade coaching career. “You just can’t help calling Gary Cramer one of the best backs in the Commonwealth and certainly the best halfback in this Valley.” Valley sports writer, Ron Paglia, called Cramer “one of the best running backs and top all-around athletes ever produced in the Mon Valley. He cracked the starting lineup on the perfect Bellmar High football team of 1963 when they went 10-0 under Coach Bap Manzini.” A bread and butter player Cramer brought the crowd to their feet. A three-year letter winner, Cramer, the leading scorer in the conference his senior season earned All-Conference, All-WPIAL and Honorable Mention All-State honors.
Because of these many accomplishments, Cramer was in the first class of inductees for the Belle Vernon Area Football Hall of Fame in 2000.
Cramer’s father, James, was also known as a good athlete who played semi-pro football for the Monessen Ravens, coached and was involved in Belle Vernon youth-midget football programs. James was a 4-year starter at halfback at Belle Vernon High School. He and his twin brother Joseph graduated 3 months early and enlisted in the Marines. There the brothers continued playing ball for Camp Lejeune. Gary was born on March 21, 1948. His mother was Adele Manown Cramer. Cramer’s brother Jimbo was an outstanding athlete at Ohio State under Coach Woody Hayes for two years and at Pitt under Johnny Majors, a starting LB on Pitt’s national championship team in 1975. His younger brother Jesse gained recognition in athletics as a junior-middle and high school football coach along with his present role as athletic director for Belle Vernon Area School District. Gary has one sister, Kathy.
In the newly formed Belle Vernon Area School District Cramer, a game changer, who was tutored by first-year Thomas Jefferson High School coach Bap Manzini for two years at Bellmar High School, proved the main difference as he haunted his former mentor on the night of September 27, 1965. Galloping Cramer, 5-11, 185 pound halfback, scored all of the Leopard’s points for the second consecutive week as BVA posted its first win, 7-6 over Thomas Jefferson, after a 27-7 loss to Clairton the previous week. Cramer’s touchdown came on a two-yard scamper and he kicked the extra point. He also returned the second half kickoff 90-yards for an apparent score except for a clipping penalty against the Leps at midfield.
Before an estimated crowd of 6,500 at Cougar stadium on October 15, 1965 the Cramer show continued with the showman scoring all 16 points for BVA. BVA in its debut year against Charleroi, the Leopards jumped to a 6-0 lead on a 34-yard run by Cramer. That was short lived when Charleroi came back with a halftime score of 7-6 when Dick Kujawski scored and Algie Labrasca kicked the first of his two extra conversions. Cramer again pushed the Leopards ahead in the third quarter racing 56-yards down the sidelines for the score. He then kicked the extra point to give his team the lead 13-7. Charleroi’s Labrasca came back with seven minutes remaining and scored the tying TD and then added the second extra point which seemed like the difference maker. The Leopards held and forced Charleroi to punt with two minutes to play. Only 22 seconds remained when QB Dean Lucas flipped a long pass to the sidelines. Cramer made a great leaping catch, to come down inside the Cougars five-yard line with twelve seconds to go. Coach Russell called on his go-to-guy Cramer to kick a field goal. The snap from center was bobbled and Cramer fell on the ball at the Charleroi 16. But Charleroi was called for offsides and BVA now had new life on the Charleroi two-yard line with two seconds to go. Cramer lined for the kick at a nasty angle and, as 6,500 people held their collective breath, he executed a perfect kick to win the game 16-14 as the gun sounded. “I knew Gary would win a game for us someday on a field goal,” beamed Coach Russell in the dressing room. “This kid is almost a complete ball player; he does so many things so well.” Cramer gave one of the finest performances in the 73-year history of Charleroi Stadium.
BVA rolled to a fourth win over Monessen 14-0 on October 25, as a first-year member of the Big Eight Conference. As Joe Grata reported for The Valley Independent, “Gary Cramer was the spark plug for BVA once again; leading all ground gainers with 186 yards running in 28 carries for an 8.1 average. His 45-yard-touchdown run and two extra points by placement brought to 58 his season point total, second to Monongahela’s Fred Angerman in the Big Eight.” Monessen coach Joe Gladys stunned by the BVA upset called the loss, “disheartening but we have always had good spirit and tradition here and we intend to keep it that way.”
Belle Vernon concluded its first season as a joint football team, Big Eight and WPIAL Class AA entry, losing a tough game to Brownsville 10-7. However, the Leps finished with a winning season 5-4-0 behind the Big 8 Conference individual scoring champion-Gary Cramer. As reported by Joe Grata, “Cramer scored the only BVA touchdown and added the extra point to bring to 92 his season total to outdo last year’s champion, Fred Angerman of Monongahela, who wound up with 85. Interestingly, Belle Vernon Area won all the away games and lost all the home games in the inaugural season. Cramer always believed, with the outstanding talent on the first-year Leopards, had Bap Manzini remained as coach the team would have won the conference title. “Football was a different game then with no specialist,” Cramer reminisced, “we were football players.”
Cramer wound up a sizzling three-year high school scholastic career. At Bellmar High for his sophomore and junior years and BVA his senior year, Cramer compiled a total offense mark of 2,771 yards and scored 188 points. That figures to 2,243 yards rushing-a 6.0 average per carry; 412 yards gained on pass receptions and 8 of 15 aerials compiled for 116 yards. Cramer won ten total varsity letters in high school in football, basketball and baseball.
In high school basketball and baseball Gary made his mark as well. He lettered three years in basketball with the highest free throw percentage. He played forward and guard for coaches Ken Clark and Don Asmonga. In baseball he played third base and short stop batting .300. While at Bellmar High the team went to the playoffs with Bap Manzini as coach. Gary played American Legion ball for the Charleroi Magicians and experienced Charleroi’s legendary Mr. Baseball “Scissors” McIlvain as pitching coach. Gary learned to throw a “knuckleball” from “Scissors.” Major league scouts including Elmer Gray of the Reds took a look at Cramer and the Pittsburgh Pirates offered a tryout.
After receiving over 50 college offers, Cramer accepted a full scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh offered by newly-minted coach Dave Hart. Cramer said, “He is the kind of coach you want to play for and I’m more than happy that I’ll be attending Pitt.” Before Hart’s entrance Gary had committed to Woody Hayes of Ohio State who came to visited the talented athlete. Also Cramer with an eye to future coaching intended to major in one of Pitt’s finest programs, physical education.
Pitt was equally impressed with Gary’s moves and versatility. “He has great balance and a lot of finesse and he’s the kind of kid that gives you his best all the way.”
Cramer lettered at Pitt from 1967-1969 first under coach Dave Hart and later Carl DePasqua. A tailback at Pitt Cramer was a two-year starter described as one of Pitt’s “steadiest and one of its best backfield performers” during his era. His best game came against Navy in 1967 when he rushed for 139 yards on just 13 carries (10.7 avg.), including a 53-yard TD a school record that stood until broken by Tony Dorsett. Cramer remembered the win loss record at Pitt during his 4 years at 1-9 in each of his first three years and improving to 4-6 his senior year. “Pitt played some tough schedules and in fact in 1968 we played the fifth toughest schedule in college ball.” The Minnesota Vikings invited Gary to their camp but he did not pursue a pro career. Gary received his Bachelor’s degree in 1970 with a major in physical education and earned a Master’s in Education in 1974.
Cramer coached and taught school at Brentwood School District in Allegheny County. His first stint was teaching physical education K-12 from 1970 to 1982. Gary left the school house for fifteen years in a business franchise returning to Brentwood in 1997 and continues to teach today. Gary has had an extensive coaching career as Brentwood High School head football coach 1978-1982 achieving a conference championship and in 1981 receiving the Three Rivers Conference 1981 Coach of the Year. Gary performed assistant football duties at Mt. Lebanon and Belle Vernon Area. From 1973 to 1978 Gary was the head baseball coach at Brentwood High with a section championship in 1977. For the past six-years Gary has been the golf coach at Brentwood as well as the assistant track coach. Gary has been an assistant basketball coach both at the Brentwood High School and Junior High.
Gary is married to his high school sweetheart Sheryl Valdiserri Cramer, a Pitt graduate and teacher, now in their 43rd year of bliss. They are the parents of twin boys Mathew (wife Bonnie) and Michael (wife Jen), both Washington & Jefferson graduates, and proud of their nine grandchildren: Adele, Gus, Luke, Garrett, Marcus, Colton, Clare, Lily, and Emily.
Gary epitomizes the strength of Mon Valley rearing in the great tradition of learning from the best in coaches Bap Manzini and James K. Russell and taking those skills through a successful college stint and then giving back to the community by coaching future generations.
Bernard P. “Bernie” Floriani, Ed.D
“Nineteen seventy was one of the best years that we had at California State College up until that point. That was the first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship that California had ever won,” remembered Bernie Floriani who left his mark on California University of Pennsylvania by helping to bring home the team’s first championship over Cheyney State, one of the premier teams in small-college basketball. The wiry sharpshooter Floriani led the way by all accounts and was inducted into the California University of Pennsylvania Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997. Before he was a star forward for the Vulcans, he was a standout athlete in high school.
Floriani was born on June 15, 1947, in Sutersville, Pennsylvania, the son of Peter and Veronica (Rush) Floriani. It was obvious early on that Floriani had a knack for the game of basketball. He also played baseball in high school as an excellent shortstop and had a decent bat. Bernie had success on the hardwood at West Newton High School, bringing home a championship, before graduating in 1965. Head Coach Bob Cochenour raved about Bernie’s work ethic. During his time at West Newton, Floriani became the school’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder, not only for a single game, but also season and career. He was named the Valley Independent MVP in both 1964 and 1965 and was also the conference scoring champion. Bernie became West Newton’s all-time leading scorer garnering 1,083 points. During his senior year he was selected to the All-State first team and even played in the first Dapper Dan Roundball Classic. After all the success, Floriani was not sure that he would play basketball in college. Lucky for California State College he changed his mind.
Initially after high school, Floriani, a 6’3” forward, chose to enlist in the Air Force Academy Prep School but a back injury brought him back to western Pennsylvania. California Head Coach Myles Witchey immediately contacted the former high school standout and Floriani became a Vulcan.
Floriani reflected, “We had a great coaching staff. I think Myles Witchey and Floyd Shuler did a marvelous job with us. They took 12 players, worked the chemistry, and built a winner. We had some great players on our team, including Ray “Mystic” Greene.”
The “winner” Floriani refers to is what happened in 1970. During that game against Cheyney, Floriani scored 28 points and pulled down 21 rebounds as California won the game 110-91. That same season he was named the PSAC-West MVP while grabbing 523 rebounds, good enough for eighth best in the nation for NAIA schools. During his seasons with the Vulcans he scored 1,267 points. A model of consistency, as a junior Bernie averaged 18.4 points per game and 21 as a senior. He was a PSAC All-Star in 1968-69 and 1969-70. Those same seasons he won AP All-State honors and was named the team MVP.
While Bernie excelled in basketball and lived to play golf, his true passion was literature. After graduating from California University in 1970, Floriani attended Memphis State University to pursue a Master’s degree in education. There he worked for the campus school and also the Memphis State Reading Clinic. By 1971 he obtained his Master’s and would stay in school until he earned his Doctorate in 1975. Bernie took the advice of a mentor to finish his degrees with as little interruption as possible. He worked as a reading instructor in Tennessee at a junior college before getting a job with Salisbury State University.
After five years in Salisbury, Maryland, Floriani moved to Delaware where he worked as the state supervisor of reading and language arts. He later became a professor of reading and language arts at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio instructing teachers how to teach. His daughter, Lindsey, took one of his graduate classes there and said, “He was the best! He was enthusiastic about teaching and wanted each of his students to succeed. At the conclusion of each class he would tell the students that he loved them.”
Though his athletic ability earned him many accolades, Bernie proved that his ability went beyond the basketball court. He had a decorated academic career receiving such awards as International Reading Association President’s Award, Merit Award, Outstanding Service Award, Delaware State Superintendent’s Merit Award and the Board of Educators Order of Excellence.
His son, Brian, probably said it best. “He was a great teacher and a great speaker, whether he was around five or five-hundred people. He really had an ability to capture everyone’s attention.” Floriani brought this ability to Wesley United Methodist Church where he was an active member and taught Sunday school.
According to Bernie, Jr., “My dad was very proud of his athletic accomplishments but at the same time he was very humble about them. Dad would’ve been thrilled to receive this Hall of Fame honor.”
Floriani recognized the significance of his awards but also knew that he could not have done it alone. “I really feel good about my career. I have done a lot and accomplished a lot. I have to say that right behind me was the support of my wife, Cathy. Back in the days at California, Cathy traveled everywhere with us. She was a great fan. She went on every bus trip. As a matter of fact, when we went to Kansas City to play in the NAIA National Tournament, she flew out with us. She was a cheerleader when I went to West Newton High School. I guess once a cheerleader, always a cheerleader.”
Bernie Floriani passed away all too young at age 58 on September 26, 2005, in Concord, Ohio. He is survived by his wife Cathy and their three children, Bernie and wife Christy and children Kayla and Max; Brian and wife Jillian and daughter Zoë; and Lindsey and husband Pete Arterburn and son Grant Bernard. Dr. Floriani, consummate competitor, superior athlete, and lover of literature, continued to acknowledge his appreciation of the overwhelming support received from teammates, family, friends, and fans from the Mon Valley during a great career.
William “Bill” “Wort” Lee
Lee is a 1963 graduate of Charleroi High School where he played football and baseball and ran track. It was in football that Bill excelled as an all-conference quarterback under coach Rab Currie and was an integral part in the Cougar 1962 section title with an 8-1-1 record. Lee was also a relief pitcher for the Cougars baseball team with a 3-0 record with 2 saves his senior year. His father, the late Frank J. Lee (1924), played football and basketball at California State Teachers College and later was an assistant coach under the legendary Currie at Charleroi where he taught social studies. His mom, “Quinnie Lee,” was maternity nurse at Charleroi Monessen Hospital.
At Charleroi Bill played behind all state quarterback and MMVASHOF 2005 inductee Stan Kemp. They were both members of the same high school class, so Bill got on the field anyway he could and that was on defense. Bill played linebacker and defensive end and did mop up duty at quarterback. When Bill got his chance he made the most of it. In a game against Beth Center Stan Kemp was ejected for fighting. Bill stepped in and threw four spectacular touchdown passes. Against Monongahela Lee stepped in for the injured Kemp and completed six of nine passes for 129 yards and three touchdowns. Bill finished his senior season with a modest 17 of 33 for 330 yards and seven touchdowns. That was two more touchdowns than QB Kemp. Those numbers were enough to earn Lee honorable mention in the Big 6 Conference.
Bill received scholarship offers but decided to remain close to home and followed his father’s footsteps at Cal State. To Bill’s delight he became the starting quarterback from the end of his 1963 freshman season into 1966. Lee guided the Vulcan’s to a 21-14 victory over Edinboro in his first collegiate start. Two years later under innovative head coach Bill Hepner the Vulcans with strong armed Lee leading the attack the Vulcans were ranked among the top ten teams in passing offense. The 1965 team produced the program’s eighth winning season in nine years. In a game against Lock Haven Bill threw for a school record 367 yards surpassing the old record of 353 yards. For that Lee garnered PSAC Player of the Week honors. The previous school record was set by Ed Zielenski, who threw for 353 yards in 1953 against Washington & Jefferson. At the time Lee ranked second in total offense among all NAIA players. Lee reflected, “I don’t know if I could have had the success at many other colleges than California because Bill Hepner had an offense I could work. Coach developed the insight in me to read defenses and we were way ahead of the curve with the passing game for that era.” Unfortunately a season ending separated shoulder injury in 1966 at Waynesburg ended his career and he was replaced by MMVASHOF 1998 inductee Jeff Petrucci.
Petrucci, who went on to be an All American and later coach the Vulcans for 12 years, credits Lee for changing the “attitude” of the team. Both Petrucci and Lee were high school classmates at Charleroi. “To me, Lee brought stability to the program and was very sincere,” indicated Petrucci. “He was an exceptional thrower if not the most mobile person and always got the job done.” Petrucci believed Lee could have held a grudge but was his mentor, the consummate team player and a very important figure in his personal life. “I would have never played as a sophomore if ‘Wort’ had not gotten hurt. He took me under his wing and was very supportive. When I would come off the field he would come up to me and tell me what the defenses were doing because quite frankly I was a clueless young kid just trying to get things done. I never forgot that and have always valued our friendship.” Lee, given his nickname by the paperboy at age five, watched Petrucci lead the NAIA in total offense in both 1967 and 1968. “Petrucci broke all my records including interceptions,” Lee joked. “God gave me a pretty good arm, but also very slow feet. I would run sprints with the tackles and half of them would beat me. Jeff was so fast and defenses could no longer just stay in a zone. I have the utmost respect for him.” Lee’s primary receiver, Ettore Perri 1963 Bentleyville Ellsworth High School graduate, scored 27 career touchdowns, another school standard at that time. Cal won four of five division games in 1966 and finished second in the PSAC West. In all, the Vulcans achieved three divisional winning seasons during Lee’s collegiate career.
“I’ve been blessed to play for coaches like Rab Currie and Bill Hepner,” Lee reflected. “I always played with an intensity that Rab Currie instilled in me at Charleroi. I just played to the best of my abilities and expected everyone else to do so.”
Following college graduation Bill taught and coached football at Monongahela High School for a year with coaches Joe McCune, Dave Simon and Bill Vasiloff. After two years Bill moved from coaching to a 28-year career as a football official at the midget league level to high school. He had the opportunity to work numerous WPIAL playoff games.
After leaving the teaching ranks, Bill worked for 13 years in pharmaceutical sales and management before joining his cousins business, Lee Supply Company, a leader in the sale and installation of pipe and pumping systems. For 30 years he worked as the company’s environmental sales manager. Now semi-retired Bill still serves the company in a consulting role.
In 2009, Lee was inducted into Solid Waste Association of North America’s Hall of Fame for his many years of dedication to the solid waste industry. In 2011 Lee was inducted into California University of Pennsylvania’s 17th Athletic Hall of Fame. Lee is also a proud University benefactor. Bill is also known for his singing rendition of God Bless America. Bill volunteers at the Charleroi Food Bank and Meals on Wheels.
Bill resides in Speers with his wife Mary Lou. The couple has three children Billy, Michele Schwerha, Michael and seven grandchildren. Lee is a community activist demonstrated by his twelfth year as Mayor of the borough of Speers. Bill is a board member in the development of the Charleroi Regional Police Department as well as a member of the Mon Valley Progress Council Executive Board.
Ronald A. Paglia
It was Henry Brooks Adams, the noted U.S. historian, journalist and novelist, who wrote that “A teacher affects eternity. He can never tell where his influence stops”
The same might be said for journalists. You can never tell when their influence stops because their words become, in many cases, an important part of history.
Those words certainly describe Ronald A. Paglia, who, as he says, has had “the pleasure and privilege” of writing for more than 56 years.
Ron’s career in the newspaper profession began at the start of his senior year at California Community High School in September 1956 as a sports correspondent for The Brownsville Telegraph. Subsequently he worked for The Charleroi Mail, The Daily Republican in Monongahela, The Valley Independent and newspapers in Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. He also has done freelance work since 2005 and his stories and columns currently appear in The Valley Independent and the Tribune-Review. His work also has been published in other newspapers, Western Pennsylvania Guide to Good Health and the Pittsburgh, Atlanta, South Florida and Chicago editions of Hospital News.
“It’s been a great run,” Paglia, 74, of Charleroi, said. “I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many interesting people and, more important, the privilege and pleasure of telling their stories in their own words.”
Ron was born June 26, 1939 “way down in Louisiana across from New Orleans, way back up in the woods among the evergreens.” No, wait. Those are part of the lyrics from one of his favorite songs, “Johnny Be Goode” by Chuck Berry.
Ron was actually born in the former Charleroi-Monessen Hospital in Lock Four (North Charleroi).
He is the son of the late G.F. (George, Fred, Babe) Paglia Jr. and Iole G. Nesti Paglia.
Ron is a 1957 graduate of California Community High School and attended California State Teachers College for three semesters before being asked to leave by the administration. His grades and obvious lack of interest in attending classes evolved into the mutually agreeable parting of the ways.
In high school he played football – well, he was on the team – and served as student manager with the basketball team.
Ron credits Arthur Cairns, his English and composition teacher at California Community High School, for inspiring him to pursue a career in writing.
“Mr. Cairns introduced us to the power of words in his classes,” Paglia said. “He encouraged me to study my Word Power vocabulary textbook diligently and to write, write, write. He was critical in a very constructive way and at the same time most encouraging. Even after I had begun my work in the newspaper profession, Mr. Cairns would send notes to me pointing out errors in my stories or columns – e.g., misplaced modifiers, dangling participles. I always appreciated his input. Mr. Cairns was a gentleman and a gentle man and an outstanding teacher.”
When Ron served as a stringer for The Brownsville Telegraph, he worked with longtime sports editor Bob Petriello. He hoped to write for The California Times during his brief tenure at Cal State but was rejected by the editor of the school newspaper for what the editor described as Ron’s “lack of talent and promise.”
Because of the thoughtfulness of one of the Mon Valley’s true legendary journalists, the late John R. Bunardzya, who was sports editor of The Charleroi Mail at the time, Ron was hired as a full-time sportswriter at The Mail in 1958.
In the late Fall of 1959 he was hired as sports editor of The Daily Republican newspaper in Monongahela by managing editor Floyd France, who had founded the Mon Valley Football Conference in 1925. Mr. France also was one of the founding members of what is now known as the Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame.
“Words can’t describe the gratitude I have for having the opportunity to work for and with such distinguished professionals as Mr. Bunardzya, Mr. France and Mr. Petriello,” Paglia said. “They taught me so much about the business and about life. Later, when I returned to The Valley Independent, I was similarly blessed to work with Harry R. Pore Jr., R. Mitchell Steen Jr. and Allen Kline as well as in a newsroom filled with experienced, skilled and dedicated reporters.”
Paglia recalled that although he was hired as sports editor at The Daily Republican to succeed veteran Vince Leonard, who had accepted a job at The Daily News in McKeesport, Floyd France “insisted that I learn about many other aspects of producing a quality hometown newspaper.”
“One of the first things he did was direct me to the wire service machines where the coded yellow ticker tape rolled out at a steady pace,” Paglia recalled. “We would separate those tapes into individual stories and deliver them to the Composing Room, where they would be produced into hot metal type. Remember, this was long before the advent of computers; we still used manual typewriters.
“Mr. France also assigned me to municipal government meetings, gathering news from the police blotter and even sent me to cover a wedding,” he continued. “I wasn’t sure about the wedding assignment but Mr. France assured me it would work out and reminded me that, ‘The bride will be wearing white and the groom will most likely be wearing a tuxedo.’ It was a learning experience, that’s for sure.”
France, Bunardzya and Petriello are all members of the Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame, as are Clair Brown and Brian Herman, with whom Paglia also worked during his career.
Ron left The Daily Republican in late August 1960 to join the sports staff of The Valley Independent, a new publication formed as the result of the purchase of The Charleroi Mail by The Monessen Daily Independent.
He became sports editor of The Valley Independent in 1964 and held that position until 1969, when he chose to move to General News and was succeeded by Brian Herman, who was inducted into the MMVASHOF in 2012. Subsequently Ron became city editor of The Valley Independent and held that position until March 1989.
As a sportswriter and then sports editor, Paglia had the opportunity to cover three WPIAL championship football teams – Charleroi in 1959, Monessen in 1961 and Rostraver in 1962 – as well as Bellmar High’s unbeaten teams in 1959 and 1963.
“There were some outstanding athletes and teams in the Valley during those years,” he said. “And there were coaches like Rab Currie, Joe Gladys, Jimmy Russell, Bap Manzini and Ed Hogan. It was a sportswriter’s dream to write about them.”
It was during his tenure at The Valley Independent that Ron tested the waters at larger newspapers in Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. He was a sportswriter at the Harrisburg publication and worked the copy desk and did pop music concert reviews in Pittsburgh.
“It was a great experience at those metro newspapers, but I knew I didn’t belong in the bigger cities,” Paglia said. “I was born in the Mon Valley and belonged here, so I came back and have never had any regrets about those decisions. The people in the Valley are very special.”
Ron opted to leave The Valley Independent in 1989 to accept a public relations/media relations position at Monongahela Valley Hospital. He retired from the hospital in January 2009.
Ron has found great satisfaction in writing, primarily because of the opportunities to meet a variety of interesting people whose lives and achievements are filled with standards that others would do well to emulate.
“There’s an old saying that everyone has a story to tell and I firmly believe that’s true,” Paglia said. “I’ve interviewed and written about people from all walks of life and of all ages – athletes, doctors and nurses, scientists, first responders, educators, community, religion and business leaders, civil rights advocates, politicians, veterans who have served our country, and so many others here in the Mon Valley and elsewhere. They have been willing to open their homes and, more important, their hearts, minds and emotions to tell fascinating stories.”
Paglia also authored a book, “Lost and Found: The Bickfords of Bristol,” a biography of members of the Bickford family that once lived in Monongahela and then for many years in Bristol, England. He remains extremely grateful to Dr. John (Jack) France of Tampa, Florida for his suggestions about and help with the book. Dr. France is a son of the late Floyd France, who was managing editor at The Daily Republican when Peter Bickford worked there as sports editor from 1939-1942. Peter Bickford, still a citizen of England when he graduated from Monongahela High School in 1939, joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and became a pilot. He was killed when his plane crashed in September 1944 in Holland on its way to a bombing mission over Germany.
Ron also is deeply appreciative of the cooperation the Bickford and Myers families in Bristol and the help of longtime friends Michael Mino, a talented graphic designer in Johnstown, and Tim Urda, owner of Badzik Printing in Donora, for completion of the book.
In addition to his passion for the English language and writing, Ron also has a penchant for music. He was a disc jockey for nearly 20 years and was the original DJ at the popular teen record hops at the Stockdale Fire Hall from December 21, 1957 through August 1964. He also worked dances at such venues as The Inn Crowd, the Lock Four Fire Hall, the Belle Vernon Fire Hall and Redd’s Beach and he hosted a show on radio station WESA in Charleroi in the late 1950s.
“They told me I had the perfect face for radio – one that no one could see,” Ron said of his brief stint at WESA.
In the mid-1980s he teamed with the late John Barbero to do DJ work at clubs in the area. Mr. Barbero, a longtime radio personality and public address announcer for the Pittsburgh Penguins, was inducted into the MMVASOF in 2010.
While he is associated with the Golden Oldies, Ron also savors the likes of Pink Floyd, The Doors, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Elmore James. He also has deep respect for classic polka music.
Ron served with the 430th Replacement Company of the U.S. Army Reserve from 1965 to 1971. He admires and respects those who deserve the distinction of being “true veterans,” the men and women who served, and continue to serve, on active duty and those who made the ultimate sacrifice in serving their country.
In addition to writing and music, Ron also has enjoyed the company of his beloved dogs Gladys (who is deceased), JoJo and Floyd.
He was a member of the Selection Committee of the Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame for several years. Ron becomes the eighth journalist to be inducted into the MMVASHOF, being preceded by Floyd France, John T. Matta, John R. Bunardzya, Robert Petriello, Clair N. Brown, Roger Valdiserri and Brian Herman.
Ron and his wife, the former Judith A. DiBuono of Monessen, have been married 47 years. Judy retired in 2005 after a distinguished career as a senior honors English teacher at Charleroi Area, Monessen and Monongahela Valley Catholic high schools. Ron has always said his wife had more of an impact on the lives of thousands of young people than he could ever imagine having on anyone. Ron and Judy enjoy long walks from their home to their garage located in the alley between Meadow and Shady avenues in Charleroi. They also share many memorable moments watching Family Feud on the Game Show Network.
Ron and Judy are the parents of three sons – Scott Christopher (Maribeth), Joseph A. and Lucas G. (Shari) – and have five grandchildren. Ron also is the father of Lee James Paglia (Maria), who is the father of three children and also has one grandchild.
Larry Papini
As a senior at California Community High School in 1951-52, Larry Papini had designs on becoming a civil engineer.
Instead, he took career paths that led him to professional baseball and then back to his alma mater for a long and distinguished tenure as a classroom teacher and athletic coach.
“Regrets? None at all,” Papini, a California native who has lived in Roscoe for more than 50 years, said. “It’s been a great ride. I have a wonderful and loving family, good friends and lots of great memories. I’m very happy with the decisions I made.”
Papini, 77, chose to continue his education and athletic endeavors at California State Teachers College (now California University of Pennsylvania), only a few blocks from his home on Union Street, after graduating from high school in 1952.
“Pitt, West Virginia, Penn State and even Carnegie Mellon were out of reach in terms of tuition,” he recalled “So the idea (civil engineering) was put aside and I decided to go Cal State. I knew I would get a good education and be close to home.”
Before receiving his high school diploma, Papni established himself as one of the best all-around scholastic athletes in California history. He played football, basketball and baseball for head coaches Jim Underwood, Bill Watkins and Don Cornell, respectively.
“Sports was an outlet for us in those days – there were no computers, tv, video games,” he said. “We were looking for a way to burn off that teenage energy and perhaps get a (college) scholarship or a contract with a professional team. There were so many great athletes in town and in the Mon Valley when I was growing up and they were inspirations to us. We saw our fathers coming home bone-tired from the mill or the coal mines and thought there must be something better.”
In addition to such California legends as John Konek, Tony Segzda, Roy Barli, Ed Slosky and Jim Kennedy, Papini said the Mon Valley had “an abundance of outstanding athletes” when he was growing up in the 1940s.
“Every school had quality athletes in all sports – Brownsville, California, Charleroi, Monessen, Donora, Monongahela,” he said. “The 1940s after World War II and the ‘50s represented a Golden Era of high school sports, I believe, there were some classic games involving those guys. As a kid, I couldn’t wait to get a chance to compete on that level.”
Symbolic of those memories is a baseball game between Charleroi and California, then known as the Cubs, in the mid-1940s.
“I was in seventh or eighth grade and Charleroi was coming to town to play an important section game,” Papini said. “(Charleroi) had a great pitcher in Fred Uhlman, George Zuraw and Jack Green. California’s lineup included Tony Segzda, Roy Barli and the Konek brothers, John and Pete. The game was played at the old field near the Italian Club, the one we called the Roman Colesium. Green was a powerful hitter and belted a home run that cleared the left-centerfield fence, a drive of well over 330 feet. I had never seen anyone in high school hit a ball so far at that time. No one was really sure where it landed ... it may still be up there.”
Segzda, an outstanding pitcher who was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates, also hit a memorable home run during that era. He pitched California to a 3-2 victory over Charleroi on May 12, 1947 and helped his own cause with a blast that, according to The Charleroi Mail, “soared over 400 feet” out of the CHS Stadium.
Papini, an end in football, cracked the starting lineup for California’s baseball team as a sophomore in 1950. As the Trojans prepared to open defense of their Section 19 championship, Cornell named a nucleus that included Papini at shortstop, John Konek, first base/pitcher; Ed Hazelbaker, second base; Dick Sabo, third base; Roy Barli, pitcher/first base; catcher Bobby Letrick; pitcher Ed Micjan, and outfielders J.D. Gorman, Bernie Sosnak and Cliff Copenhaver.
The 1951 baseballers comprised Papini, Sabo, Micjan, Gorman, Copenhaver, Tom Selep, Don LeJohn George Slogick, Tommy Ferguson, Andy Timko, Frank Gasher, Stan Raymond, Stan Rice, Don Rhodes and Mike Digon.
Papini was recommended that year to play in the annual Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph All-Star Game on July 16 at West Field in Munhall. Other area players nominated for the contest were Bill Shoman, Fairhope; Bernie Kamenski, Marianna; Tommy Ferguson, Roscoe; Roger Nedrow, Rostraver; Bobby Locke, Redstone; Billy Whiteko, LaBelle, and Nick Bobronski, Brownsville. Also in 1951 Papini was one of three area players chosen by Major League scouts to play in the All-West American Legion Game on August 7 at Forbes Field. The others were Whiteko and outfielder Bob Green of Monongahela.
California won the Section 19 baseball championship in 1952, Papini’s senior campaign, in a strange twist of events.
The Trojans bowed to Charleroi 3-2 in the final game of the regular season and appeared to be destined for a second place finish. But Cornell protested the game because of a controversial call by the umpires at home plate and the WPIAL upheld the dispute and ordered the game to be replayed. The replay was staged May 28 at West Field in Munhall and California won 3-2 to clinch the section title with an 8-2 record and drop the Cougars to 7-3 and into a tie with Monongahela for second place.
California’s bid for post-season honors was short-lived as the Trojan lost to Redstone 5-1 on May 30 at Brownsville. Redstone’s ace hurler, Bobby Locke, who went on to enjoy a career in the Major Leagues, struck out 13 and limited California to two hits.
“He was something else,” Papini said of Locke. “You could see he had all the tools to make it to the top.”
Papini was one of three Mon Valley players that garnered honorable mention on the 1951 Associated Press All-State football team. The others were halfback John Thomas of Donora and center Charley Corbelli of Charleroi.
As a basketball player Papini culminated his three-year career at California by being named to the 1952-53 All-Section 5-A first team with Dave Wunderlich of Donora, Tom Kovach of Monessen, Dick Schwendeman of Charleroi and Jimmy Bryan of Brownsville.
Papini continued basketball and baseball endeavors at California State Teachers College in 1952-53 and 1953-54. He also played baseball for the California entry in the Mon Valley Section of the 25th District American Legion League and later for Fayette City Legion and Perryopolis in the Big Ten League.
“The Big Ten was a very competitive league made up mostly of teams in Fayette County,” Papini recalled. “A lot of the players were seven, eight and nine years older than I. Many of them had returned to the area after World War II and had jobs in the mines. They were big, strong guys with a lot of talent. I was only 18 when I started playing against them but it was a great learning experience.”
Papini, by now a strapping 6-3, 180-pounder, was playing for the Charleroi Merchants when opportunity knocked in 1954. He answered the call by signing a professional contract with the Boston Red Sox on May 29.
“That was a big deal, no question about it,” Papini said of inking the pact offered by legendary scout C.J. “Socko” McCarey, Pittsburgh region talent hunter for the Red Sox. “It was a dream come true.”
Papini, who was 20 at the time, had been sought by several Major League clubs including the Pirates, Dodgers and Reds. He was assigned to Boston’s Bluefield, West Virginia team in the Class D Appalachian League.
In turning pro Papini relinquished his amateur athletic status but he emphasized that he was committed to completing his last two years of education at California State.
In addition to Bluefield he also played Minor League ball for Decatur, Illinois in the Midwest League and Crestview, Florida in the Alabama-Florida League.. He compiled a respectable overall batting average of .273 and a .396 slugging average with five home runs before deciding he’d had enough.
“It’s not as glamorous as some folks would lead you to believe, especially in the Minors,” he said of professional baseball. “Long days and nights, riding along bumpy roads in those old buses and realism hit hard. I signed for $2,500 but there were other players who got much more, some between $50,000 and $80,000. I’m not tooting my own horn but I had confidence in my talents, fielding and hitting. But you know that it’s a business; that is, if a team has invested more money in other guys playing the same position as you they’re going to protect their investments and give those players the first shot at moving up.”
Papini returned home and resumed playing for the Merchants.
In 1957 he was selected as the Merchants’ Most Valuable Player after helping manager Alf Caruso’s club finish in seond place in the Mon Valley League behind Fayette City and then win the post-season championship. Playing in 52 of Charleroi’s 53 games, Papini led the team in hitting with a .329 batting average, had 51 hits including five home runs, and knocked in 57 runs.
He won the MVP award a second time in 1959 when he hit 17 home runs, a club and Mon Valley League record, batted .427 and had 40 RBI. George Zuraw, runner-up in the balloting, had a .459 average and belted 10 homers as the powerful Merchants walloped a record 63 roundtrippers.
The 1960 season was the final one for Papini and the Merchants, but Papini was far from idle when it came to sports.
He had begun his career in education as a mathematics teacher at California Community High School with the start of the 1956-57 term, and he was serving as a coach in football, basketball and baseball. He taught for 41 years before retiring in 1997 and served as varsity head coach in baseball, football and basketball (boys and girls).
Papini’s 1981-82 girls basketball team reeled off 19 straight wins on their way to a 22-1 record and the Section 15 championship. Tammy Lincoski paced California and completed her career with 1,450 points. Also comprising the Trojanettes were Rene Scrip, Terri Mitchell, Vicki Keener, Lori Leyda, Lisa Huffman, Sue Williams, Lee Hayes, Regina Keefer, Linda Williamson and Linda Monovich. The CAHS women bowed to St. Paul’s Cathedral 58-48 in the first round of the WPIAL Tournament at California State College’s Hamer Hall on March 2.
“It was becoming a very busy time in our lives,” Papini recalled of the start of his career in teaching and coaching. “It’s probably good that (sandlot) baseball was part of my past. We had started a family, there was no lack of activities at school – every minutes of the day was accounted for.”
Papini and his wife, the former Jessie Lou Petrick of Roscoe, are the parents of five children and have 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
“Three of our children chose military careers, so we have traveled to places I never dreamed of visiting,” Papini said. “Our grandchildren are involved in sports and other activities and we’ve kept busy following them. We’re very proud of our family. God certainly blessed us in that respect and in many other ways.”
(Grateful acknowledgement to Ron Paglia’s biography on Larry Papini which appeared in the The Valley Independent February 28, 2012)
Past Inductees
Read about our past Inductees here!