The West Shore chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame is holding its induction tonight at the Radisson. Dr. Larry Cox and Jon Ritchie are being inducted.
Also, the Capital Area Chapter is holding its induction on Sunday. (Full disclosure: I'm a voting member of the CAC)
President Bob Gustin announced the 2009 nominees to be inducted into the Capital Area Chapter of the Pa Sports Hall of Fame local Chapter Hall of Fame. Festivities for the 45th annual affair begin at 3 pm at the Holiday Inn East in Harrisburg. The event is open to the public and ticket information can be obtained by contacting Secretary Bernie Radocha at 717-957-3150.
The following 7 nominees were selected via ballots cast by the 650 members of the chapter and the 8th was chosen for meritorious service to local sports endeavors. With this class of 2009, the total Chapter local inductions number 338.
The 5 Living Inductees are -
Ernie Accorsi Football Administration/Management - graduate of Hershey High School and Wake Forest University, he began as a Sports writer for the Baltimore Sun and Philadelphia Inquirer. He worked in the Sports Information Departments of St. Joseph's University and Penn State. He was the General Manager of the Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants when he retired in 2007 as Senior Vice President and General Manager. He was the architect of the NY Giants Championship team that created the transaction bringing Eli Manning to NY culminating in the 2008 Super Bowl win. In his 16 years as General Manager with the Colts and Browns his teams included 9 playoff squads, 6 division champions, and 4 Conference Championship contenders.
Robert Guyer Football, Coach- He began his career at Middletown High School as Assistant Football and Baseball Coach from 1975-1980. His coaching career then took him to Daytona Beach FL as Assistant Football Coach at Mainland High School from 1980-1983 and Head Baseball Coach from 1980-1982. Returning to Central PA in 1983 as Assistant Football Coach at Milton Hershey High School, he became the Head Football Coach in 1984 until his retirement in 2008. His accomplishments include 10 Greater Harrisburg Area Sportsmanship awards, 4 time Coach of the Year, 4 Conference Championships, 5 District III qualifiers. His program produced 404 college players, over 400 honor student athletes and over 200 All-Conference players.
Lee Parthemore Race Car Driver - A 1947 graduate of Lower Paxton High School he joined the Army National Guard and was activated during the Korean Conflict. He began driving competitively in 1954 at various local speedways. In 6 years he became one of the most popular local drivers whose featured wins include 27 at Silver Spring, 4 at Lincoln, 6 at Susquehanna and Penn National. In 1976 he won the 100 Lapper Race at Silver Spring and was crowned Track Champion at Silver Spring and Susquehanna Speedways. After 28 years of competitive racing, he retired in 2008 and switched to golf where he competes with a 12 handicap at Sportsman golf course.
Steve Shrawder Football - A 1960 graduate of Millersburg High School with 14 varsity letters, he was a 4 year starter and team captain in football earning a unanimous selection to the All Conference team. In 1960 attending Bullis Prep he was a starting running back and team captain. A 1962 appointee to the US Naval Academy, he continued his career at running back on the undefeated freshmen team. He became a 2-way player on a team with a 9-1 record playing Texas in the Cotton Bowl for the National Championship. In the 1964 and '65 seasons he played as a wide receiver who also returned punts and kickoffs. In 1965 he tied the modern day record with 4 touchdown pass receptions before breaking his collarbone. Returning to Pensacola for flight training in 1969 after his first tour in Viet Nam, he played with former teammate Roger Staubach on the Navy Goshawks team compiling a 7-1 record against Division 1-AA teams .
Rob Shuey Golf - A 2 yr starting quarterback for Central Dauphin High School, he started playing amateur golf winning the 1984 Public Links Championship. He turned professional in 1985 working at Blue Ridge Country Club. He competed in 9 PGA Tour sponsored events and 5 PGA Club Pro National Championships, winning in 2000 and 2008. He was honored as the Philadelphia PGA Player of the Year. His wins include over 30 CCC PGA Pro-Ams, 5 CCC PGA Chapter Championships, 16 Philadelphia Points Tournaments, a Philadelphia PGA Match Play Championship and 4 Harrisburg Opens.
The 2 Deceased Inductees are -
Mariano DeFilippo Basketball/Athletic Director - Played both football and basketball for Hall of Famer Les Ginanni at Catholic High in Harrisburg continuing as a 3 yr starter in basketball at Millersville University. He was Assistant JV Coach from 1957 to 1959 winning 42 of 43 games at Bishop McDevitt High School. During his tenure as a Coach and Athletic Director at McDevitt his teams earned 8 Central Penn Championships participating in the PCIAA Eastern State title and Eastern State finals games. He helped form the Central Penn Catholic League and Mid-Penn Conferences. Retired from coaching in 1978 as Asst. Football Coach to concentrate on the Athletic Director responsibilities. His career varsity record was 254 and 135.
George Kolarac Football Track - He attended Harrisburg Catholic High School from 1949-53 playing as an offensive and defensive lineman under coach Anthony Cernugel. As a 1952 co-captain he earned the NOBE FRANK award as "Lineman of the Year" and B'nai B'rith Sportsmanship Scholarship Award in addition to being named to the Central PA Catholic All Star team in 1951 and '52. Also named Honorary Captain of his High School Track and Field team from 1949-1953 setting the shot put record for that period. At the University of Maryland from 1953-57 he played offensive guard and defensive linebacker for Coach Jim Tatum participating in the 1956 Orange Bowl against Oklahoma. After his playing career ended he entered football coaching as a Graduate assistant at Maryland from 1958-59, Bishop McDevitt 1960-62, William Penn High School 1963-68, Lebanon Valley College 1969-71, Harrisburg High School 1972-76 during which he also coached Track and Field, and Bishop McDevitt 1977-78. His 1972 and 1976 Track teams were PIAA District III champions. He was also selected to coach the East-West All Star game on City Island.
The Meritorious Service Inductees is -
Robert Swanger Sr. Coaching youth Sports - Beginning as a coach in 1982 he has mentored hundreds of young male and female athletes in Football(4 yrs), Basketball(4 yrs), and Baseball(26 yrs). In baseball he coached 11 different all star tournament teams winning 6 championships and 1 runner-up title. His 1993 teams with a 13-0 record won the Susquehanna Valley and Central Penn tournaments. A Viet Nam vet currently retired, he continues to coach midget baseball with 39 years of service.
as well as umpire at the Pony Midget and Teener levels.
