White Plains High School Athletics Hall of Fame (Care of White Plains Athletics) 550 North Street White Plains, NY 10605 914-422-2237 Web site: http://www.whiteplainspublicschools.org “123 Years of Athletic Tradition” Executive Committee Officers President Chuck Stogel Vice President Skip Stevens Secretary Nick Panaro Treasurer Sue Adams Fred Singleton Dan Woodard Patty Gilmartin John Donahoe Don Gano Ellen Doherty – Principal Matt Cameron – Athletic Director FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FFI: Chuck Stogel, 914-428-6111, chstogel@aol.com White Plains High School to Hold Athletics Hall of Fame Inductions on Friday evening, Nov WHITE PLAINS, NY (September 2017) - The White Plains High School Athletics Hall of Fame, with a roster of 14 outstanding individuals, will hold its third annual Induction Event on Friday evening, November 3, in the Media Center at the high school The ceremonies begin at pm and are open to all: family, friends, interested persons and groups There is no charge to attend the event, which includes a reception prior to the inductions The actual inductions begin at 6:15 pm The roster of honorees for 2017: Frank Becerra Sr., Kristin Donahoe Becerra, Sam Bowers, Bill Cain, Michelle Donnelly, Ricky Edwards, Dick Gardella, Jim Gray, Bob Horton, Dave Jackson, Jermaine Johnson, Frank Lyman, Lou Mark, John Messemer Last year, the honorees included: Tom DePaso, Manson Donaghey, Alan Egler, Whitney Ford, Otis Hill, Aaron Hopkins, Charlie Jenkins, Ed Kehe, Oscar Moore, Frank Navarro, George Rooks Sr., Don Salls, Art Schult, Carl Waite, Bruce Weinstein, Brant Wintersteen, Sal Yvars, 1966 WPHS 880 & One Mile Relay teams (Dave Jackson, Carl Reed, Larry James, Otis Hill) In 2015, the first WPHS Athletics Hall of Fame class comprised: Nicole Boykin, Frank Briante, Mal Graham, Larry James, Harry Jefferson, Grover Jones, Dean Loucks, Glenn Loucks, Dr Anthony “Champ” Marano, Craig Masback, Art Monk, Dick Nolan, Dr Jason Parker, Jay Saldi, Len Watters For further information, please contact Chuck Stogel, Sports Hall of Fame president, at 914-428-6111 (phone) or chstogel@aol.com (e-mail) Here is a capsule look at the induction class for 2017: Frank Becerra Sr.: Graduated 1945 He captured the humor, drama and spirit of the Metropolitan area sports, and otherwise - for five decades as chief artist and cartoonist for the Westchester Rockland Newspapers He was known for his unique style of artistry, often portraying local figures from the realms of politics, society and sports A former radioman in the U.S Coast Guard, he created cartoons and illustrations not only for WRN, but for NBC Sports, the Football Giants, National Lampoon, Sport magazine, Field & Stream, the Met Golf Association and many others He passed away in 2009 Kristin Donahoe Becerra: Graduated 1995 A four-year starter and two-year captain of the Tigers girls baskeball team, selected All League and All Section three times Outstanding female athlete at WPHS in 1995 Played four seasons for Colgate at the Division I level; captain in her senior year Coached at various levels Now a teacher at Briarcliff HS Sam Bowers: Graduated 1975 Football and basketball player All county football in 1973 and 1974, All State sixth team in 1973, All State first team in 1974 Starting forward in basketball Played football at Westchester Community College and Fordham University Numerous tryouts with pro teams; was a starting tight end in the USFL with the New Jersey Generals Bill Cain: Graduated 1966 Starting center for two seasons on varsity boys basketball team Averaged 15.2 ppg in 1965-66, and was named All County, leading Tigers to 20-1 record and Section championship Inducted into the Iowa State University Hall of Fame, was named All Big Eight in basketball 1969 and 1970, leading Cyclones in both scoring and rebounding Third round draft pick by NBA’s Portland Trailblazers, played pro basketball in Belgium and France Currently lives in France Michelle Donnelly: Graduated 1980 Cross country, track & field star Holds school records in six events, which have lasted 37 years Still owns top times in Westchester County outdoors for 800 meters, 1,500 meters, mile run and numerous indoor times, including Section best 2:34.8 for 1,000 yards All County and All Section multiple times Ricky Edwards: Graduated 1979 Football, basketball, track & field 1979 Westchester County and Section champion in the long jump, and still ranks among all-time leaders All County football in 1978, and All State sixth team Outstanding rusher, receiver and returner Averaged 16.0 ppg as a senior in basketball Standout running back and returner at Northwestern University, where he was All Big Ten; led conference and was second in the nation with 83 receptions in 1983 Dick Gardella: Graduated 1953 Practicing attorney in Westchester Former chairman of the WPHS Tiger Fans Committee and current president of the school’s Alumni Association A four-sport athlete in high school (football, basketball, baseball, track) Played center in football; earned All County and All Metropolitan honors playing on three consecutive undefeated Tigers teams (1950-51-52) Played football at Williams College for former WPHS coach Len Watters and played on a U.S Army team in Germany Currently special counsel to the Village of Scarsdale Jim Gray: Graduated 1959 Football, track & field Standout halfback and defensive back for Tigers football Two-sport athlete at University of Toledo (Class of 1964); member of school’s Athletics Hall of Fame Ran sprints, relays and competed in broad jump in track, winning several conference titles Had 1,336 all-purpose yards for 1963 Rockets football team, then played for coach Ara Parseghian and East team in American Football Coaches All-America Game as a senior in 1964 Drafted by New York Jets of AFL, played briefly for Jets and then NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles Bob Horton: Graduated 1960 Tight end and defensive end for Tigers in football, named All County third team as senior in 1959 Star wide receiver and fullback at Boston University Drafted in 1964 by San Diego, played two seasons with Chargers in the American Football League Dave Jackson: Graduated 1966 Football, basketball, track Exceptional all-around athlete, now being recognized individually after induction into WPHS Athletics Hall of Fame last year as part of 1966 Tigers relay quartet Starting halfback with combination of power, speed and versatility for three seasons in football Also played three seasons of varsity basketball (teammate of Bill Cain), winning Section championship with 20-1 record in 1965-66 On track, was New York State champion at 100 yards, and part of relay that set two national records (880, mile) at a time when many races were held on cinder tracks Won numerous individual and relay events, including the Penn Relays Letterwinner at halfback for three seasons at University of Illinois, leading Illini in rushing in 1969 senior season Jermaine Johnson: Graduated 1991 Long and triple jump specialist Seven times Section champion and three times Loucks Games champion in track & field; still school record holder in four events Holds New York State freshman outdoor record in long jump, and still second best in Westchester County and third all-time in Section Holds freshman and sophomore State records in triple jump, and still among the leaders in both Westchester and Section Indoors, still has best-ever in Westchester and Section long jump; won State championship in 1991 His 50-3.25 indoors for triple jump still second best in both Westchester and Section annals Frank Lyman: Graduated 1969 Football, wrestling, track & field All County for five consecutive seasons in three sports Two-time Section wrestling champ; two-time Section pole vault champion; All County fullback in football, was leading scorer on undefeated 1968 Tigers Winner of Con Ed and Dellwood Awards Senior wrestling record in Section 1: 25-0 WPHS Athlete of the Year, 1968-69 Attended Hofstra on football scholarship and also was captain of wrestling team Qualified for NCAA Division I finals in wrestling twice 11 varsity letters in three sports at Hofstra Played preseason for NY Jets, catching a TD pass from Joe Namath, and was on practice squad with New England Patriots Lou Mark: Graduated 1934 Starting center and defensive lineman on Tigers in 1932 and 1933 Named best center in Metropolitan area in 1933 Played linebacker and center on North Carolina State varsity for three seasons (1935-36-37) Played 39 games across four pro football seasons for Brooklyn Dodgers and then Boston Yanks John Messemer: Graduated 1980 Tri-captain for Tigers in three sports (football, wrestling, track & field) Two-way lineman/linebacker and placekicker in football, starter in 1978 and 1979 with Tigers overall 18-1 record (including 10-0 in 1979 Named All State as linebacker All County wrestling selection in 1980 with 26-7 individual record and third place in Section championships as Tigers won sectional team title All County in discus as a senior when WPHS won Section team title in track Played football for four years and wrestling for two seasons at Marian University Coached both football and wrestling at various levels Currently teaches at Westlake - www.whiteplainspublicschools.org - ... after induction into WPHS Athletics Hall of Fame last year as part of 1966 Tigers relay quartet Starting halfback with combination of power, speed and versatility for three seasons in football... lineman on Tigers in 1 932 and 1 933 Named best center in Metropolitan area in 1 933 Played linebacker and center on North Carolina State varsity for three seasons (1 935 -36 -37 ) Played 39 games across four... All Big Ten; led conference and was second in the nation with 83 receptions in 19 83 Dick Gardella: Graduated 19 53 Practicing attorney in Westchester Former chairman of the WPHS Tiger Fans Committee