Joseph C. Ambrose

• Post by: mcalibrary
• December 19, 2023
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INDUCTEE

People who saw Joe Ambrose compete in three sports as a Mt. Carmel High School athlete rave about his combination of speed, strength, and toughness. They wonder what he might have accomplished with the opportunity to go on in college.

A big rawboned kid, Ambrose was a Fullback who averaged 71 yards per carry for the Tornadoes. He was athletic enough to average 19.6 points a game for the Tornado Basketball squad, and fast enough to break District IV records in BOTH the 180 yard low hurdles and the 120 yard. Despite that Fullback-size, he finished an amazing 4th in the PIAA State Class A Finals.

He was recognized for his all around talent by the Reading Eagle, who voted him the Lower Anthracite Area’s Outstanding Athlete. He closed out his high school athletic career by being named the Outstanding Defensive Player in the Big 33 game at Hershey. His fine play at defensive end led his East team to a 7-6 victory over the Western PA. All Stars.

Shortly after high school Ambrose was drafted into the Army and received awards as “Outstanding Basic Training Leader”. He served a tour of duty in Vietnam and was decorated with the Army Commendation Medal, the Oak Leaf with “V” Device Medal and the Bronze Star.