INDUCTEE Al is one of the great little men who dominated athletics in the late 20’s at Mount Carmel High School. In football, he was at his best when the going was toughest as in the famous game against Shenandoah at Lost Creek/. This is the game which made the Tornadoes the champions of the Eastern Conference. Even though he was hurt, he played an outstanding game against the big, tough Shenandoah team that featured the likes of Ed Katalinas and Bobby Nork. Fortunately, he recovered in time to help Mount Carmel win the State championship against Bellefonte in a game at Penn State. Al and Jim Morrison, who was previous inductee, were the leading receivers of quarterback Mike Terry on the team. He lettered in football, basketball and track for four years at Mount Carmel High School. He also held the record in the low hurdles for a number of years and was a member of some good Mount Carmel High School mile relay teams. Following high school, he went to Beckely College in Harrisburg, which at that time was a favorite stop for many coal region athletes. You could imagine Beckley compiled a fine football won and lost record during that period. After graduation, he returned to Mount Carmel Township where he coached football and basketball along with fellow inductee, Charlie Karlow. His most successful athlete was Len Eshmont, who later made history at Fordham and with the San Francisco 49’ers. His high school coaching career was interrupted by a hitch in the Navy. After the war he returned to Mount Carmel Township, where he was given the job of reviving the athletic program. He was also an outstanding musician. At one time or another, he has been a member of almost every region band. He still makes appearances with Shamokin’s “Our Band”. He enjoys retirement, presently living in Atlas, Pa.

INDUCTEE Ray Green was an unusual high school athlete. Even though he was short and strong, which made him a natural lineman, he was versatile enough to run the mile on some very good track teams. He was an outstanding high school athlete, who received a football scholarship to attend Bucknell University. He was a starting guard as a sophomore. Against St. Thomas University, he blocked a punt, picked it up and ran it in for a touchdown, which gave Bucknell a 12-6 victory. As a result of that victory, Bucknell was chosen to play in the first Orange Bowl game in 1935. AS a college senior, he was selected to play in the college all-star game against the Philadelphia Eagles. One of his teammates was Vince Lombardi. Ray returned to Mount Carmel to work and began his coaching career at Mount Carmel Catholic. His Mount Carmel Catholic teams were known for their hard hitting tough brand of football. He later moved to Mount Union coached there for a short period, then returned to Minersville where his teams were perennial conference contenders. He was one of 13 children of hard working parents. Like so many others, his only opportunity to get out of the coal region was to capitalize on his athletic ability. So when the opportunity to play under Coach Carl Snavely at Bucknell presented itself, he was willing to do whatever it took. He paid for his meals by digging coal on weekends, and then bartering the coal for food at the College Inn in Lewisburg. Ray Green is presently enjoying retirement at his home in Hegins, Pa.

INDUCTEE Tom Vershinski was such an outstanding athlete in so many sports that it would be difficult to choose which sport was his best. Tom was an extremely big man for that day. And the combination of his height and strength, together with his outstanding speed, made him a great three-spot athlete in Mount Carmel. He captained the football, basketball and track teams in 1932 when e graduated. He threw discus, high jumped, and held the school record in the long jump for many years., After high school, he attended West Chester State on a football scholarship, and in 1932, ran 85 yards for the winning touchdown as West Chester State defeated Indiana State for State Teacher’s college championship, 6-0. He transferred to Bloomsburg State in 1933, where he played football, basketball, track and baseball. In 1933, he won the State Teacher’s discus title. He began teaching at Mount Carmel High School in 1947. He was an assistant under Mike Terry, and was also head basketball coach. Probably his outstanding player during that period was his son, Tom. Jr., one of the finest athletes ever to compete at Mount Carmel High School. He also coached baseball and his 1948 team was good enough to win the South Anthracite League championship. He is remembered by many students and former athletes, this great sportsman, teacher, and athlete. He died on September 14, 1985.

INDUCTEE Tom “The Bomb” Alexander- Tommy Alexander has always had a little bit of recognition problem. Because he was surrounded by so many outstanding athletes, the tendancy was to give others the praise. However, even on the basis of his statistics, he belongs right there with the Doviak’s and Buchinski’s when the great quarterbacks of Mount Carmel High School are recalled. Tom holds seven Mount Carmel High School passing reords. Among these are: The leading career pass completeiong percentage of 51.6%. The one season pass completion percentage of 56.76% in 1969. The fewest career interceptions. The most games with a pass completion. The most extra points rushing in one season. And the most extra points passed for in one season. In addition, he is among the top 10 in single game passing, single season passing, career passing, career and season touchdowns, and career and season completions. He was, pure and simple, a winner. Is record as a quarterback form Mount Carmel teams was 57 and 1. His only loss came in the 1970 Eastern Conference championship game at Valley View when Valley View shocked the Tornadoes 14-8/ Putting his leadership role in perspective is a fact that in 25 years of coaching at Mount Carmel High School, Jazz Diminick allowed only one quarterback to call his own plays. That Quarterback was Tom Alexander. After graduation, Tom quarterbacked for four years at Salem College in Salem., West Virginia. His record as a starting quarterback there was 20 wins, 8 losses and 2 ties. “Tom the Bomb” is still a winner. He runs an auto dealership in Sunbury and lives on a farm in Paxinos, Pa.

INDUCTEE Lenny Kuczewski epitomized the football player who used courage, quickness, desire and brains to overcome his lack of size, and become an outstanding high school and college football player. He was, along with previous inductee, Ralph Menapace, one of Mike Terry’s famous “watch charm guards”. He had a sixth sense, which gave him the ability to diagnose plays quickly, and he was able to make tackled in the opponent’s backfield over and over. After graduating from high school, he felt he was too small for college football and joined the Army. The lure of the gridiron became too much for him, however, and he soon found himself in a football uniform while in the service. He performed so well as a member of some service teams for talent that they knew would be available as soon as the war ended. Coach Bob Devaney of the University of Wyoming saw something special in Lenny Kuczewskiu. Coach Devaney came to Mount Carmel and recruited Lenny between shifts at a local coal mine. With the encouragement of his family and friends, he decided to give college football a shot. He attended the University of Wyoming, and was an outstanding lineman, and captained the team in his senior year. He was named most valuable player in the Sun Bowl.

SCHOLAR ATHLETE When Ed Romance got his plans for a Sports Hall of Fame going, he insisted on one additional award each year- the honoring of the Outstanding High School Scholar Athlete. He recognized the importance of encouraging excellence not only in sports, but academics as well. We have always had outstanding award winners, but Lori Rothermel’s accomplishments rank with the best. Lori is #1 in her class with an average of 97.52. He SAT scores are 1259. She is president of the National Honor Society. He has won District Championships in booth informative and persuasive speaking. She’s been a Summer scholar at both Lebanon Valley College and Washington and lee University. She was Rotary’s Exchange Student to Korea in 1985-86, and a winner of Lebanon Valley College’s Presidential Leadership Scholarship. Athletically, she’s just as big a winner. She’s lettered in four sports: Cross country, track, swimming and basketball. She captained last Fall’s Girl’s District Courses year’s Lady Tornado Track Team. Lori has narrowed her choice of colleges to four; Princeton, Bucknell, Penn and Lebanon Valley. Lori is the daughter of Linda and Ray Rothermel of Mount Carmel. This delightful, pretty teenager will continue to succeed wherever she decided to go- accomplishment is part of her makeup.

INDUCTEES The legend, of course, becomes the truth. We’ve heard about it dozens of times, yet never tire of hearing it again. But, it seems everyone has a story about that state championship game. Were they really the best team ever to represent Mount Carmel? Were the weather conditions really the worst ever? The best thing is that one of life’s most enjoyable pastimes is a sports argument and that team provided more than its share. Thirteen of that team’s members still live. They are: Joseph Ambrose, Springfield, Mo.; Charles Beierschmitt, Grand Crest Nursing Home; Dan Helwig, Willow Grove; Albert Jones, Elysburg; James Magennis, Mount Carmel; George Homiak, Diamondtown; Albert Masciantonio, Atlas ; Albert Mickalitis, Mount Carmel; Raymond Miller, Mount Carmel; Joseph “Pooch” Orzechowskie, Detroit; Charles Reed, Sunbury; Edward Sarisky, Mount Carmel; Robert Toy, Grand View Nursing Home.

INDUCTEE Jack Buchinski was Jack Armstrong come to life. In the late 30’s and early 40’s, Jack Armstrong was a storybook sports hero who made all the big plays under pressure- an all-round athlete who quietly led his team to victory in all sports. Mike Terry used to say great athletes come in cycles. And in that period, 1948 to 1952, Kulpmont High had many of its greatest all playing at the same time. Jack starred in basketball, football and baseball at Kulpmont High. He and Joey Hanlon led the Wildcats to Championships in all three sports. But it was in basketball that he found his special place. During the 1950-51 season, Jack averaged 21.5 points per game over the 23-game season, as he led Kulpmont to the Keystone League Championship. He topped off his terrific season by being named Honorable Mention All-State. At that point, it was the most points ever scored by a Kulpmont Basketball Player, and you can put his All-State Mention is perspective by realizing that his All-State Teammates included Julius McCoy, Joe Hollip, Tom Gola and Ed Fleming. Jack also starred as an end and halfback in football and a pitcher and second baseman in baseball. He became the highest scoring end in Kulpmont High School history, and averaged 9.9 yards per carry as a running back.

INDUCTEE The 1935 yearbook at Mount Carmel Catholic High School spoke of Francis Paul Crawford: Born for success he seemed, with the grace to win and the heart to hold, with shining gifts that took all eyes. His exploits on the gridiron were second to none. When Father Clark decided to make Mount Carmel Catholic a four-year high school in 1932, he felt a football program would help promote activities. Even though a sophomore, Francis “Pretz’ Crawford became the leader and for three years captained those first Ram Squads. Upon graduation, he did not go immediately on to college. Economics forced a short stint as a mine worker, and he began boxing as a local amateur to pass the time away. He began a love affair with boxing which lasted all his l ife. He received his undergraduate degree at Villanova, then continued in the Seminary at Catholic University. He also held a special degree in education from DePaul University. He was ordained a priest in 1944. His assignments were primarily at two Chicago High Schools: St. Rita’s and Mendel. He held titles of Dean of Discipline, Athletic Director, and Principal. His love of boxing caused him to start a Golden Gloves Boxing Program in Chicago. The program brought him into contact with many leasing boxing figures, including one young man named Tony Zale, who went on to great renown. He died in 1979 at age 62. He was honored in 1981 by St. Rita’s High School by being included in their Hall of Fame.

INDUCTEE Victor “Wop” DiRienzo, nicknamed the “Township Express”, player for the Mount Carmel Wolverines in the late 20’s and early 30’s.  He was lightning fast and could turn direction at any time regardless of field or weather conditions. He was considered one of the greatest runners of early day football. In one of the best games against Kulpmont Sons of Italy, Wop scooped up a punt on his own 30 yard line, reversed his field, and ran 70 yards through an ocean of mud through the entire Kulpmont Sons of Italy team for the only touchdown of the game. The run was the only score in a game which helped the Wolverines retain the County Championship. Earlier the same year, the “Township Express” ran 50 yards for the only touchdown of the game to beat the Shamokin entry in the league. Unlike present day athletes, whose accomplishments are recorded faithfully, old time athletes cannot rely on their statistics to prove their greatness. Instead, it is necessary to rely on the word of fans who have seen these players in action. Wop DiRienzo’s fans are many. Anyone who has seen him play will testify to the fact that he was a great athlete, a great runner who would have starred in any era.