Reverand Paul Burak

• Post by: mcalibrary
• December 19, 2023
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INDUCTEE

When Ed Romance dreamed of the Hall of Fame, which now bears his name, he always talked about what the Coal Regions’ great athletes had become after their playing days were over.

He felt the Hall of Fame’s greatest contribution, besides honoring the great athletes themselves, was that it served as an inspiration to a while new generation of athletes…who could use the accomplishments of the older guys as a benchmark, a standard, for their own performance.

Almost without exception, our great athletes have honored themselves and out communities, after they quit competing in athletics; but none more satisfyingly than Paul Burak.

He was just a sophomore on the great ‘44 Kulpmont team, a solid running back and defender among his older, more celebrated, teammates. But he grew into an outstanding two sport athlete by the time he graduated in 1947.

After graduation he attended Charlotte Hall Military Academy in Maryland, and was awarded an Athletic Scholarship to the University of Scranton. While at Scranton he was a member of the boxing team and was elected captain of the football team.

At a time in life where a lot of us were trying to figure it out, he had it figured. He decided to attend a Seminary and study for the Priesthood. He was ordained into the priesthood in 1957; and like all good athletes and team players he went where he could do the most good. He served at Holy Trinity in Youngstown, Ohio; Immaculate Conception in Hamtramack, Mich; St. Andrews in Philadelphia; Annunciation B.V.M., Philadelphia; St. Vladimirs, New Kensington; St. John the Baptist, McKeesport; and St. Mary’s Parsonage, McAdoo.

He died at the age of 57. But he was the kind of athlete and person the Hall of Fame is proud to have as a member.