Ilion High School - Class of 1955

Herkimer Evening Telegram - June 10, 1955

Awards Given Ilion High Athletes, Owens Warns Excess Speed Harmful

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Photo Caption: AT BLOCK "I" DINNER - Present to make the awards at the annual Ilion High School Block "I" Dinner last night at the Rand Cafeteria were (front row from left) Rev. R. Louis Somers, rector of St. Augustine's Episcopal Church; Joseph Baker, principal of Ilion High School; Mrs. Jane Bellinger, physical education teacher; Miss Jean Henry and Mrs. Ruth Derby. (Back row from left) George Purple, superintendent of the Board of Education; Frank Connors, former Notre Dame grid star; Rev. Sablan Kyrelels; Al Williams; Steven Owens, former New York Giants professional football coach; Leo Grygiel, football coach; Bart Shelly, baseball and basketball coach; Richard Everhart, tennis coach; Stan Wilski; Arthur Coons, track coach; and Joseph Sorge, table-tennis, volleyball and badminton coach. (Staff Photo)

Awards Given Ilion High Athletes, Owens Warns Excess Speed Harmful

ILION - Steve Owens, former coach of the New York Giants professional football team, advised laurel-winning student athletes at Ilion High School's Block I dinner last night a return to horse and buggy speeds might be advisable in this age of hurry.

"I often wonder," he told assembled athletes, "where we're hurrying to, and whether it wouldn't be advisable to get out the old horse and buggy again and slow down."

People used to walk to school or to the corner store, "but today we have automobiles and want to ride even a few steps. Some boys are having trouble with their legs as a consequence," he added.

"I never hurt my legs playing football, but I did hurt my head or probably wouldn't have played football as long as I did - 21 years."

"I do believe that if we don't do more walking within 100 years we'll probably turn into a race of people with one withered limb apiece."

Renews Career

The humorist and football mentor reviewed his long career in professional football and advised the crowd of 300 or more that he now lives in Oneida and invited everyone to come and see him.

"Any of you stop in," he said, "and have dinner with me. I won't tell you my address, but if you can find my house and find me in, with any food in the house, you're welcome to it."

Pictures of some highlights of big football games in which he has figured were also shown.

Owens was brought to the dinner by his friend, John Walker, president of the Ilion Parent Teachers Association, which sponsored the annual event in cooperation with Ilion Elks Lodge and the Ilion Volunteer Firemen. The dinner took place at the Remington-Rand cafeteria in East Clark St.

"Maybe we expect too much of our kids," the speaker told parents in the audience. "There has been a speedup in education as well as anything else. Today we have boys and girls graduating from high school at an age when some of us were getting out of the eighth grade. Most of you here tonight will graduate at 16 or 17 and get through college by 21 or so, if you choose to go. We expect a lot of these kids - maybe too much for their age. Take Connors (Frank Connors, toastmaster) and myself. We don't know yet what we want to do."

He spoke in praise of Ilion's showing at last Saturday's track meet at Rome and declared:

"Competition is a great thing and we should not fail to support athletics in any form because they fit us for life. When you get clipped from behind in football you shake it off and go on. It's the same in the business world. You're not down. You have to bounce up when this happens."

Similar inspiring words came from Mrs. Jane Bellinger, physical education instructor at Ilion High, who told award winners among girls of the school that "You are the finest group of girls I have had the chance to work with. I am very proud of you and of your accomplishments."

Wins Girls Award

Mrs. Bellinger presented the outstanding senior athlete award for girls to Pat McCormack, president of the Girls Athletic Council, who has been accepted as a physical education major at Cortland State Teachers College. Miss McCormack has been named top athlete in her class each year since she was in seventh grade.

Medals, trophies and varsity letters were presented to both girls and boys at the dinner for various athletic accomplishments through out the entire student body of the school.

Pat McCormack won awards in seven sports - soccer, volleyball, basketball, badminton, softball and archery and track, taking six first places in track events out of a possible eight.

Another promising girl athlete appeared among the winners, Brenda Cudhea, who earned a block letter in her freshman year.

Soccer, Beverly Tutty, Pat McCormack, Charlene Jennott and Betty Hand; field hockey, Ellen Perry, Pat Stilwell, captain, and Ann Rhodes; volleyball, Pat McCormack, Betty Hand, captain, Barbara Irving and Beverly Tutty; basketball, Betty Hand, Beverly Tutty, Pat McCormack and Floy Golden.

Bowling, Judy Lang, captain, and highest average bowler; badminton, Beverly Tutty and Pat McCormack; softball, Beverly Tutty, Pat McCormack, Brenda Cudhea and Marilyn Murray; archery, Pat McCormack; tennis, Beverly Tutty, and track, Pat McCormack. In most of these sports Ilion has won Iroquois League championships.

A rising hand of congratulations was given the girls at the conclusion of their award presentations, and then Connors Introduced Richard Everhart, tennis coach, who presented awards in that sport to Ed Harter, Wayne Hammond, Gary Bedworth and Kirk Gilbert.

In the absence of John Westbrook, bowling coach, awards in that sport were presented by Joseph Sorge, coach of table tennis, volleyball and badminton. Bowling awards went to John John Westbrook, Carl Shomberg, Robert Richards, Richard Cormia, Walter Benthall, Earl Tibbits, Wayne Jones, Andy Rasmussen and Edward Kibbe.

Sorge then presented table tennis awards to Vince Durant, Gordon Disotele and Allen Briand; badminton, Larry Sickler, Ed Harter and Kirk Gilbert, who was not present; volleyball, Dave Mead, John Fifield, Richard Hegeman, Donald Loopman, Richard Jocmas, and Co-Capts. Glen Darrow and Donald Bouck.

Cross-country letters were presented by Arthur Coons, track and wrestling coach, to Allen Kennell, Larry Paul, Robert Eggleston, David Mead, James Long and James Small.

Wrestling Trophies

Trophies for wrestling went to Bryan Carney and Alfred Sheldon, James Brown, James Dennison, Robert King, Richard Frosch, John Noll, freshman with 31 points out of a possible 50, Ronald Leonis, Joseph Menore, Frank Huffman. Francis DeJohn, second wrestler to score a thousand per cent in league wrestling in the school's history, Sam Geloso, and John Momberger and Francis Fresco, co-captains. Fresco was the 145-lb. Iroquois League wrestling champ with more than 800 per cent.

Track awards went to Ronald Dawson, Folsom Sellwood, Jack Noll, Colin Kamp, Allen Getman, described as one of the best .440 men in the school and a possible sectional champion, and Tom Hackman.

Larry Murphy was praised for four years faithful participation in track when given an award, as was Allen Kennell. Other track awards went to James Small, Nick Smith David Mead, Earl Tibbits, Bill Dack, 220 yard, dash winner who goes into inter-sectional competition this Saturday, James Long and Larry Paul, co-captains, Gordon Dennison and Edward Kibbe.

Coons concluded his presentations by disclosing that many track coaches of other schools had said to him, "Art, if we can't win this year, we want Ilion to win it."

Jim Long and Larry Paul, as co-captains of track, then presented to Joseph Baker, principal of Ilion High, the section 3 relay trophy for Class B schools. Ilion's track team also won the Iroquois League championship and has been undefeated.

Diamond-Court Awards

Basketball and baseball awards were presented to athletes by Coach Bart Shelley. Baseball awards went to Wayne Murphy, David Jones, Clay Fuller, Joseph Fortuna, Vince Durant, Howard Dunning, John Cooper, Bryan Carney, Richard Adams, John Picket, captain, Larry Yapell, and Bryan Brunette.

Basketball awards went to Wayne Murphy, Larry Murphy, Nick Smith, Ronnie Wheeler, David Williams, Robert Manley, John Cooper and Jack Picket.

Leo Grygiel, football coach, gave letters and other awards to Larry Murphy and John Picket, co-captains, Earl Tibbetts, John Manley, Colin Kamp, Fred Rowlands, John Momberger, Bob Phillips, Ken Dack, John Cooper, James Remis, Ben Russell, Bryan Carney, Francis Fresco, Bryan Brunett, Wayne Murphy, first frosh to win a letter in many years, Nick Smith, Ed Bowers, Larry Yapell and Bill Dack.

Louis Somers, rector of St. Augustine's Episcopal Church. Baker introduced various guests at the speakers' table, and Connors, the toastmaster. Remarks also were made by George Purple, secretary of the Ilion board of education before the presentations began. The Rev. Fabian Kyreleis, assistant pastor of the Church of the Annunciation, gave benediction at the conclusion of the program.

Mrs. Ruth Derby and Miss Jean Henry also were seated at the speakers table as cheerleaders.