In a break from the tradition of showering honor after honor on today’s athletes, a move is under way to bring overdue recognition to the people who help athletes become great. The Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame has been founded with the express purpose of honoring the outstanding coaching legacy that has developed over the years in Montgomery County.
A select group of people with a vast and varied background in Montgomery County sports was formed to serve as the selection committee. Annually, this group goes through a list of nominees for a new class of Hall of Fame inductees.
The induction banquet is held at Westover Country Club in Jeffersonville, Pa. and always takes place in the fall – often times on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.
In founding the Hall of Fame, the committee has formed an alliance with the Norristown Police Athletic League. Norristown PAL will be the recipient of funds from the induction banquet and houses the Hall of Fame in a prominent area of the new PAL Center. Formerly an armory in Norristown, the new PAL Center underwent a major renovation and houses a gymnasium, a learning center and a computer center for use by area youngsters.
John Pergine, a legendary area athlete who was an All-America linebacker at Notre Dame and played in the National Football League with the Los Angeles Rams and the Washington Redskins, was elected the first president of the Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame. He then appointed Dale Hood vice president, Jim Davis chairman of the Selection Committee and Tony Leodora secretary/treasurer. A large Advisory Board, consisting of prominent individuals throughout Montgomery County, was formed and handled operation of the banquet. Currently, there have been some changes as President John Pergine stepped down, but remains as part of the advisory board and legendary Sportswriter and PA State Hall of Famer, Tony has been elected as the new President. Jim Davis has retired from the board, Tom Catagnus is now chairman of the Selection Committee.
Anyone born or raised in Montgomery County, or anyone who was born outside the county but spent a significant portion of their coaching career in the county is eligible for induction to the Hall. Nominations can be made by contacting any member of the selection committee or by writing to MCCHOF, 803 Northview Blvd., Norristown, Pa. 19401.
HALL OF FAME SELECTION COMMITTEE
Tom Brady
A basketball and baseball star at Bishop Kenrick High School. Became a highly successful ASA Softball Umpire, held State District Umpire-in-Chief position and Montco Umpires President position. Turned his interests to High School sports as he was a PIAA official for many years and currently is the PIAA District-1 Assignor. He is a retiree from the United States Postal Service He resides in East Norriton.
Bob Davis
Currently works in the guidance department at Norristown High. Spent many years as the Recreation Director for West Norriton Township, coached many of the sports and ran the youth leagues. Graduate of Tampa University.
Gordan Glantz CHAIRMAN
A Temple University graduate with a degree in Journalism. After graduation, he worked at the “Times Herald” newspaper for the next 12 years. He was one of local area’s top sports aficionados covering everything there was to cover on the local sports scene. He was the Managing Editor when he left to pursue his lifelong interest to be a freelance writer. His vast knowledge of the teams, players, managers and coaches is extremely valuable to this organization. He currently writes columns for Suburbanonesports.com and Phillyphanatics.com. He also has his own blog called Ingordonville.com which covers topics of all subjects.
Dale Hood
A quarterback and first baseman at Norristown High, he went on to a semi-pro baseball career and played professional softball for the Philadelphia A’s. Still plays softball and has been named a National MVP Award winner. He is known throughout the country as one of the most talented and respected Senior Softball players. he has won so many National Championships and collected so many individual awards, its impossible to keep track of them. Active on many levels in the local sporting scene, he now lives in Limerick and is a real estate and insurance broker.
Tony Leodora
A Plymouth Whitemarsh and Villanova grad, he was sports editor of The Times Herald for 15 years. He was editor of Philadelphia Golf and Golf Traveler magazines and now is associate publisher and editor of GolfStyles Philadelphia magazine, as well as president of a golf-specific public relations, marketing and event management company. He is enshrined in the Philadelphia City Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. He is a Philadelphia Sports Writers Association past president and host of the Golf Styles Live radio show on WNTP 990-AM and Traveling Golfer television show on Comcast SportsNet. He still has a weekly column in the Times Herald newspaper.
Joe Manzo
Played football and baseball at Norristown High and Hargrave Military Academy and Ferrum College. Involved in area business for many years and now serves as president of Brain Pads, Inc., a Conshohocken-based company that develops jaw joint protector mouth guards for athletes in all sports. Very involved in the effort of reducing concussions and other head trauma injuries in contact sports.
Joe Rowan
A Bishop Kenrick High School graduate who excelled in Football. He was a Linebacker and in 1987 was selected All Catholic, All City and was honored as the scholastic Defensive Player of the Year. Joe also was named by the Daily News as one of only five players from Bishop Kenrick as an Honorable Mention on the 1980s all decade team. Received a football scholarship to attend Fordham University where he graduated with honors and played linebacker for all four years. He then received his Masters Degree (MBA) from St. Joseph’s University. Currently a Regional Vice President for Prudential Mutual Funds.
Jim Serratore
A graduate of Norristown High and Temple, he served as president of the Norristown High Parents Club. He is active in sports at the community level and after six years as a statistician was elevated to assistant coach of Norristown High basketball. A resident of East Norriton, he serves the community as an East Norriton commissioner and is a sales representative for Samson Paper Co. His volunteer work is second to none as he is a member of the Holy Savior Club and on the board for the Norristown PAL. Each year, he and his wife take a group of high school students over to Montella, Italy for two weeks to learn about all the cultures of Norristown’s sister city.
Gary Smith
Formerly a teacher and well respected coach in the Colonial School District for many years, as well as being a tremendous athlete himself, he recently retired and currently is involved in a number of projects in the golf industry. He is the event coordinator for the Montgomery County Amateur Championship and works with TL Golf Services on a number of other golf events in the area.
Nina Smith
Star athlete at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School and West Chester University. Taught and coached at Methacton High before moving over to Germantown Academy where she continues to teach and coach.
Rick Troncelliti
A well-known Montgomery County attorney, who received his undergraduate degree from Brown University and his law degree from Villanova University. Fomer West Norriton township supervisor, he spearheaded the effort to renovate Jeffersonville Golf Club and get it officially recognized as the 400th golf course designed by acclaimed architect Donald Ross.
Rod Vaughan
A Norristown High School graduate who also starred in softball for a number of years. Now retired from UPS and is currently the Norristown High School assistant varsity baseball coach and also the pitching coach. He has spent much of his life volunteering for the West Norriton Little League Program. He received the WNLL Founders Award in 2011, equivalent of their Hall of Fame for what he has meant to that organization. Currently, he is a PIAA Official and can be found all over the area as a basketball referee and baseball umpire.
HONOR ROLL SELECTION COMMITTEE
Tom Brady – Chairman Dale Hood Joe Rowan Jim Serratore Rod Vaughan
THE FOUNDING FATHERS
John Pergine
Tony Leodora
Jim Davis
Dale Hood
Executive Board of Directors
Dale Hood President
Jim Serratore First Vice President
Tom Brady Second Vice President
Tony Leodora Secretary/Treasurer
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
Tom Brady Tony Leodora Josh Shapiro Geoff Brandon Joe Manzo Val Arkoosh Kevin Burke Tom McGee Bob Shoudt Dave Coupe Megan McGowan Mary Jane Souder Bob Davis John Pergine Gary Smith Joe Gale Harvey Portner Nina Smith Sam Gallen Dave Ritting Rick Troncelitti Gordon Glantz Joe Rowan Rod Vaughan Steve Harner Bob Schaefer Mark Werkiser Dale Hood Jim Serratore
