Ilion High School - Class of 1949

The Herkimer Evening Telegram - December 1, 1948

Syracuse Frosh Coach Varsity Club Speaker

Article 9

Syracuse Frosh Coach Varsity Club Speaker

Ilion - Nearly 300 attended the Varsity Club banquet at the North St. School last night honoring this year's Ilion High School football team, the cheerleaders and coaches with Philip Johnson, freshman football coach at Syracuse University, as speaker.

Johnson was accompanied by Bernie Custis and George Davis, two of this year's outstanding players at Syracuse.

Wear Letters Proudly

Johnson told the squadmen that they should accept and wear their block letters proudly realizing that' they are an investment that the school has made to show the player that he has an obligation to the school and the community. Football teaches the fundamentals of fair play, loyalty, self-denial and cooperation.

The Rev. Francis P. Scott, assistant pastor of St. Anthony's Church, Herkimer, and a former Ilion High School athlete, gave the invocation and acted as toastmaster. Charles Smith, Varsity Club president introduced Father Scott.

Coach Leo Grygiel introduced these members of the varsity squad: Co-captains, Richard Bullis and Robert Morris, Jerry Boyle, Joseph Durkin, James Garnsey, Howard Harrig, Richard Hanley, Martin Lang, Kenneth Miller, William Morton, Richard Palmer.

Carl Pfiefer, Donald Polsin, John Rej, Stanley Ford, John Gollegly, Douglas Hall, Joseph Joy, Francis Manion, Robert Nunneker, Donald Pearson, Thomas Pierce, Dominick Putch, John Sullivan and Bert Warner.

Also present were varsity team managers Paul Sholes and Donald Hathaway; assistant coaches, Gus Panarites, Bernard Venema, Art Coons and Bart Shelley.

Cheerleaders Introduced

Varsity cheerleaders introduced were Marilyn Hiller, Leona Kibbe, Joan Murphy, Beverly Shaut, Ann Brocks [Brooks], Janet Match and Pat Bergin.

Each member of the team and the coaches received an engraved Wallet from Ralph Curtis, representing the Ilion Business Association. Miss Ethel Campbell, principal of North St. School, spoke briefly.

Following the speaking portion of the program, movies of the 1948 Syracuse-Columbia football game were shown by Johnson. Davis and Custis both starred in a near-upset over the Columbia Lions.

The Varsity Club committee for the dinner comprised A. L. Jones, Borden Seibert and Ernest Sitts.