NILES Hall of fame to induct eight

Inductees must have achieved career success, athletic accomplishments or contributed to the community.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- The longtime president of city council, the school district's first athletic director and a retired Trumbull County judge are among this year's inductees into the Niles McKinley Distinguished Hall of Fame.
Inductees must have graduated at least 10 years before their selection and achieved success in their careers or in athletics or contributed to the community. Niles Alumni Association determines the inductees from the list of nominees.
President William McKinley, the nation's 25th president who was born in the city, for example, didn't attend Niles schools, but his accomplishments earned him induction in 1998 as an honorary member.
The first class was inducted in 1998. This year's eight inductees will be formally inducted at a dinner Oct. 6 at McMenamy's, U.S. Route 422. The evening begins with a social at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are available for $20 by calling Jodi Riedel at (330) 652-5656 or Mike Lastic at (330) 652-9968.
Honorees: The inductees:
U Fremont Camerino of Niles, class of 1954, has been president of Niles City Council since 1970. He has spent his career in the banking business, currently at Farmers National Bank. He has served as an officer with the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce, Mahoning Valley McKinley Club and several other groups.
U Pat W. Camerino of Texas, valedictorian of class of 1953, retired in 1999 as director of faculty resources at Baylor College of Medicine where he worked for 22 years. He also occupied positions with other major universities.
U John F. "Jack" McDermott, class of 1968, who died in November 1997. He graduated from Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and in 1985, became owner and operator of the business, adding McDermott to the front sign at Reese, Wynn, Winyard Funeral Home. He was a lifelong city resident.
U Donald Pallante, class of 1940, who died in March 1998, began his career in the Niles school district in 1948, teaching history and social studies and coaching football, baseball and tennis. He served as high school assistant principal and principal and was elected to the school board in 1992. He resigned in 1997 because of illness. He had been a lifelong city resident.
U Larry Pallante, class of 1928, coached football and baseball and had one of the most successful careers in Niles baseball, winning a state championship in 1958. He was the first athletic director for the district and under his leadership, the football stadium was expanded to seat 16,000 fans. He retired in 1975, and he and his wife, Eileen, live in Florida.
U Sam Scarnecchia of Florida, class of 1953, lettered three years in football, basketball and baseball. He graduated from University of Miami where he was inducted into the university's football hall of fame. He was selected in 1998 as one of 28 to represent 100 years of Niles McKinley High School football.
U Judge Mitchell F. Shaker of Niles, class of 1939, retired as Trumbull County Common Pleas Court judge in 1996 after 13 years on the bench. He also served as city solicitor. He maintains a law office with sons Chris and Robert, and is a visiting judge assigned by the Ohio Supreme Court.
U Robert J. Wick of Arizona, class of 1953, serves as vice president and secretary of Wick Communication, which operates 27 newspapers primarily in the Southwestern states. He is a nationally recognized artist and sculptor of large bronzes.