RAY SWANSON | Keystoner Former basketball player Jeff Persson praised as one of Sharon's elite

Former Sharon High basketball coach Don Bennett is not one to compare the talents of his players. It's just not his way. He's a man of principle.
For once, however, he overruled his philosophy.
"Jeff Persson was one of the finest basketball players I've ever coached. He ranked right up there with Bob Atterholt and Mark Dumars. He was a tremendous all-around player, one who loved to drive to the basket. I think he's still the second leading scorer in Penn State University basketball history," Bennett said.
Persson passed away on Sept. 8 at the age of 57. He and his family had been residing in Birmingham, Ala. He had been a key member of the management team of Fairfield Works there, serving the company for over 35 years as manager of line accounting.
"He was a first-class gentleman," continued Bennett, "as were his two brothers, Mark and Peter. Jeff had an unorthodox push shot, but he was extremely accurate. He reminded me a lot of Farrell's Jack Marin ['Mr. Inside'], but Jeff hit from inside or out, didn't matter to him."
Hall of Famer
Bennett, also a former educator and principal at Sharon High, coached Persson during his sophomore season when he had filled in for coach Bud Laycock. He is presently of the Mercer County Hall of Fame.
Bennett became the coach in 1965. Persson graduated in 1964, going on to a tremendous career at Penn State where he captained the Nittany Lions. He graduated in 1968 with a degree in accounting. He was presented with the John D. Lawler Award which goes to the top PSU basketball player.
In later years, Jeff's athletic ability led to coaching youngsters. In Alabama he was active in a number of sports, coaching youth soccer, basketball and softball. He and his wife, Pamela, were also very active in church work at the Hunter Street Baptist Church.
After a stint in the U.S. Army in Germany, I returned home and worked as a sportswriter for a local paper. My beat was covering high school athletics and it was then that I first met Jeff. As Bennett had said, he was a real gentleman and he played with a heart as big as his body.
He was poetry in motion, driving to the hoop, or connecting from out deep. In 1997, Jeff was inducted into the Mercer County hall of Fame, an honor truly fitting for one of Mercer County's all-time best basketball players.
The Sharon High Class of 1964 held a reunion on Sept. 18. Jeff was to appear at the reunion. Don Bennett was scheduled to speak at the affair.
My sincere sympathy to Pam, to Jeff's mother, Ruth, who still lives in Sharon, and to the entire Persson family. Jeff and his wife have four daughters, Kortney, Katie, Kellie, and Kristy. Jeff's father, Geron (Gerry), had preceded his son in death.
Big day for Brandon
Brandon McGlothin, 5-foot-9, 195-pound senior fullback for the Grove City College Wolverines, was named Presidents' Athletic Conference Player of the Week for his efforts against Manchester in a 54-14 GCC victory.
McGlothlin, a product of Freedom (Pa.) High, rushed 20 times for 121 yards and three touchdowns. His rushing efforts helped GCC to its first three-game winning streak (dating to last season) since winning three straight games to close the 2000 season.