Mercer HOF will induct 11 new members in '07

On Jan. 20, 2007, a distinguished class of 11 area sportsmen will be inducted into the Mercer County Hall of Fame at the association's 60th banquet and induction. The ceremonies will be conducted at The Radisson Hotel in West Middlesex beginning at 6:30 p.m. A crowd of close to 500 is expected to attend.
The induction event will begin Jan. 19 at a private reception for the inductees and their guests and members of the Board of Directors and their spouses.
Tickets are on sale and can be secured by contacting any member of the board of directors. The featured speakers for the evening's entertainment will soon be released for the Jan. 20 dinner.
Biographies
Lanny Frattare, radio announcer for the Pittsburgh Pirates, will return as master of ceremonies. Following is a short biography of the members who make up the Class of 2007:
Margaret Schneider Bougher (Sharpsville 1974, Pitt/Slippery Rock University two years): Bougher was one of Sharpsville's best basketball players. She was a member of the state runner-up team in 1973; state semifinalist in 1974 when she was co-captain of the team; Mercer County Athletic Conference Champions in 72, 73 and 74; had a two-year regular season record of 42-1; set school single-game scoring record of 32 points in playoff game against Bradford in 1973; assistant volleyball and head basketball coach at Sharpsville 1993-95.
William H. Capitol Jr. (Farrell 1959, Virginia State two years): Played football and basketball at Farrell; member of the state championship basketball team in 1959; honorable mention all-state in football; set Mercer County scoring record; played football and basketball while in military 1962-65; coached Farrell 7th and 8th grade girls (1990-91) and Sharon midget football (1986-89).
Dennis Driscoll (Greenville St. Michael's 1956, John Carroll/Youngstown State University 1962): He played football and basketball at Greenville St. Michael's; Western Regional Finals (PCIAA); All-Diocesan football (1955-1956); fast-pitch softball (1955-1970); state champions (1962); had a highly successful coaching record when he led Greenville St. Michael's to back-to-back state basketball championships (1963-1964); also held other coaching positions in the Mercer County high school set-up.
Marion Soutt (West Middlesex 1966, Slippery Rock University 1969): He was a superb basketball and football standout at West Middlesex High; first-team all-county 1966; set single-game scoring record in 1965-66 with 49 points against Commodore Perry; was also selected to compete in the Hoyle Tournament for the Sharon Hotel.
Daniel A. Dunn (Sharon 1961, Arizona State 1967); all-county and all-league in high school; All-Western Athletic Conference Academic Team in college; served 37 years as a highly successful coach in high school and college; coached teams that won eight state championships in three sports; rated No. 1 NJCAA Athletic Program while Mesa Community College Athletic Director.
Leonard R. Krichko (Hickory 1975; CCAC/Clemson/SRU 1980): Outstanding track and cross country performer; Mercer County team and individual championship 1974; District 10 champion in 880 and mile 1975; seventh place in PIAA meet in 1975; Junior College All-American at CCAC (1976-1977); member of numerous medley championship teams at CCAC; member of Clemson -- first place in SC Collegiate Championships; at SRU set numerous records; won 25 USA Road Races.
William Lenzi (Hickory 1961/YSU): He played football, basketball and track in high school; played on the PIAA state runner-up basketball team in 1961; also qualified for the state golf championships; received basketball scholarship to YSU; golfed on YSU team for two years; played fast-pitch softball in Virginia State Championships; inducted into the Richmond (Va.) Hall of Fame for softball in 1973; won Senior Division Virginia State Golf Championship in 2004.
Newton Reash: (Commodore Perry 1961). He was a four-year letterman in baseball, basketball and track; lost in the PIAA basketball championship game to West Reading 1960; District 10 champions in 1961; Mercer County and District 10 champion in javelin and took second at PIAA Class B Championships; played independent baseball and softball; won 1984 ASA Class B State modified softball tourney with J.T. Adams team; assistant Commodore Perry coach in 1980s.
Ray Swanson (Sharpsville 1952, YSU): Played basketball and baseball at Sharpsville; played independent baseball for Sharpsville Legion, Hickory Drive-In; softball - Westinghouse, Suburban; in the Army played hoops for 16th Artillery, 4th Armored in Germany; played in Hoyle; joined sports department at Herald in 1962 and became sports editor 1973-81; worked for Vindicator sports until 1996; won UPI first-place award for Best Sports Story of Year, Division I; still writes Sunday column; past member Buhl Club board, now on MCHF board; was presented Westminster Honorary Towering Titan Award.
Jerry Wise (Grove City High 1960, Slippery Rock University 1964): He played football and track and field in high school; was all-county in football (both ways) and he went on to become a four-year letterman at Slippery Rock University; was an NAIA Honorable Mention in 1963 and a NAIA second team defensive back in 1964; played on three division championship teams at SRU; defensive coordinator at Reynolds High for 15 years.
William Hoyle (Posthumous) One of the greatest contributors to youth sports in Mercer County history. He coached and managed baseball in the Pittsburgh area for 20 years . He moved to Sharon and was instrumental in founding the Sharon Amateur Basketball Tournament which later was to became the Hoyle Tournament. He received numerous community awards before his death in 1981. Bill was a friend of all and his Hoyle Tournament was looked upon as one of the major junior basketball tournaments in the state. His week-long tournament played before full houses at a number of sites in the Mercer County area, mainly the Buhl Club and Sharon High School. College scouts by the hundreds would flock to the event, hoping to get a line on one of the future college players. Some of the greatest basketball players ever participated in Bill's Tournament.