Roseland Pullman Sports Hall of Fame

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Submitted By: Dan Yovich
Composed By: Dan Yovich - Dr. GeneOssello
Subject: Roseland Pullman Sports Hall of Fame Date: 1971 - 1992


Roseland Pullman Sports Hall of Fame

Stepping stones down Memory Lane. I hope you enjoying these reflections. Contributors for this Roseland Pullman Sports Hall of Fame Update are, Dan Yovich and Dr. Gene Ossello (charter member of the Hall of Fame committee). Words to the song Roseland, Roseland written by Dr. Gene Ossello. His office was once located on 107th on the Ave.


***song. Melody is My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean*** Our memories are not of the ocean...our memories are not the sea... our memories come from Rose-Land, The town that meant so much to me. (Refrain) Rose-land, Rose-land...bring back those memories to me to me. Bring back, bring back, oh bring back those memories to me. (Next verse) Our her'tage is not just a notion, our her'tage is here to be, Our her'tage comes from Roseland, the town that meant so much to me. (Refrain) Our athletes are hon-ored with e-motion, our atheletes are here to see, Our athletes are brought fame to Roseland, the town that meant so much to me.


Named herein are early members of the Roseland Pullman Sports Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame idea was first conveived by John Meskis in 1970. 1971


1971
Oscar (Ski) Melillo, St. Louis Browns and Boston Red Sox second baseman,
1920's and 30"s.

Dick Barwegan, Purdue University, 4 time College All-Star, Played guard for the Baltimore Colts and Chicago Bears,1940's and 50's.

Billy Rogell, Detroit Tigers, 1930's.
Bruce Camopbell, major league outfielder with 5 teams in the 1930's.
Racine Thompson,captain of the Illinois Athletic Club track team 1916-1928.
Betty Robinson, two-time Olympic gold medal winner in track, 1928 and 1936.
Ben Govier Sr., captain of the Pullman soccer team in the earky 1900's.
Aldo Forte, University of Montana, Chicago Bears lineman in the 1940's and
Detroit Lions coach 1950-1965.
Rudy Mucha, University of Washington All American center (1940) and later
Cleveland Rams and Chicago Bears lineman.


Bill Kooistra, water polo All American 13 times and two time Olympian 1952
and 1956.
Lou (Reb Russell) Rigoni, professional heavy weight welterweight boxer
1914-1928.
Ray Aplsikis, Marquette University center and Chicago Cardinal center and
linebacker during the 1940's.
Charles Le Rose, longtime community baseball coach and a sponsor of all
sports.
Charles Doty, longtime backer of community of community athletics.
1972
Steve Reid, area's first All American football player, Northwestern
University, guard, 1938.
Sammy Esposito, Chicago White Sox infielder, 1950's-60's.
Harry Tornquist, Roseland Eclipse, 1st baseman (1901-1922).
Chuck Palmer, Fenger High School football coach (1935-1957).
Bill Roetzheim, national champion gymnast and two time Olympian (1948 & 1952).
Dick Dudzik, All World softball a 3rd baseman, member of two world champion
teams (1948 & 1951).
Chuck Ulrich, All American tackle (1953) University of Illinois, Chicago
Cardinals for five years.
Johnny Lucadello, St. Louis Brown and New York Yankees second baseman
(1930's-1940's).
Nick Adduci, University of Nebraska fullback late 1940's and Wahington Redskin
linebacker early 1950's.
Francis (Boots) Maginel, Thgistles quartrbqck, (1901-0 and Roseland Eclipse
outfielder (1908-1918).
Pete Konyar, Fenger football standout, Purdue University quarterback early 50's.
1973
Max Fiuske, pitcher for Chicago entry in the Federal league. 1914.
Wally Lemm, Coach of the Chicago Cardinals, St Luis Cardinals, Hoston Oilers
(1950's-1970"s.
Ernie Dalle Moller outstanding bowler.
Rich Krieterling, University of Illinois end (1950"s) Chicago Bears for 8 seasons.
Shirley Klaris, Chicago and California Silver Skate champion.
Sam Kooistra, All American water polo and 1956 Olympian.
Leslie Sparrey SR., quarterback Pullman - Roseland Panthers, (1920"s).
Bill (Red) Gleason, Chicago sportswriter.
1974
Don Griffin, quarterback of the 1938 and 1939 Chicago city champion Fenger High
football team and three year All American at the University of Illinois.

Frank Kainrath, two time Golden Gloves and three time CYO bantam weight boxing
champion in the 1930's.

Harry (Dimmie) Dixon, Fenger High baseball coach for 21 years (1939-59).

Jim Andreotti, All American center (1959) at Northwestern and nine year player in the
Canadian Football League.

Dick (Rocky) Raklovits, All time Fenger great, All American at the University of
Illinois (1951). Outstanding baseball player at the U of I.
Ed Brocious, Classic League bowler and member of the National Bowling Hall of Fame.

John (Johnny Murphy) Peretto, professional welterweight boxer of the 1920's.
Hector (Minnie) La Forest, outstanding footballer with the Thorns football team (1907-17).

1975
Joe LeRose, co-founder of the Roseland Little League in 1951 and member of the
Little League International Council.
Paul Szakash, Montana State University football standout and played with the
Detroit Lions from 1936-1942.
Walter Moran, Lightweight wrestling champion in 1914.
Napoleon (Sonny) Mercer, permier softball player with the Roseland Monarchs from
1935-1939.
Wally Teninga, halfback on the University of Michigan national champions 1947 and
1948. Played a fantastic game in the Rose Bowl game of 1949.
Ed Kletcke, Cook County amateur golf champion in 1947, 1948 and 1949.
Helen Sliva, one of four American track and field stars to represent the U.S. in
Polish Olympics in Poland, 1934.
Paul Horwath, North Carolina State University basketball all star. Played four years
1948 through 1951.

1976
Dick Butkus, University of Illinois All American, Chicago Bears all pro linebacker, Football Hall of Fame member, Hollywood actor.
Tony Lucadello, Chicago Cubs major leadgue scout 12 years, and Philadelphia Phillies
21 years.

George Todhunter, Three time member national champion semi-pro baseball tream,

Tom (Mugsy) McGrath, member of 1941 world softball champion.

Russ Fiske, three time national handball champion
Nick Maravallo, track and field champion at Crane Junior College in 1930's.

Marge Smith, outfielder in girl's professional fast pitch softball, 1944-1954, (League of
Their Own).

Bert Montressor, golf professional 1927-1967.


1977
John Dobro, Chicago Amateur Golf title winner 1950, 51 and 54.

Frank Marcolini, Softball and sports promoter. Past president Roseland Sports Hall of
Fame.

Doug Fessenden, Track star and college football coach.

Tom Roberts, Chicago Cardinals football player.

Robert Zick, triple A ballplayer for the Los Angeles Angels and Chicago Cubs.

Pete Klaris, Nationally acclaimed figure skater.

Max Fiske, College football allstar and pro player.

Ralph Johanson, Baseball standout at Fenger and Cleveland Indians.

1978

John Sullivan, Washington Senators and St. louis Browns in the 1940's.

Zigfield (Ziggy) Troy, 1930's golf professional.

Wally (Cowboy) Hohman, Centanary College football star.

Jack Delveaux, one of Fenger's greatest athletes, University of Illinois Fullback in the
1950's.

Sam Adducci, professional light weight boxer, 30 fights, 20 wins, 3 draws and 7 losses.
Late 1920's and early 30's.

Cy Stewart, Best 12" fastball pitcher in the 1930's.

Ron Nietupski, University of Illinois and all pro Cleveland Brown defensive end 1950's
and 1960's.

Joe Matusek, sports coach, sports promoter in Roseland Pullman area ub the late 20's
and early 30's.

1979
Royden Fenton, outstanding track and field coach.

Emil Firestone (Feurstein), gymnastics, handball, tack and field star.

Bruno Raffin, DePaul football guard in the late 1930's (yes, DePaul fielded an
excellent football team in those years as well as the University of Chicago).

Jerry Stolz, NFL football coach.

Pete Konyar, outstanding Fenger footballer and baseball player in the 1940's.

Lou Guida, Mendel High School's winningest coach.

Tom (Monk) Gedgoud, Played semi-pro football with Gano All Stars and starred in
college.
Vivian Adducci, one of our nation's top bowlers in the 1950's.

1980
Gene Dykstra, Fenger, University of Illinois football great, played in the 1937
College All Star game.

James (Tippy) Bable, amateur baeball coach for LeRose, Coals, Fernwood,
Babe Ruth and Little League.

James Fiske, recognized as one of the semi-pro football stars in the Chicago
area in the 1920's.

Chuck Becka, a top seeded nationally known golfer in the 1930's and 1940's.

Tony Susnis, Chicago Golden Gloves heavyweight boxing champion in 1932.

Frankj Moran, highly respected Illinois High School basketball official.

1981
C. Kelly Franson, coach who contributed over 50 years to sports activities in
Roseland and Rivedale.

John Genis, former great Fenger and University of Illinois football star in 1940.

Frank Esposito, outstanding Fenger coach during the1960's.

Casimer (Moose) Chutro, mentioned in Ripley's Believe it or Not, one of the great
swimmers of his time.

Duke Nalon, auto racing champion in the 1930's and 1940's. Competed in the Indy 500.

Billy Brown, outstanding baseball player, oftern compared to the immortal George
Sisler.

1982
Tony Esposito, baseball standout, elected to Who's Who in American Universities
sports celebrities in 1951.

Stan Skoglund, one of Roseland premier multi-talented athletes in the 1920's2 and
1930's.

John Franczak, national tennis and international badminton player.

Peter De Maio, 17 years as a professional boxer with 100 fights from 1924 to 1941.

Ira Hutchinson, great major league baseball player, also scouted and managed.

Roy Carlson, former Fenger football great and inducted into the Washington State
Coaches Hall of Fame in 1981.

1983
Joe Marchese, Texas Rangers baseball scout and great Roseland athlete.

Jack Gray, outstanding athlete in football, boxing and wrestling.

Jim Westwater, captain of the Chicago City champion Fenger football team in 1938.

Bob Stratta, awarded Notre Dame's highest athletic honor, the pretigious Kanaley
Trophy.

Bill Decker, ace baseball pitcher in the 1920's.

Russ Nyberg, professional boxer and coach.

1984
Don Hakes, recognized football and basketball official.

Ron Ballatore, member of the 1984 United States Olympics swimming team.

Emma Shemaitis LaForce, considered one of America's best women's swimmers in the
1920's and 1930's.

Chuck Petraus, outstanding baseball pitcher in the 1920's and 1930's.

Don Hofstra, played major league baseball and later scouted and managed.

Louis Rondelli, ranked nationally as a great soft ball player and later founded the
St.Joseph, Michigan Little League, Pony League and Babe Ruth League.

1985
Genevieve Swierkos Latvenas, skating champion and all-around athlete.

David Hirtz, Northwestern basketball star.

John (Moochie) Dal Santo, eight letter man in baseball and football at Illinois State
University. MVP in conference in football.

Bob White, All-American swimmer at Indiana University.

1986
Charles Le Rose, 18 year baseball career, Mendel baseball standout and served
as it's varsity coach.

Carmine (Mushy) Scardine, outstanding athlete in the 1020's and 30's.

Lowell Zippel, well known athletic official and sports reporter.

Clarence (Steamboat) Strubbs, oustanding semi-pro ball player with International
Harvester and Chicago Firemen.

1987
Richard Nietupski, brilliant Fenger and University of Illinois footballer.

James (Tex) Southern, semi-pro and minor league ballplayer.

Gerald Behrens, noteworthy athlete in the Roseland Pullman area from 1946 to 1971.

Annn (Teach) Youstra, multi-talented athlete and track official.
1988
George Peacock, outstanding highschool and semi-pro athlete.

Anthony (Tony) Arvia, outstanding amateur boxer and coach.

Wilbur Slager, very successful high school coach.

Kenneth Hissert, famous amateur golfer who played between 1917 and 1940.

1989
Glen Van Proven, highly regarded basketball coach and major league baseball scout.

Tony Roberts, the radio voice of Notre Dame football games, has broadcasted
hundreds of college and professional football games.

George La Banca, college and semi-pro rugby player.

Gerald Tourville. gifted highschool and college baseball and football player.

1990
Russell Melby, Fenger football standout and Minot and Weber State star.

Charles Hanley, considered one of the best semi-pro ball players in Roseland
during the 1920's.

Joe Bonier, football and baseball standout at Pullman Tech 1929-32.

Ronald Anderson, baseball great at Fenger and Murray State University.

1991
Rick Dahl, excellent baseball player and champion handball player.

Steve Wadiak, one of Roselands greatest football players. He was voted one the
top players ever to play for the University of South Carolina. There is a memorial
statue of him near the football stadium.

Leonard Le Rose Sr., excelled in all sports in highschool and college between 1945-53.

Wally Olson, Fenger and semi-pro baseball standout.

1992
John Cummings, distinguished career as coach and athletic director at Pullman Tech
from 1927 to 1950.

Ted Mulka, highly regarded umpire and referree.

Irv Gorney, selected as the all-around athlete in the hostory of Pullman Tech.

Andy Warholak, exceptional athlete starring in both baskeball and football.

Names of the 1974 board of directors of the Roseland Pullman Sports Hall of Fame.
Frank Marcolini, president
Bill Kooistra, 1st vice president
Dr. Gene Ossello, 2nd vice president
Charles LeRose, treasurer
Bette Kooistra, secretary
George Schumann
Joe Matusek
James Missinger, Sr.
Ernie Dalle Molle
Ken Poole
Edward Dagis
A. Manzardo
Larry Van Haren
George Doty
Frank Esposito
John Crosaro
Emil Firestone
Pete Stratta
Pearl (Serbus) Craft
Sue McLachlan
Sven Johnson
Jack Butler







Dan Yovich

[ It is sad that these programs and days are gone forever. They will however always be part of our memories. ]