Lubanski highlights new class of inductees

The Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Montco Chapter is proud to announce and honor a deep, deserving and impactful class of individuals whose accomplishments will be celebrated among friends, teammates, family, fans and admirers Friday at the Valley Forge Casino Resort, 1160 First Avenue King of Prussia PA.

Being honored this year are Jack Connelly, Emil Boures, Dave McWilliams, Carmen Falcone, Dorn Taylor, Chris Lubanski, Miki DeBaise, Greg Green and Dean Lent.

While all of these luminaries have been toasted and honored in various ways over the years, this October 26th the inductees will be joining an elite and exclusive PA Sports Hall ofFame Montco Chapter club which includes previously enshrined members such as Joe Frazier, Billy Cunningham, Mike Richter, Tom Fazio, Kim Gallagher, Gina Buggy, Brad Scioli, Wally Triplett, Jim Williams, Jennie Hall, Craig Littlepage, Ron Livers, Robbie Wine, Tammy Greene, Glenn Fine, Bill Nuttall, Alvin Williams, Hank Cisco, Scott Palmer .... They also now belong to a chapter in the same club that includes immortals; Arnold Palmer, Roberto Clemente, Chuck Bednarik, Jim Thorpe, Franco Harris, Stan Musial, Dick Allen, Betsy King, Jimmy Foxx, Steve Van Buren, Red Grange, Cathy Rush, Richie Ashburn, Roger Penske, Willie Mosconi, Connie Mack, Josh Gibson, Tom Brookshier, Tom Gola, Roy Campanella, Robin Roberts, GreasyNeale, Harry Kalas, Pop Warner, Curt Simmons, Tommy McDonald, Joe Paterno, and Christy Mathewson. JACK CONNELLY, GOLF >> Jack was the 32nd President of the Professional Golfers Association of America who began his golf career as a caddy in South Jersey. A US Army veteran, upon returning from Vietnam Jack obtained his PGA membership and joined the PGA tour. He joined Huntingdon Valley C.C. in 1973 and became Head Professional in 1975 until retiring in 2010. He has distinguished himself as a player, winning four Philadelphia Section Player of the Year Awards, and was elected to the Philadelphia PGA Playing Legends in 1990. After being elected he served two years each as Secretary and Vice President and became President of the Association in 2000.

DAVE MCWILLIAMS, SOCCER >> Led the nation in scoring at Philadelphia Textile (Jefferson University) with 22 goals and a school record 16 assists and was named second team All American and captained the Rams to the NCAA Final Four. He wa a member of the U.S. National Team from 19771980, played in the 1979 Pan-American Games and was selected to the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team. Drafted in 1978 by the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League, played with the Philadelphia Fever of the MISL, the Philadelphia Fury and Chicago Sting, he captained the ‘8384 Baltimore Blast to a league Championship, holding the record for points and playoff games played. CARMEN FALCONE (DECEASED) >> President of 1945 graduating class and captain of Bridgeport High championship football team. Quarterback of the undefeated 1947 University of Pennsylvania football team under the leadership of legendary Hall of Fame Coach George Munger. College career coincided with the glory years of Penn football, one of the strongest elevens in the country at that time, where he was joined in the backfield by College Hall of Famers Skip Minisi and Reds Bagnell.

Co-captained the 1948 team with NFL Hall of Famer, Chuck Bednarik. Starred in two North-South All-Star games. Played the decisive roll throwing two touchdowns and named MVP in the 1948 Blue-Grey game. Attained Honorable Mention All-American status in that same year. Drafted by the NFL New York Giants.

DORN TAYLOR >> Pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates making his Major League Baseball debut on April 30th 1987. David Clyde Taylor (Dorn) was a resident of Abington and attended Upper Dublin High School. After attending Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, North Carolina, Dorn was signed as an amateur free agent in 1981 by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Dorn also played for the Baltimore Orioles in 1990. Playing on a team led by Cal Ripken with a young Curt Schilling, Dorn finished with a 2.45 ERA that year. He finished with a MLB record of 3-5 with a 5.45 ERA and was 74-60 with a 2.95 ERA in 245 games — 169 starts spanning nine minor league seasons (All levels).

Assistant baseball coach at Bishop McDevitt High School in Glenside, PA from 1991-2000 and currently the head freshman baseball coach at Abington High School.

EMIL BOURES >> Football. Never gave up a sack with over 1,000 passes thrown. Classmate of Dan Marino’s at the University of Pittsburgh. Emil was born in Bridgeport, PA and was a star at Bishop Kenrick High School (Kennedy-Kenrick / Pope John Paul II). Emil was a four year letterman as a University of Pittsburgh Panther. As a three year starter on the legendary Pitt teams from 1979 – 1981 Emil had a record of 33 – 3, each team winning their bowl game and finishing in the top 8 in the final AP Poll. While the 1980 Pitt team finished second in AP voting to Georgia, they finished first in 13 other national polls. While Emil played guard at Pitt, when he moved to center for his senior season he helped Pitt rank fourth nationally in scoring at 32.8 points per game played.

CHRIS LUBANSKI >> Won the Gatorade National High School Baseball Player of the Year Award and was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the First Round as the 5th overall pick of the 2003 Major League Baseball draft. A gold and bronze medalist playing for Team USA, and a First Team High School All-American, Chris grew up in Schwenksville and is a graduate of Kennedy-Kenrick High School.

Lubanksi played professional baseball from 20032011 (Royals, Blue Jays, Marlins, and Phillies organizations) and was a two-time team Player of The Year (Burlington Bees 2004 and High Desert Mavericks 2005) while earning All-Star honors at each profes sional classification he competed at including Class A (Midwest League 2004), Class A Advanced (California League 2005), Class AA (Texas League 2007), and Class AAA (Pacific Coast League 2010). Lubanski finished his pro career with 109 home runs, 470 RBI’s, 498 runs, and 872 hits in 834 games with an .816 OPS. But most important, as Lubanski said, “the most fun I ever had playing baseball was when I was at Kennedy- Kenrick. Playing with your buddies working toward a championship, there’s nothing more fulfilling than that.”

MIKI DEBAIS >> Bryn Athyn, Arcadia University Field Hockey, Basketball, Lacrosse. All College Field Hockey First Team, United States Reserve Field Hockey Team, United States Field Hockey Squad, United States Lacrosse Team.

DeBaise played field hockey, basketball and lacrosse all four years at Arcadia. She was selected to the “All College” First Team in field hockey for two years. She was captain of the field hockey team. Miki also was named to the U.S. Lacrosse Team, the U.S. Reserve Field Hockey Team, the U.S. Lacrosse World Touring Team and the Great Britain–Ireland Touring Team. She represented the U.S. in field hockey against New Zealand, Australia, Netherlands and South Africa. She became a United States Professional Tennis Association member following graduation and was the winner of the over 40 USPTA National Team Championships Doubles in 1990. Head Tennis coach at Swarthmore College (19741975), Temple University (1975-1979) and the Academy of the New Church (1998-2018).

GREG GREEN >> Has been a cross country/track and field coach for over 30 years at Cardinal Dougherty HS, Nazareth Academy (Assistant Coach), Saint Basil Academy, and now Lower Moreland HS. He has taken three different schools to either the indoor or outdoor national track and field championships, producing five Nike Indoor All American Relays. Most of his success was at St. Basil Academy in Jenkintown PA, where he was the head coach of both cross country and track and field from 2001 to 2015. His Cross-Country teams won 3 PIAA AA State Championships, 8 AACA League Championships, and 7 PIAA AA District One Championships. Greg’s Track and Field teams won 2 AACA League Championships and 4 District One AA Championships.

Under his guidance, Saint Basil Academy produced 57 individual or relay District 1 AA Champions, and 47 indoor/outdoor state medalist. He coached 2 indoor State Champions in the 3000m run and Distance Medley Relay, as well as the 3200M run and two 4X800M relays at the PIAA Outdoor AA State Championships. Green was selected cross country “Coach of the Year” by the Philadelphia Inquirer in 2004, and was inducted into the Saint Basil Academy Hall of Fame in 2016.

Green is currently coaching track and field at Lower Moreland HS, and teaches in the Philadelphia School District.

DEAN LENT >> Coached 5 PIAA State Track and Field Championship teams at Swenson Arts and Technology High School (2007, 2008, 2009 PIAA AA Girls Teams Champions and 2009 and 2012 Pennsylvania Track and Field Coaches Association PTFCA Indoor Girls Team Champions) as well as 2012 PIAA AA Girls Runner-Up . org/ 2017inductionceremony.html Issue checks or money orders to PSHoF - Montco Chapter. ****************