Mercer County Hall of Fame to induct 11 new members

December 01, 2009 09:18 am

— The Mercer County Hall of Fame will induct 11 new members at its 2010 banquet, set for Jan. 23 at The Radisson Hotel, near West Middlesex.

The event marks the 63rd annual year of operation for the oldest local hall of fame in the world. Since it’s formation, 463 athletic greats or contributors to sports in Mercer County have been enshrined.

Slated for induction this year are:

ä Carl Bell

ä Lou Caracci

ä Randy Crowder

ä Tom Flaherty

ä Marti Heckman

ä Brian Holzshu

ä Alex Kasich

ä Fred McConnell

ä Don Miller

ä Ron Taylor

ä Bob Pratt, posthumous

This year’s class includes a wide range of former standouts, encompassing football, men’s and women’s basketball, wrestling, track & cross country, and golf. Complete sports biographies of the inductees will be published in The Herald the week prior to the banquet.

“Chairman Bob Greenburg and his induction committee did an outstanding job in selecting this year’s class,” said Hall President Jim Tamber. “With the large number of qualified applicants to consider, it gets tougher every year.”

Lanny Frattare, former voice of the Pittsburgh Pirates and long-time friend of the Hall of Fame, will return as master of ceremonies.

Former Pittsburgh Steeler star Edmund Nelson, a team announcer, will be one of the speakers. The rest of the speakers group is still being lined up.

The inductees will be presented special awards on Friday, Jan. 22, at a private icebreaker with Hall directors at The Radisson. For the first time, former inductees will also be invited that Friday to meet the new inductees at 8 p.m.

A limited number of tickets (cost $35) will be made available after the inductees fill their needs. The banquet, which is sold out every year, is sponsored by Mike Erme III of Erme Distributors, Hermitage, and co-sponsored by Ray Ream of Cottonwood Associates, Sharon.

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