Remembering the 1999 C-PP Sports Hall of Fame, 25 years later. Nominations now open.

Although it may seem a bit early to be thinking about nominations for possible induction into the Corning-Painted Post Sports Hall of Fame, now is actually a very good time to send in a resume.

Anyone may nominate a candidate for consideration for induction into the Hall of Fame. The actual ‘season’ for the Board of Directors for the Hall of Fame runs from September of the current calendar year to the end of March of the following year, when they culminate the campaign with what is now referred to as Hall of Fame weekend.

Putting together a resume for a candidate now gives a sponsor plenty of time to gather all the information that is needed. Anyone wishing to nominate an individual is encouraged to visit the website of the local sports Hall of Fame at www.cppshof.com . At the website there are complete instructions on what information is needed. If you need assistance, a list of the members of the Board of Directors is provided and if you contact any one of the directors, they will be more than happy to help you put together a resume. There are guidelines on the website that will help you with the information that is needed.

You will be directed to include as much information on the candidate as possible that would include individual statistics and awards along with team accomplishments. A support letter or two from a coach or assistant is always helpful.

Mandatory information that needs to be included is current address of both the nominee and the sponsor along with current phone number and e-mail addresses. And the key word for this information is current. Also, check the website and make sure your candidate isn’t already a member of the Hall of Fame. The website is updated and members are listed alphabetically as well as by year of induction and by sport or category.

When completed, send the resume to C-PP Sports Hall of Fame, P.O. Box 881, Corning, NY, 14830. You may also send the completed resume through the website, but it’s advised to make a printed copy in case something gets lost in cyber space.

25 years ago, the Corning-Painted Post Sports Hall of Fame Class of 1999

Sixteen members were added to the Corning-Painted Post Sports Hall of Fame in 1999 during an Induction Dinner held at the Painted Post Holiday Inn. This marked the 25 ^th year anniversary of the founding of the local hall. And, it was the last class of the 20 ^th century. If you’re wondering why the math doesn’t add up considering this year should have been the 50 ^th year anniversary instead of the 48 ^th , two years (2020 and 2021) were lost due to the infamous pandemic.

That Class of 1999 covered 10 different categories which included the first and, so far, the only member of the Hall of Fame in the category of fishing, Wally Allen. Wally was considered an original and is credited for inventing such items as the double hooked Woodchuck fly, a Sawbelly jig and the legendary Marabou Streamer that was used especially for spring-run rainbow trout. He was also one of the founding members of the Crystal City Bassmasters Club.

That year also saw the induction of Jeff Goodrich and Tom Ketchum for basketball and Jerry Enderle from bowling lanes, along with John Polo and Kent Crozier as contributors. From the lacrosse field, Jeff Cole and Kevin Rahill were enshrined as were track & cross country twins Tim Ryan and Tom Ryan.

From the gridiron, football standouts Tim Roe, a defensive and offensive lineman for the Corning East Trojans, and Pete Woodhouse, a sure-handed wide receiver for the Corning West Vikings, were inducted. They were joined by soccer players Gretchen Grottenthaler and Sammy Ly along with Earl Harp from the motorsports category and George Fero, who was an outstanding tennis player for the Corning Northside High School Tigers.

A very diversified group of inductees to say the least. The board of directors that year were led by President Andy Mowrer along with Vice President Joe Lesso. Frank Watts was the recording secretary while Larry French was the corresponding secretary and Ron Ash served as the treasurer.

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Other members of the Board of Directors included Cyndy Adler, Joe Lando Jr., Pat Lesso, Sandy Ostebo, Chip Schwartz, Bill Suhr, Robert ‘Twaz’ Thompson and Tony Yorio. The Guest Speaker that year was State Assemblyman of the 130 ^th District, James Bacalles. Jim was also a former mayor of Corning. His was a family of educators as his wife Mary was a longtime elementary teacher in the Corning District. And his two sons, George and Joseph, are currently educators and longtime coaches. George is now in Horseheads while Joe is in the Corning District.

The Bacalles Awards presented each year to four outstanding student-athletes are given in honor of Jim’s dad, the late George Bacalles and presented each year by the Bacalles family.

Some of the advertisers in the program may also stir a memory or two. There was Lando’s Hotel and Lounge inside the front cover. Other full page ads included The Erwin End Zone Sports Bar; Corning Inc.; Yearick’s; Crystal Lanes; Walter Conklin – public accountant; Dresser-Rand; A.G. Edwards Investment; Corning Moose Lodge; Wegmans on the inside back cover and AAA of Western New York on the back cover.

The deadline for nominations for the Class of 2025 is Oct. 31, 2024.

-- Larry French writes a weekly column.

This article originally appeared on The Leader: Remembering the 1999 C-PP Sports Hall of Fame, 25 years later. Nominations now open.