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(CANCELLATION NOTICE) Those individuals scheduled to be inducted into the Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame as the class of 2020 will now comprise the class of 2021 and will be inducted at  St. Spyridon Hellenic Center on Friday, June 18, 2021.   The banquet for this year was not feasible due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This will be the first year since 1995 that a class will not be inducted into the Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame. The Class of 2021 will be comprised of the individuals selected for 2020 and introduced below.

The Western chapters of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame including Erie Metro, Fayette County, Robert "Tick" Cloherty-Western, and Washington-Greene have moved their banquet induction to the following year, as has the Mid Mon Valley chapter.

Because of the challenges with COVID-19 virus chairman Dennis Stitch announced “it was necessary to cancel this year’s banquet. In conversation with the inductees, while disappointed, they were all very supportive and understanding of the decision. To our supporters, MMVASHOF is thankful for your commitment, dedication, and unwavering support over the years. You are the pillars that help keep our organization strong and vibrant in the Mon Valley. We truly appreciate all you do. As we go through these uncharted waters, we not only will stay together, we will thrive together!”

The Sports Hall of Fame web site is: http://www.monvalleysportshalloffame.com  

In June of 2021, the six new inductees introduced below will be welcomed into the mythical ‘Mon Valley Sports Hall of Fame’ conceived by sportswriters Floyd France and John Bunardzya. With this Class, the total number of inductees will stand at 261. The original Mon Valley Sports Writers Hall of Fame started in 1951 with the selection of Stan Musial and Bert Rechichar.

The Class of 2021 will be comprised of Coaches Billy Connors, Major Corley, Jim Dumm, and Bob Rosborough Jr. along with Jon Green, and Ben McCauley. General Chairman of the Sports Hall of Fame, Steve Russell, called the selections “a remarkable group of athletes and coaches representing the Mon Valley well over six decades.”

Chairman of the Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame, Dennis Stitch, believes, “This class represents the continuation of the fine tradition of excellence presented yearly in the Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame selection process. As we begin a new decade, the 2021 class will exemplify the leadership and success we have come to expect from our coaches and athletes.”

The MMVASHOF selection committee includes Chairman Brian Herman, Carl Crawley, Jr, Dale Hamer, Tom Jenkins, Bill Kubin, Randy Marino, Steve Russell, Bill Hughes, Robert Harhai, Kevin Ryan and Dennis Stitch.

Along with the Hall of Fame inductees, eighteen senior scholar athletes from the local Mon Valley high schools will also be honored. Those high schools include Belle Vernon Area, Bentworth, Brownsville, California, Charleroi, Elizabeth Forward, Monessen, Ringgold, and Yough.

Ticket costs and program book  sponsorship details will be announced next spring.

The Sports Hall of Fame web site is: http://www.monvalleysportshalloffame.com. The Sports Hall of Fame exhibits can be viewed in the lobby at Bentleyville’s Best Western Garden Inn.

The Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame is one of 30 chapters of The Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame made up of four geographical regions. Organized with its induction class in 1963, the state ceremonial dinner rotates between four regions. The Mid Mon Valley chapter has inducted 23 members into the State Hall of Fame. They include: Stan Musial, Bert Rechichar, Jim Russell, Arnold Galiffa, Dan Towler, John Potsklan, Sever J. Toretti, H.C. Carlson, Lou “Bimbo” Cecconi, Armand Niccolai, Bap Manzini, Ken Griffey, Fred Cox, Ron Necciai, Myron Pottios, Bill Malinchak, Sam Havrilak, Dale Hamer, Eric Crabtree, Craig Fayak, Fred Mazurek, Robert “Red” Worrell, and Bruce Dal Canton

Coach Billy Connors

Coach Billy Connors (Photo at right)

A Brownsville High School All Big Six quarterback and 1954 graduate, Connors went on to Salem College where he garnered Little All American accolades. He transferred his football knowledge to the coaching ranks accumulating an overall record of 174 wins, 92 losses and 12 ties. At Beth Center High School for 14 years, he capped his coaching there with a WPIAL crown in 1975. At Ringgold from 1979 to 1984 he won the WPIAL championship in 1982. Connors concluded his career at Belle Vernon Area and was the WPIAL runner up in 1989. Coach Connors was also inducted into the Washington Greene County Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.

Coach Major Corley

Coach Major Corley (Photo at right)
A 1965 Monessen High School graduate, Corley began his winning ways as Monessen girls’ basketball coach in 1986 ending with a 457-149 record. He won three WPIAL titles, a 2004 PIAA title and was named small high school Coach of the Year. Under his tutelage, Monessen produced thirteen 1,000-point players.

Coach Jim Dumm

Coach Jim Dumm (Photo at right)

A 1965 Norwin High School graduate, Dumm made his greatest impact as a developer of Mon Valley scholastic football players’ talent at Elizabeth Forward, California, Ringgold, Clairton, and as head coach at Charleroi from 1998 to 2002, where he was named 1998 Century Conference Coach of the Year. A three-year defensive tackle at Waynesburg, he was named AP All State and All-American center. In 1972 Dumm played exhibition games for the Baltimore Colts as a free agent signee.

Coach Bob Rosborough

Coach Bob Rosborough (Photo at right)

A 1953 Donora High School graduate, Rosborough captured All Big 6 honors in football which landed him at the University of Pittsburgh under Coach John Michelosen. He received an invitation to the Green Bay Packers camp. A coach at both West Mifflin South and Pitt, Bob would perform numerous duties at Pitt including Assistant Athletic Director, recruiting, compliance officer and Director of Alumni Affairs.

Jon Green

Jon Green (Photo at right)

A 1982 Mon Valley Catholic High School graduate, Green distinguished himself as the first WPIAL running back to rush for more than 4,000 yards. He averaged 165 yards per game and 11.3 yards per carry. Named to the All State team he played in the Big 33 game. He would go on to play at Miami of Florida on a scholarship, then to Slippery Rock and finally to Waynesburg where he was a 1,000 yard rusher. Jon had a tryout with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ben McCauley

Ben McCauley (Photo at right)

A 2005 Yough High School graduate, Ben received basketball Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fab Five and All Decade (2000-2010) team honors. Ben led his Cougar high school team to the WPIAL championship game. As the #3 state prospect, Ben landed at North Carolina State. There he made All-ACC honor roll. McCauley has played professionally in Europe since 2009 including stops in France, Belgium, Ukraine, Spain, Turkey, Israel and now in Poland with King Wilkie Morskie Szczecin.

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