Williamsburg Honors '57-'58 Champions

Note: This article was originally printed in the May 29, 2008, edition of the Herald. It is being reprinted in honor of Williamsburg’s recent celebration of 125 years of graduates.

Exactly 50 years to the day that the Blue Pirates’ baseball team won the Blair County League with a 6-1 victory over Hollidaysburg, Williamsburg school officials on Saturday, May 14, honored WHS’s “Triple Crown” winners from the 1957-58 school year.

The day was also declared “Sam Fonzi Day” in Williamsburg. Mr. Fonzi was the coach of the football and baseball teams during that school year.

Family, friends, district teachers and administrator and community members turned out for the celebration held in the former high school gymnasium that was home to some “electrifying” times during its heyday.

Don Appleman, who was statistician for the sports teams during the “Triple Crown” year, organized the event that featured players from the 1957-58 season.

Players in attendance were Wayne “Clem” Snyder, Jack Snyder (team manager), Tom Lehmer, George Nead, DeWayne White, Larry Biddle, Don Zeiders, Gerald Allender, Galen Hall, Glenn Bumgardner, Ron Sollenberger, Ned Beaver and Dallas Robinson.

“We’ve had sports here at Williamsburg High School for 85 years. Only one time did we win a championship in each sport during the same school year,” Mr. Appleman said. “It probably will never happen again.”

The 1957-58 school year “was the culmination of the great sports programs in the 1950s” Mr. Appleman said. “It also was a springboard to the great teams in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. It was a very special time back then.”

The football team won the Inter-County Conference championship with a 9-0-0 record. The Blue Pirates outscored their opponents that season by a 291-38 margin. WHS shutout its last five opponents by a combined score of 162-0.

The Blue Pirates’ basketball team, coached by Bill Casper, finished with a 24-1 record. The season was capped with a 49-45 victory over Jenkintown in the class C state championship game. The only loss was to Morrison Cove High School.

The baseball team won the school’s third championship that year with its victory over Hollidaysburg. WHS finished with an 8-3 record in 1958.

Dr. Barry England, school board president, said, “The school has changed some since these men were here. We’ve been lucky through this small school system to have had a lot of great people. I just feel fortunate to come here and to know these gentlemen.”

Dist. Supt. Lee Swinsburg said, “These teams have given the town a lot to reminisce about.”

“Sam Fonzi Day”

Mayor John R. Traxler declared May 24 as “Sam Fonzi Day” for his guidance and leadership as a teacher and coach at Williamsburg High School.

Mr. Fonzi played football and baseball at Williamsburg High School from 1937 to 1941. After graduating from WHS in 1941, he served in the Army in the European Theater during World War II. He then continued his education at Edinboro State University, where he graduated in 1949.

In 1952, he returned to his high school alma mater, where he taught and coached until 1965.

In 1957, the football team, coached by Mr. Fonzi, posted the only perfect season in school history. That was the only season that he was head coach of the football team.

That same school year, Mr. Fonzi coached the Blue Pirates’ baseball team to the Blair County League championship.

Mr. Fonzi taught in the education department at Millersville University from 1968 to 1981.

He is now retired and resides in Millersville with his wife of 50 years, Mary Louise. The couple has two children, Samuel and David, and three grandchildren.

During the Williamsburg High School spring sports banquet on May 23, Mr. Fonzi was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Thank you very much,” Mr. Fonzi said as he received an enclosed proclamation signed by Mayor Traxler from Mr. Appleman. “I believe that the people in this town were very nice to me. I have a lot of memories here at Williamsburg.”

During the Saturday morning ceremony, players had the opportunity to speak about Mr. Fonzi and their memories about their championship season.

Mr. Fonzi said the football team was “one big family. I was very fortunate to be involved with this gang.”

“Sam was the assistant football coach going into our senior season,” said Galen Hall. “(Head coach) Bill Rhodes resigned before the start of the season, and Sam didn’t want the job. We talked him (Sam) into coaching the team.”

Mr. Hall joked that Mr. Fonzi may be the only coach who retired with an undefeated record. “Sam didn’t coach football again after the 1957 season.”

“Clem” Snyder thanked Mr. Fonzi for being a very good coach, teacher and friend.

Mr. Allender said Mr. Fonzi also was a great guidance counselor.

“I want to thank Sam for everything he did for the school system,” Mr. Lehmarsaid. “We really were a team in 1958.”

Mr. Fonzi said that Mr. Lehman was the most disciplined player he ever coached.

Mr. Lehmer said that “Butch” Hall, despite all of his athletic talents and abilities, never returned a punt or a kickoff for a touchdown. “The one time he did return a kickoff for a touchdown, I was called for a penalty,” Mr. Lehmer recalled. “To this day I believe it was a legal block.”

Rev. DeWayne White, who played on the football and baseball teams, said Mr. Fonzi was “tough but compassionate.” Rev. White, who has been in the ministry for 49 years, gave an invocation remembering the players who have passed away.

Players on the basketball team recalled Mr. Casper as a coach and mentor.

“Coach Casper was a motivator, and he was very direct,” Mr. Sollenberger said.

Said Mr. Hall, “Coach Casper was a good guy and a good coach. This gymnasium was electric during any basketball game that was played here.”

Mr. Appleman noted that Williamsburg has been to the state finals eight times in boys’ and girls’ basketball, which ranked among the top 10 in the state among all four classes.

In mentioning the baseball team, Mr. Appleman said that Mr. Fonzi refers to baseball as “the forgotten sport.”

Mr. Appleman said that there is no team picture available featuring the 1958 Blair County League champions.

Mr. Fonzi said that when he began coaching baseball at Williamsburg, there were only five bats for the team and uniforms were used and worn. Each Player received certificates listing the achievements of the football, basketball and baseball teams.