MHS Principal Jeffrey Freeman, who along with assistant principal Jeff Gannon, were among the school administrators who gave the Hall of Fame committee their full support in getting the long-anticipated project off the ground, provided remarks to those on hand for the induction ceremony, while the Mounties’ athletic director Matt Belford also spoke.

The MHS AD, who came onto the scene last winter to guide the MHS sports programs, also had a chance to chat with John Porcelli, the former highly-successful Mounties AD and assistant principal, who ran MHS athletics during the time when the Mounties football team captured four sectional state playoff titles (2012-2014 and 2017).

Porcelli was also another member of the first class of inductees into the MHS Sports Hall of Fame.

Legendary Mounties basketball coach Bob Lester, who could not be on hand for the Oct. 17 induction ceremonies, had helped the Founders Committee in coming up with is first class of former Mountie hoopsters.

Craig Robinson (Class of ’79), Curtis Ritchwood (Class of ’82) and Jones (Class of ’83) were present for the weekend, and all three enjoyed attending the Saturday, Oct. 18th, home football game at Woodman Field as the young Mountie gridders earned their first victory of the season with a 20-12 decision over Barringer, and where several Hall of Fame class members were acknowleged as they came out onto the field at halftime.

Founders Committee members including Reilly, Terry, Donna Montague, Donnie and Steve DiGeronimo and Glenn and Pamela Jenkins, took in all the induction proceedings along with former Montclair recreation director Lonnie Brandon, who came up from his home in Atlantic City for the evening, and Darlene Ellis Nowlin, daughter of the beloved, late MHS girls track coach Doris Ellis, who was one of the inductees in the Coaches category.

During the presentations at the Oct. 17 ceremonies, the Jimmy Eason Community Service Award went to the late Wade Amadeo, a longtime security guard at Montclair High School and longtime friend and unoffical advisor to the Mountie football team, while the Trailblazer Award went to the beloved, late MHS teacher Jeanne Heninburg.

Even for those who are more recent to the Mountie sports scene, the evening’s undeniable, very special quality was reverberating throughout the room.    

“The great sports history of Montclair High School is known all throughout the state, and to see this new Hall of Fame get underway with its first class of inductees is definitely a thrill for me to be here for,” said Belford. “While I will continue to do my best to try and help our teams have more success in the present and future, it is also nice to take a few moments to once again appreciate such incredible people who have been such a big part of it all!”    

MHS Sports Hall of Fame Committee: Lonnie Brandon, Kenny Davis, Donny DiGeronimo, Steve DiGeronimo, Darlene Ellis Nowlin, Latifah Jannah, Glenn Jenkins, Pamela Jenkins, Bob Lester, Donna Montague, Pam Reilly, Roger Terry and Steve Walker

Montclair High School Sports Hall Of Fame Inductees:
Coaches: Clary Anderson, Mike Arace, Louise Bellace, Doris Ellis, Butch Fortunato, Gil Gibbs, Chris Johnson, Bob Lester, Norman Mansfield, Homer Robinson, Ray Spivey, Clarence Woodman

Athletic Director: John Porcelli

Football: Frank Morton (1921), Whitey Ask (1928(, Clary Anderson (1929), Ken Fritts (1933/34), Pat Caggiano (1933/34), Butch Fortunato 1935), Jack Quinn (1941), John Russo (1941), Tom Calandra (1942), Buster Fitzgerald (1943), Carl Lombardi (1944), Jim McGurk (1944), Jack Powers (1944), Johnny Delli Santi (1945), Tony Raccioppo (1946), Bob Deacon (1946), Don Fleming (1947), Mike DeNicola (1948), Joe Fortunato (1949), Charley Johnson (1949), Richard Emery (1950), Larry Hubbard (1950/51), Royce Flippin (1951), Everett Christmas (1952), Bill Lohman (1952), Aubrey Lewis (1952/53), Bernest Peoples (1954), Ralph Galascione (1954/55), Carmen Pizzano (1954), Ed Long (1955), Tony Carnevale (1956), Richard Haines (1956/57), Robert Haines (1957), Benjamin Mobley (1960), Frank Cuocco (1960), Gary Testa (1960), Robert Amerson (1961), Larry Day (1963), Ron Burton (1964), Dave Johnson (1964), Jay Johnson (1964), Ken Newsome (1964), John Tyson (1964), Lenny Coleman (1965/66), Garvey Craw (1966), Doug Sharp (1966), Joe Miscia (1966), Mel Green (1967), Earl Vaughn (1973), Dale Berra (1974), Craig Dunn (1977), Tim Crews (1978), Steve Puryear (1979), Darrell Giles (1980/81), John Cummings (1980)

Field Hockey: Geraldine Mattaur (1980), Ames Johnson (1983), Ann King (1985), Susan Finney (1982/85), Marjorie Adams (1985/86), Jill Mulhern (1986), Lynn Hyde (1986), Kelly Sullivan (1986), Sue Parisi (1988), Peggy MacDonald (1989)

Basketball: Wallace Choice (1952), Craig Robinson (1979), Greg Hines (1979), Bobby Hurt (1980), Curtis Ritchwood (1982), Dwayne Jones (1983), Kyle Anglin (1986), Fred Matthews (1986)

Lacrosse: Bill McCutcheon (1971), Gary Mercadante (1971/72), Brooks Sleeper (1971), Chris George (1972), Mike Hynes (1973), John Mutch (1974), Mike O’Neil (1974), Robert Ott (1974), Dave Dufresne (1975), Bob Pilat (1975), Joe Reilly (1975), Pete von Hoffmann, Ken Martin (1976), Kyle Ely (1977), Mark Tyree (1977), Eric von Hoffmann (1977), Dan Black (1978), Tom Harney (1979)

Track and Field (B): Reginald Sheppard (1956), Alphonso Spivey (1958), Howard Coburn (1981)

Track and Field: Hazel Lucas (1976), Donithy Jones (1981), Natasha Criss (1988)  

Baseball: Art Thompson (1964), Buddy Fortunato (1964), Earl Williams (1965)

Tennis: Kyle Copeland-Muse (1978)

Hockey: Lars Johannson (1984)    

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The Montclair High School Sports Hall of Fame is a 501C3 non-profit organization and welcomes anyone interested in working with the committee in the future or in making a donation. For more information email: mhssholf@montclair.k12.nj.us