BASEBALL: Frackville honors Chuma for 50 years of service

Jul. 17—FRACKVILLE — Wendy Montgomery has known how special of a man John Chuma is since she was a little girl.

Montgomery grew up in Frackville with Chuma's daughter, Angela, playing T-ball and softball together through the youth levels into high school. With Angela pitching and Montgomery catching, the two were inseparable.

When Montgomery's father passed away when she was 13 years old, Chuma "stepped up to the plate," becoming the missing father-figure in her life. Years later, Montgomery and her business partner took over Chuma's security company, now called DM2 Security, a business she still runs today.

Sunday afternoon, Montgomery got the opportunity to reward Chuma for all of the love and guidance he shared with her over the years.

She orchestrated a "Celebration of John Chuma" at the Frackville Elks Lodge No. 1533, an event that drew a standing-room-only crowd of friends, family, former players, former coaches and members of the community as the 73-year-old was honored for his 50 years of service as a baseball coach in Frackville at the Teener League, Little League, Legion and high school levels.

"I will be forever grateful for how he treated me over the years," said Montgomery, one of several individuals to speak on Chuma's behalf.

"John, you are not only like a father to me, but you're also my mentor, one of my dearest friends and ... my hero," Montgomery read. "To say you are a legend is an understatement. You have touched so many people's lives with your dedication, dedication to not only teaching us the fundamentals of the game, but the valuable life lessons.

"I can never give back to what you have given to me, what you have given to us. Thank you for being the man that you are. You are truly one of a kind."

Sunday's event mirrored an Aug. 12, 2019, meeting of the Frackville Borough Council held at the Frackville Elks during which Chuma was presented an Outstanding Service Award and the borough approved the re-naming of the Teener League field at Memorial Park as the "John Chuma Teener Field."

Ron Jordan, president of the Frackville Borough Council, served as master of ceremonies for Sunday's event. Jordan and Frackville Mayor Kim Phillips presented Chuma with a wooden plaque that listed all of Chuma's accomplishments and featured a photo of Chuma in the shape of a home plate at the bottom.

"For over five decades, John Chuma has served his community through his dedication through sports, youth, his commitment to his family and friends and his loyalty to the community members," Phillips read.

State Rep. Joanne Stehr presented Chuma with a Certificate of Recognition from the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives. Ray Flannery, a coach with the Frackville Midget Football program, presented Chuma with a jersey and hat, and members of the current Frackville Teener League team gave Chuma a wooden bat signed by players Chuma has coached at one time.

Other speakers included North Schuylkill athletic director Jim Gross, Frackville Teener coach Knute Brayford, attorney Joe Nahas, past American Legion Post 398 commander Wally Hummel and former players Jake Green, Mike Little and Jaden Leiby.

Video messages from two of Chuma's former players who are currently playing professionally in the minor leagues, Joe Nahas and Reggie Crawford, were played on one of the televisions for all in attendance to see.

"It's an honor and a pleasure, and I never expected anything like this," Chuma said when he took the microphone, noting that Montgomery told him Sunday's event would only be a "little get-together" at the Elks.

"I'd like to thank all of the speakers that came up tonight for all your kind words. I really appreciate it. I'm grateful for my family and all of you, my best friends, that took the time to be here today."

A Frackville native and lifelong borough resident, Chuma played Little League, Teener and Legion baseball in Frackville and high school baseball for both Frackville and North Schuylkill. A 1967 graduate of North Schuylkill, Chuma attended Lincoln Tech and entered the Army in 1969.

Chuma served one year in the Army in Vietnam before developing cancer and spent a year in the Walter Reed Army Hospital. After being discharged in May 1972, Chuma attended Penn State Schuylkill with a degree to teach electronics in vocational schools.

He owned and operated John's TV repair from 1973-88 and began a second business, Dynamark Security, that he operated from 1979-2006. He sold the business to Montgomery and her business partner in 2006.

While recuperating at home in 1972, Chuma started umpiring games for the Frackville Little League. He began coaching Teener League baseball in 1973 and is still involved in Teener baseball 50 years later, serving as the Frackville head coach and Schuylkill County Teener League president.

Chuma also coached six years with the Frackville Little League, coached the Frackville Legion team for three seasons and coached 12 years with the Frackville Biddy Basketball program.

In the community, Chuma is a past vice president of Frackville Borough Council and was an officer with the Frackville Biddy Basketball Association, Frackville Midget Football Association, North Schuylkill Football Halftime Club and North Schuylkill baseball.

He is a member of the Frackville Elks, American Legion, Amvets and VFW and is on the Frackville Flag Committee. He is a previous member of the Jaycees, recreational board and Lions Club.

"Over the past 50 years I've been blessed to coach with some great coaches and to work with some terrific managers," Chuma said. "I was always proud when I went to a high school baseball game and there were 7-8-9 starters that came out of the Frackville Teener program. That's what really made me feel good.

"The boys that I coached, a lot of them went on to college and were really successful in what they do. And even two of them went on to the major leagues. How many coaches in their life can say they coached somebody that went on to the major leagues? It's so rewarding."

Chuma won his share of championships over the years, guiding Frackville to four Schuylkill County Teener League Senior Division titles (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017), directing Frackville to its first-ever District 24 Little League championship in 1995 and coaching the Frackville Legion team to the Schuylkill Legion League crown and its only trip to the Region 2 Tournament in 1999.

He's more remembered for his compassion toward his players, his ability to mold young players into young men and for teaching his players not only the fundamentals of the game, but valuable life lessons.

"My main goal over all of these 50 years is for the Frackville boys and North Schuylkill boys to be competitive, be respectful, have good character and learn the value of being a good sport," Chuma said. "I care about Frackville and I care about the communities around Frackville. I cared about each and every player that ever played Teener baseball or Little League or Legion for me. This chapter of my life is a blessing to me."

Contact the writer: Lboyer@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6026; @pubsportsboss on Twitter

Contact the writer: Lboyer@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6026; @pubsportsboss on Twitter