How to submit to the C-PP Hall of Fame, plus feedback on Corning's greatest athletes
With the Labor Day weekend fast approaching, it’s a sign that the Corning-Painted Post Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors is gearing up for their 2023-24 "season." Their monthly meetings will begin shortly and one of the main topics on the table is always getting ready to accept nominations for what will be the Class of 2024.
Anyone can submit a resume to the Hall of Fame for a candidate for possible induction into the Hall of Fame. Nominations can be sent in by coaches, friends, parents or any other family member.
One of the first things a sponsor can do is visit the Hall of Fame website (just google c-pp sports hall of fame) and make sure your candidate is not already in the Hall. Each and every member of the Hall of Fame is listed alphabetically, by year of induction and by the sport for which they were inducted for.
Once you’ve determined that your nomination is a new one, explore the website and you will find directions on how to submit a resume. It can be done right on the website or you may send the nomination through the mail.
Some of the things you will need to include that are mandatory are names of both the sponsor and the candidate. Also included must be current addresses for both along with current email addresses and phone numbers. If any of the contact information is missing, the resume will not be considered. Make sure the nominee has been out of high school for at least seven years as they don’t become eligible until then.
Include as much verified information as you can about their accomplishments (and their team’s accomplishments) in both high school and college. There can never be too much information. Make sure you note which sport or category you are nominating your candidate for. Check with the website to get a list of all the categories as there is a very wide range of sports and categories that are recognized by the Board of Directors.
More from Larry French: It’s time to unlock the Corning-Painted Post Sports Hall of Fame
Keep in mind, if you have questions, or if you need help in putting together a resume, check the website and get the names of the folks who are serving on the Board of Directors. They are all listed on the website. You can get phone numbers and email addresses very easily.
One last thing, and this is important. The deadline for submitting a resume for any candidate for the Class of 2024 is Oct. 31, 2023. Any resumes received after that date will automatically be considered for the following year. No resumes will ever be sent back or discarded. But that deadline date is important and strictly adhered to by the Board.
Feedback on naming some of Corning's best-ever athletes
A few weeks ago this column mentioned some of the top athletes that ever came out of this school system. That conversation with Mickey Graham created a little bit of feedback that we’ll share with you now.
Got an email from my longtime friend Gary Waksmunski who graduated from East High back in 1968. He suggested that Nick Pappas was one of the best all-around athletes to come down the pike. Nick was an outstanding football player who also was a standout basketball player on that first East High sectional championship team and was a terrific baseball player. As Gary stated, "He just excelled at everything he did." Nick led the nation in kickoff return yardage while at Memphis University.
Don Allison’s name was also mentioned in the column and he responded with an email and a phone call. He was in agreement with his friend Mickey with the mention of Gary Wydman as the best athlete ever. But, he also gave a shout out to Nick Pappas.
More: Who is Corning's best athlete? The Crystal City has produced some serious contenders
Bob Bevins was kind enough to send me an email with a few names. Bob also was in agreement Gary Wydman but put in a strong statement for Nick Pappas as well. Bob also mentioned Joel Griffing and Pierce Baker. They were the standout big men for the East High sectional champion hoops team. Joel was also an outstanding golfer, while Pierce played quarterback for an outstanding East High team in the mid-1960s. Two excellent athletes and wonderful human beings.
During the conversations, there was also mention of the three athletes from Corning West that solidified three main positions for three different Vikings teams during the '60s and early '70s. It started with the late Eddie Hanshaw, who was an outstanding shortstop for the baseball team, the quarterback for the football and the point guard for the basketball squad. He was followed by the equally talented Don Congdon, a standout in all three sports at those key positions. The third one of the trio was Bob Adams, the former owner of the Willowcreek Golf Club.
All three of these outstanding triple threat student-athletes are in the local Hall of Fame. Eddie for baseball, Don for football and Bob as a contributor for his endless efforts and contributions to the local golf scene. All three of them could have been selected in either baseball, football or basketball.
We end the summer recreation columns next week before switching to the bowling scene which you have read about in this space for the past 42 years. No. 43 begins the Friday after Labor Day.
— Larry French writes a weekly column.
This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: French: Who should make C-PP Hall of Fame? Plus reader feedback
