Connellsville Area Falcon Foundation welcomed eight new members into its Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame was established by the Falcon Foundation in 2010, said member Robert McLuckey.
McLuckey said this is the 15th class of Hall of Fame honorees.
He said with the addition of the new eight honorees, the Hall of Fame now includes 111 people who are graduates of the district and others who aren’t graduates but who are honored for what they have done in the school community.
These are people that make contributions to the community, teachers, administrators and others.
McLuckey said when the foundation was formed in 2006, its purpose was to support and enhance education in the school district.
“Education is still our highest priority,” he said, adding this year the foundation provided the district with $16,000 in aid, providing grants to teachers for projects in their classrooms.
The foundation also awarded several scholarships. The Kenneth Jaynes Memorial Scholarship was named after the foundation’s first president.
“Kenny Jaynes was all about community service,” McLuckey said.
The scholarships are awarded to students for high academic achievement, school involvement and community service.
He said three of the four awardees have plans to continue their education and enter the medical field. The fourth plans to become a veterinarian.
“We are very proud of the scholarships we give,” he said.
He also thanked Mid Penn Bank and Somerset Trust Company for their support of the program.
With donations from Mid Penn Bank, computers were purchased for a high school class. He said foundation members will meet with school administrators to discuss the best way to use the Somerset Trust donation.
McLuckey said when the Hall of Fame was started in 2010, the first two honorees were John Lujack and John Woodruff.
McLuckey said students today can learn a lot by looking at the honorees named to the Hall of Fame.
“They represent so many positive things, like service and leadership,” he said. “We are proud of the eight people we have chosen and are being honored tonight. In addition to being high achievers they are also very nice people.”
On Thursday, the foundation also introduced its new electronic display, which will feature all Hall of Fame members.
McLuckey explained room was running out in the high school entranceway for all the plaques.
He thanked Bill Wilson and Kevin Ghost, the district’s director of technology, for bringing the project to life.
Honored this year were Terry Boors, the late Robert Evans, George Harvey, Lt. Col. David Kelm, John Malone, Dr. Joseph Mancuso, the late Edwin Porter and Dr. Tammy Tyree.
Terry Boors
Boors was introduced by his daughter, Lyndsey Boors. He is a 1967 graduate of Connellsville Area High School. He was nominated for the honor by Linda Shearer and Tamera Gratchic.
Boors graduated from the first class of CAHS following the merger of the Connellsville and Dunbar Township districts.
At graduation he was awarded the David Guhl Scholarship, presented to an outstanding student going into a career in education.
He graduated from California University of Pennsylvania in 1971 with a bachelor of science degree in education with a specialization being social studies.
He began teaching in the Connellsville Area School District in 1974.
In addition to being an educator, Boors devoted years to the emergency health care field. In 1977, he attended Westmoreland Community College and gained state certification as an emergency medical technician.
He gained certification as a paramedic the following year and 1981 through 1982 he acquired an advanced level paramedic 2 certification after attending Allegheny Community College.
He was an American Heart Association instructor for basic life support, something he did for 40 years. He taught EMT classes and other health care related courses at various locations. He served as an adjunct faculty member for the Allegheny Health Network. He taught advanced cardiac life support, pediatric advanced life support, basic life support and pre-trauma support.
He was recognized in 2001 by the Allegheny Health Network for more than 20 years of service to Plum EMS in Allegheny County.
He worked for the Pennsylvania Department of Health as an evaluator for EMT and paramedic programs in Western Pennsylvania.
He worked professionally as a paramedic for more than 40 years in Fayette, Westmoreland and Allegheny counties.
As a teacher, Boors, initiated a first aid and CPR program and in 1992 he partnered with Penn State Fayette Campus, Highlands Hospital, and Fayette EMS to offer a certified Emergency First Responder program for high school students.
He was recognized by the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce as the Connellsville Area School District’s Educator of the Year. He was also recognized by the Pennsylvania Health Services Foundation for his 41 years of service in EMS.
Boors and his wife Judy are the parents of Cody and Lyndsey.
“Terry’s lifetime work has saved countless lives,” Shearer said.
Gratchic conveyed how she was able to save her niece’s life while choking on a lifesaver as a toddler using the Hiemlich Maneuver she had learned while taking Boors’ CPR class at Connellsville Area High School.
Robert E. Evans
The late Robert E. Evans was a member of the Class of 1960. He was introduced by McLuckey. He was nominated by Shelley Mattis.
Evans was a scientist, inventor, consultant and entrepreneur. He graduated from Duquesne University in 1964 with a bachelor of science degree in physics. He graduated from the University of Bridgeport in 1971 with a master of science degree in applied mechanics.
vans worked at the American Cyanamid Company in the chemical research lab in Stanford, Conn. for 33 years. He was involved in research and development in physical measurements, composite materials and industrial fibers. He served in management and business development.
He was the recipient of the American Cyanamid Scientific Achievement Award in 1978.
He formed Engineered Fibers Technology in Shelton, Conn. in 1998, to provide engineered industrial fibers and engineering services for a myriad of applications and products.
He consulted for universities and companies worldwide. He holds 14 U.S. patents and consulted on 20 others. He invented the thermoplastic composite used as the primary structure of the Boeing 777 and 787 airplanes.
He also contributed to the success of the Hubble Space Telescope. The authored two books and published numerous technical papers. He was invited lecturer at MIT for its summer composites program. After selling EFT in 2020, he formed Lyntec Consulting/Engineering Company but remained a contract advisor to EFT.
He spent the last five years working on a project for the Department of Defense and continued to work in his lab until his death in December 2023 at the age of 81.
His wife, Lynne Evans, accepted his award.
George Harvey
Harvey is a graduate of the CAHS Class of 1982. He was introduced by Diane Ratai and nominated by Kimberly Yauger and Scott Wendel. He is also a wrestling alumnus of CAHS.
In his senior year, he finished second in the WPIAL and finished third in the Pennsylvania State Tournament.
He was Connellsville’s highest finisher that year. He was a key member of the wrestling teams that made it to the WPIAL Team Finals in 1980 and 1982.
He credits Don Lynn, with getting him started in wrestling in the eighth grade. After high school graduation, he continued his education and wrestling career at California University of Pennsyvlania.
Due to injuries his career was cut short. In the late 1980s, Harvey became Cal U’s interim head wrestling coach and under his leadership, the team was nationally ranked for two years and had five All Americans. He joined the Falcon coaching staff as an assistant coach for Tom Dolde Sr. from 1989 to 2000. He coached the junior high level team with Don Lynn from 2002 to 2005 and returned to varsity coaching under Tom Dolde Jr. from 2005 to 2008. He returned again coaching with Jesse Swink from 2016 to 2020 and continued with Mike Yancosky in 2021. He currently serves as a volunteer assistant with Bill Swink.
In 2022, he was honored as Section 2 Assistant Coach of the Year and was honored as the WPIAL Assistant Coach of the Year.
He is owner of Geo Construction and currently GJ Quarter Horses.
Since 1991, he has hired more than 30 former Falcon wrestlers to work for him.
He is currently a member of the Greater Connellsville Wrestling Club and served as project manager to help design and oversee the construction of the new wrestling facility funded by the wrestling organization.
“George was once an outstanding wrestler for the Falcons,” Scott Wendel said, but he said he nominated Harvey because of his history of providing a positive mental attitude and guidance for young wrestlers who participate in junior olympics, elementary wrestling and junior and senior high wrestling.
Wendel said, more importantly, he directs youth into being good citizens and prepares them to be successful as students, siblings and hopefully parents someday.
Wendel said what Harvey has given to the Connellsville Area can not be measured but his impact has made a difference in the lives of many local youth.
Harvey lives in Connellsville with his wife, Trudie and their dog, Buddy. He has two children, Slade and Erin and a grandson, Manzie.
Lt. Col. David Kelm
Kelm graduated with the Class of 2001. He was introduced by Jane Sandusky. He was nominated by Linda Shearer. Kelm was admitted to the U.S. Naval Academy following graduation from high school. At Annapolis, he earned a bachelor of science degree in political science.
He entered the Marine Corp and served in the Marines from 2005 to 2013 and he continues to serve the Marine Corp Reserves. From 2006 to 2013 he was deployed multiple times to combat situations including Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2007 to 2008 and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2012 to 2013.
His combat service led to numerous achievement medals and awards, including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and two Combat Action Ribbons.
He said his proudest achievement was commanding an infantry battalion. He said he was humbled to be entrusted with the leadership of over 900 Marines and sailors.
In 2015, he had the opportunity to study in Moscow at the Moscow Institute of International Relations.
He is currently a Second Secretary at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C. and continues to serve in the Marine Corps Reserves as a lieutenant colonel.
He currently resides in Washington, D.C.
John Malone
Malone was nominated by Linda Shearer and introduced by Ken Washington.
Malone started his educational journey in the Connellsville Area School District until the death of his younger brother, when he transferred to Geibel Catholic High School, graduating in 1979. His wife and children are Connellsville Area School District graduates.
He said as his two sons grew up and became involved in athletics, he got involved in the school district’s sports programs. He was actively involved in fundraising and providing financial support for programs such as baseball.
Because of his efforts, district students were able to attend professional baseball games, meet professional athletes and travel to Florida and South Carolina for training.
He has helped groups including the CAHS Patriots to find funding.
He is a senior vice president of Somerset Trust and he is involved in many comunity events, including the Heart to Hope Telethon, car shows, bike races for the police department, train displays, and many more.
Malone teaches banking at Saint Vincent College and was instrumental in the establishment of a Somerset Trust branch office in the high school.
He is on the board of the Carnegie Free Library and he is vice chairman of the Uniontown-WVU Hospital board and chairman of the Dunbar Township Sewage Authority.
He is involved in Connellsville Little League baseball as a coach and helped the organization make changes and improvements in facilities.
Shearer said she feels Malone has left “an indelible mark on this community.”
Dr. Joseph Mancuso
Mancuso is a 1984 Connellsville Area High School graduate. He was introduced by Ken Washington. He was nominated by his father, Joe Mancuso, who said his son’s achievements in his professional career are an outcome of the foundation that was built when he was a student and athlete in the district, where he excelled in football and basketball.
Mancuso attended Edinboro University on a football scholarship and earned a history degree.
After college, he returned to Connellsville and taught history and was an assistant football coach for several years.
He moved to the South Middleton School District where he taught history and coached football.
He went on to serve as an assistant principal, high school principal and assistant superintendent.
He went on to receive his master’s degree from Shippensburg University and his doctorate from Widener University.
In 2018, Mancuso accepted a position of superintendent of the Eastern York School District, which has received national recognition for its education excellence, including being ranked as the best high school in Pennsylvania for seven consecutive years.
He is involved in a number of organizations including the Pennsylvania Superintendent Association, where he serves on the Innovative Teaching and Learning Committee.
He is national chairman of Modern Teacher Co. and has been instrumental in the Eastern York School District being recognized as a 2024 Showcase School District.
He said his successful career is a testament to the values and education he received at Connellsville
Edwin S. Porter
The late Edwin S. Porter attended Connellsville schools in the mid-1880s but never graduated. He was nominated by Dr. Frank Jacobyansky.
Porter was the first major director of movies in this country. He worked closely with Thomas Edison and ran Edison’s film department in the early 20th century.
His breakthrough film was “The Great Train Robbery” in 1903, which introduced new techniques to the nascent film industry. He remained in charge at Edison Company until 1908, continuing to either produce or direct films. He was known nationally.
Porter is honored in Connellsville with a plaque, a mural downtown and having the Edwin S. Porter Theater in the Connellsville Area Community Center named for him.
On Sept. 7 at the theater, the first Edwin S. Porter Silent Film Festival will be held.
Tammy L. Tyree
Tyree is a 1988 graduate of Connellsville Area High School. She was introduced by Jane Sandusky and nominated by Vickie McClain.
McClain said Tyree was a force to be reckoned with. She was a competitive long-distance runner for the Falcon Track Team from 1985 to 1988. She was also the drum major of the Mighty Falcon Band at a time the band won numerous awards and honors.
McClain said, “Tammy was quite a determined young lady back in high school. She wanted to become a nurse even though she struggled somewhat with chemistry in high school.”
But Tyree went on to achieve her goal.
McClain said he nominated Tyree because of her kindness, humility and her brilliance as a human being.
While Tyree was initially interested in nursing, she would go on to dedicate herself to the field of neurology, where she helped patients recover from life-altering events.
Her medical career began when she attended the Uniontown Hospital School of Nursing after high school and became a registered nurse. She worked at Pittsburgh’s Mercy Hospital in the emergency room and trauma unit. After getting married, she and her husband moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where she became an instructor of nursing at Arizona State University. She was also a practicing nurse assisting in surgeries. She took additional medical courses from Grand Canyon University and received a doctorate in nursing from Penn State University in 2021.
Originally published by The Daily Courier on August 29, 2024