Honor 1967 School Football Team

Senate Resolution No. 2688 BY: Senator TEDISCO PAYING tribute to the 1967 Mont Pleasant High School Football Team upon the occasion of its being honored as part of a special Legacy Tribute during the 20th Annual Schenectady County Athletic Hall of Fame and Reunion Dinner on September 11, 2017 WHEREAS, Excellence and success in competitive sports can be achieved only through strenuous practice, team play and team spirit, nurtured by dedicated coaching and strategic planning; and WHEREAS, Athletic competition enhances the moral and physical development of the young people of this State, preparing them for the future by instilling in them the value of teamwork, encouraging a standard of healthy living, imparting a desire for success and developing a sense of fair play and competition; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay tribute to those outstanding athletes who inspired and brought pride to their school and community by achieving outstanding success in competition, attaining unprecedented success and the highest level of personal achievement; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to pay tribute to the 1967 Mont Pleasant High School Football Team upon the occasion of its being honored as part of a special Legacy Tribute during the 20th Annual Schenectady County Athletic Hall of Fame and Reunion Dinner to be celebrated on Monday, September 11, 2017, at Proctor's Theatre in Schenectady, New York; and WHEREAS, This auspicious event will also commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the 1967 Mont Pleasant High School Football Team's undefeated season; and WHEREAS, Led by co-captains Al Aldi and Pete DiDonato, the 1967 Mont Pleasant High School Football Team finished the season with a perfect

8-0 record, outscoring its opponents 212-83; the number one ranked Patriots also captured the New York State Class A Championship; and WHEREAS, The 1967 Mont Pleasant High School Football Team included Al Aldi, Sam Brooks, Patrick Brennan, Terry Cade, Garry Campbell, Jerry Carlos, Tom Ciancetta, Marc Della Villa, Bob DeMarco, Carmen DePoalo, Rit DiCaprio, Tom DiCocco, Pete DiDonato, Gary Fountain, Walter Fountain, Jerry Gaida, Joe Handy, Mike Iacovitti, Tom Ille, Ken Jackson, Gale Knull, Dennis Lake, Dennis Lape, Charles "Skip" Lega, Ed Marcinkowski, Dawson Newberry, Harold Oppelt, Ron Page, Ed Panniccia, Dick Patka, Julius Pek, Dennis Pelkey, Ernie Richute, Russ Ruggiero, John Sayles, Warren Sheldon, John Stenard, John Vasko, Dean Vrooman, Kenny Wachowicz, and Andy Zahn; Head Coach Larry Mulvaney; Assistant Coach Tony Parisi; and Managers Vincent Martiniano and Kurt Ahnert; and WHEREAS, The 1967 Mont Pleasant High School Football Team placed seven players on the 11-member All-County Team: Al Aldi, Garry Campbell, Jerry Gaida, Gale Knull, Ed Marcincowski, Harold Oppelt and Ron Page, who also won the Mont Pleasant High School scoring title with 54 points; and WHEREAS, Moreover, Ron Page was named the Thom McAn co-Player of the Year, and was selected as a 1967 Honorable Mention All-American by Scholastic Coach; and WHEREAS, Gale Knull was the 1967 Thom McAn co-Player of the Year, and was chosen as an All-American by Parade; and WHEREAS, For their steadfast commitment to their communities, John Sayles and Tony Parisi were inducted into the Schenectady Central School District Hall of Fame; and WHEREAS, The athletic talent displayed by the 1967 Mont Pleasant High School Football Team was due in great part to the efforts of Schenectady Central School District Hall of Famers Head Coach Larry Mulvaney and Assistant Coach Tony Parisi, skilled and inspirational tutors who did a superb job in guiding, molding and inspiring the team members toward their goals; and WHEREAS, Gifted athletes, the 1967 Mont Pleasant High School Football Team proved themselves to be an unbeatable combination of athletic and academic talents, whose character and achievements stand as a sterling example and inspiration to all who would aspire to success; and WHEREAS, Loyally and enthusiastically supported by family, fans, friends and the community at large, the 1967 Mont Pleasant High School Football Team clearly made a contribution to the spirit of excellence which became a tradition at their school; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is moved to honor the 1967 Mont Pleasant High School Football Team for their extraordinary athletic accomplishments which are a tribute to their skill, dedication and commitment; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to pay tribute to the 1967 Mont Pleasant High School Football Team upon the occasion of its being honored as part of a special Legacy Tribute during the 20th Annual Schenectady County Athletic Hall of Fame and Reunion Dinner; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the members of the 1967 Mont Pleasant High School Football Team.