Hall of Fame Member Bios 2000
View: Alphabetical List
- Members by Induction Class
- Biographies
BARBARA LEE FRIEDRICH DUUS
Barbara Lee Friedrich Duus is being inducted into the Hall of Fame
for her achievements as both athlete and coach at Collingswood High.
She also recently retired after a 30-year career as an outstanding
South Jersey field hockey official.
A member of the class of ’53, Barbara was a fine hockey and
softball player. She captained the softball team as a senior and
lost only a few games during her career as a pitcher.
After coaching at two other schools, Barbara returned to her alma
mater and first coached two state champion cheerleading squads in
1965 and ’66. During that period, several of the girls received
national cheerleading honors.
She then coached outstanding basketball squads. Her 1970-71 team
was the first Colls’ girls’ team to win 20 games (20-1)
and advanced to the first NJSIAA girls’ basketball final,
losing the championship game by one point.
ED KURKIAN, JR.
Few individuals have contributed more to Collingswood High School
than Ed Kurkian, this year’s choice for the Meritorious Service
Award.
Ed was a solid reserve on the 1953 South Jersey championship basketball
team, only the second sectional title in school history. As a senior
he was a stalwart on another court team which reached the sectional
finals. He played a year of baseball and two years of track during
his undergrad days.
He returned to teach and coach baseball before becoming an administrator,
a position he held until retirement. From day one he has played
a major role in the development of the Collingswood Athletic Hall
of Fame.
JOHN DUTTON, JR.
Every community, every school should be fortunate enough to have
a John Dutton, the recipient of the first Community Service Award.
Dutton lettered in baseball and basketball in high school.
He later played key roles in the development of the Collingswood
Little League and many other community activities. His work in uncovering
the deeds to many local homes and businesses have been a blessing
to historians. The Hall of Fame Executive Committee can never adequately
thank John for the wealth of material he has assembled on Colls
High athletic history.
He sent children Donna, John and Gary to his alma mater and all
did well on the playing fields and in the classroom. Young John
starred on the 1966 team, the last squad to record a perfect season
for the high school.
ROBERT M. SHIELDS
The name Robert Shields is memorialized in the beautiful
athletic field and in the Tatem-Shields Legion Post.
Bob Shields is the only Collingswood citizen to give his life on
the battlefield in World War I. He enlisted in the US Marine Corps
and was part of the great allied counter-attack in the spring and
summer of 1918. At the battle of Belleau Wood, an action vital in
the Marine Corps lore, he received shrapnel wounds that caused his
death a few days later. At the time he was wounded he was under
heavy fire and assisting wounded buddies. This action brought him
posthumous decorations from the governments of France, Belgium and
the United States.
He was one of Collingswood’s first athletic heroes, excelling
in football, baseball and track. The Colls began football in 1909
and did well from the outset. The only team it could not defeat
was Camden. But the Panthers did earn ties in 1913 and ’14.
Bob Shields scored all the points in those contests.
BILL GRAUPNER
Bill Graupner was one of the great athletes of his era, earning
three letters in football, basketball and baseball. He was the standout
quarterback of the Class A championship team of 1926, the first
Panther squad to go unbeaten. He was named All-Class A quarterback.
In later years he starred in the backfield of the University of
Pennsylvania and was a top slugger in the semipro baseball circles
which were so popular at the time. For years he was ranked as one
of South Jersey’ finest football officials.
BOB HALES
Bob Hales was a basketball player ahead of his time. In the small
gyms of his era, most big men simply camped under the basket and
tried to get rebounds.
Hale was a strong rebounder but also had the ability to move outside,
where he developed an excellent shot and also could drive to the
hoop. His powerful moves made him a standout player on the Ben Mark
coached teams of 1936 and 1937. The latter team won the Camden Suburban
League title.
After high school he played on strong service teams and coached
and played on various Industrial League hoop teams.
CONRAD LEISE
Conrad “Corky” Leise has a unique title in the history
of Collingswood football. He was the star who was not the starter.
On the championship team of 1945, Coach Skeets Irvine utilized Leise
on the offensive as center, end, running back and back-up quarterback.
On defense he was an end, linebacker, defensive halfback and safety.
He also was an inspirational player whose very entrance into the
game seemed to arouse positive emotions.
At the second annual banquet of the Phillips R. Brooks Memorial
Football Club, the star who was not a starter was chosen South Jersey
Lineman of the Year.
WOODY FINGERHUT
Championship clubs and Bob “Woody” Fingerhut seemed
to be a winning parlay. The 1945 championship football squad utilized
two complete backfields – one of juniors, one of seniors.
Fingerhut was a member of the junior foursome.
As a senior he was co-captain, along with Mike D’Alessandro,
of another championship unit. He also pitched, played first base
and the outfield on three of the finest baseball teams of Coach
Bill Diemer’s marvelous career.
Woody combined considerable ability with a competitive drive and
team spirit which made him one of the most respected students and
athletes of his day.
DONALD ‘DEE’ DOUGLAS
Dee Douglas was one of the powerful linemen of his day. As a junior
he cleared the way for a bevy of fleet backs that helped the Panthers
annex the Group 4 title.
The next season he was selected All-Group 4 guard. His physical
strength was mentioned by every unfortunate opponent.
That strength also earned him recognition as a steady point-getter
in the track weight events and as a rebounder on Coach Al Usilton’s
basketball squad.
NAOMI LEITCH
Naomi Leitch is one of the few Collingswood Athletes, male or female,
to earn 12 Varsity letters in just three years of high school. She
was also an outstanding player and competitor in all four sports
she played as a Panther – hockey, basketball, softball and
swimming.
She was chosen the Most Outstanding Female Athlete in the class
of 1955, and classmate Al Harris says she was unquestionably the
best athlete – male or female – in that class.
Naomi played in an era before girls received individual recognition
outside the walls of their own skills, but she would have been an
all-star hockey and basketball player in any era. As co-captain
and leading scorer, she led her Colls basketball team to the championship
of the West Jersey League.
JERRY MANGANO
Jerry Mangano was a key member of the undefeated Colls “Golden
Eleven” football team of 1958. He played three years of football,
earning All-Group 4 second-team honors in both his junior and senior
years. Mangano was a wingback (in the single-wing) on offense and
was a threat both running reverses and also catching passes from
quarterback Ron Giordano.
Perhaps the Colls’ fastest player, Mangano was also a standout
in the defensive backfield. He collared five interceptions in his
senior year and earned the Sonny Carson Award for “Best Pass
Defender in South Jersey.”
A three-year baseball star as well, Mangano was tri-captain in his
senior year and led the team in hitting with a .350 average in his
junior year. In his freshman year at Collingswood Junior High, Mangano
played on an undefeated basketball team and was a good high-jumper
in track.
DIANE JAMES DAPKEY
Diane James Dapkey of the class of ’66 was a star performer
in field hockey, basketball and the first lacrosse teams in the
school’s history. She won MVP awards in all three sports and
received the Gold Medal as the top senior girl athlete.
Diane played three years of varsity hockey, including a Colonial
Conference championship team as a sophomore. She captained the team
and was MVP as a senior. Diane lettered for two years in basketball
and was MVP her junior year.
She was also a key member of the first two lacrosse teams in Colls
history. Here again she captained the team and was MVP as a senior.
As evidence of her all-around athletic skills, Diane held the school
record for the fastest time in the 50-yard dash as part of the President’s
Physical Fitness Program.
STEVE DILTS
Steve Dilts ’67 was a standout football and baseball player
for some of Collingswood High’s greatest teams in both sports.
He quarterbacked the teams which lost just one football game in
1965 and went undefeated in 1966. The latter team was the number
one-ranked squad in South Jersey for the entire season and was the
highest-scoring team in the history of the school. Dilts ran the
Ridinger offense with precision and was a threat as both a runner
and passer. He was first-team All Colonial Conference selection
and was named to the All-Group 3 second team and honorable mention
All-South Jersey.
In baseball, Dilts was 7-0 as a pitcher as the Colls won South Jersey
championships in both his junior and senior years. He captained
the team in his senior year. Dilts was a first-team All Conference
honoree as a senior, second-tea, All-Group 3 and honorable mention
All-South Jersey.
GARY PAPA
Gary Papa is considered one of the finest wrestlers ever produced
at Collingswood High and he also contributed to getting soccer off
the ground at the school. In his senior year, he shared the honor
as Outstanding Male Athlete in his class of 1970.
Papa was an All-Colonial Conference wrestler in his sophomore, junior
and senior years. He was also a regional champion and placed second
in the district championships in his sophomore year and won the
districts in both his junior and senior years. He was also a regional
champion and placed second in the state in his senior year, when
he was an All-South Jersey selection.
Papa earned a wrestling scholarship to York College and has already
achieved over 300 victories as a scholastic mat coach.
Papa played on the soccer team that started on the club level during
his junior year. He was a key performer and co-captain of the soccer
team in his senior year, the first official varsity season in Colls
history.
PATRICE DONOHUE JOYA
Patrice Donohue Joya, class of 1974, participated in field hockey,
basketball and lacrosse during her years at Collingswood High. She
earned three varsity letters in basketball and two each in hockey
and lacrosse.
During her senior year, all three teams won conference championships.
Patrice captained the hockey team and won All-Conference honors
in both hockey and basketball. At the end of the hockey season,
she was presented with the Skeets Irvine Award as most valuable
player. She received a similar award for her efforts and achievements
in basketball.
BOYS’ TENNIS TEAMS OF 1954 AND 1955
Collingswood revived its boys’ tennis program under coach
Chet Olinger in 1953. By the second year, the Panthers not only
won the Group 4 title, but missed out on an undefeated season only
because they played George School in a format of six singles and
three doubles matches and lost, 5-4.
The Colls ’54 team featured a powerful singles lineup of Bob
Renza, Dave Murphy, Craig McKinley and Ken Baker. Depth and doubles
were in the capable hands of Steve Parker, Dan Van Gelder, Al Harris,
Dinny Zimmerman an Bob Ingram.
The ’55 team repeated as Group 4 champs and set the stage
for a tennis dynasty that lasted well into the 1960’s. New
contributors included Ken Heilig, Larry Keaton, Carl McIntire, Ed
Parker, Bill Grant, Dudley Rowell and Cliff Rubicam.
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