14 to Be Honored by Dapper Dans

Awards to Be Presented At A Luncheon

Fourtheen Pittsburgh and district athletes and prominent sports figures will be honored by the Post-Gazette Dapper Dan Club at its Silver Anniversary Dinner at the Hilton Hotel, Sunday nigh, Feb. 5.

The 14, according to General Chairman Dr. William D. McClelland are as follows:

Mike Ditka, Pitt's All-America end, for outstanding achievement in collegiate football.

Dick Hoak, Penn State's star quarterback for outstanding achievement in collegiate football.

Tom Tracy, Steelers' star back, for outstanding achievement in pro football.

John Reger, Steelers' star linebacker, for outstanding achievement in pro football.

Marine Captain William McMillan, for outstanding achievement in the 1960 Olympic Games.

Larry Bruno, Beaver Falls High Coach, for outstanding achievement in high school football.

John Bruno, Sewickley Area High Coach, for outstanding achievement in high school football.

Harry Keck, former sports editor, Sun-Telegraph, for his contributions to the newspaper field over a 42-year period.

Gus Brickner, Charleroi swimmer, who gained international fame while attempting to swim the English Channel.

John Brannan, Sr., bowlling proprietor, for his contribution over the years to the sport.

Regis C. Graff, a starter, for his long years of service in the automobile racing field.

Anniversary Dinner on Tap Next Sunday

Dave Fawcett, head of West Penn Basketball officials, for his contributions towards sports in the district.

Joe Zerilla, Ambridge sports official, for his contributions towards sports both here and in his city.

Johnny Burk, AMA AAU official, for contribution to amateur sports.

Marine Captain McMillan, who now resides in Quantico, Va., was born in Turtle Creek [Frostburg, MD]. He won a gold medal in the rapid fire pistol shooting event in Rome.

McMillan will join Rafer Johnson, the Decathlon champion, as the United States Olympic representatives at the big party.

Larry Bruno's Beaver Falls High team won the Class AA football title.

John Bruno, Sewickley High coach, led his team to the Class A football crown.

The other men are well known in their respective fields.

All 14 will be given their awards at a special Dapper Dan luncheon to be held at the Variety Club next Saturday at 12:30. On Sunday night they will be introduced individually to the 2,300 guests who will be in the Hilton Hotel Ballroom.

Chairman McClelland also announced that several nationally known figures will be on hand for the luncheon next Satuday at the Variety Club, "Quite a few are planning to attend," Dr. McClland said. "We'll know how many later in the week. The 14 men named above definitely will be there. Ed Conway, WIIC newscaster, will be the luncheon toastmaster."

Orders for the dinner are being taken in the adjoining rooms to the ballroom. Guests will move into the main room when the program gets under way at 8:30 p.m. It will be televised over Channel 11 (WIIC) with Mal Alberts acting as toastmaster.

Dick Groat, Arnold Palmer, Johnny Unitas, Joe Bellino, Stan Musial, Murray Warmath, Dan Devine, Wayne Hardin, Rip engle, Norman Van Brocklin, Nick Skorich, Bill McPeak, Gene (Big Daddy) Lipscomb, Paul Hornung, Kyle Rote, Jordan Olivar, Nat Fleischer, Jocko Conlan are among some of the big names already announced.

The dinner will start promptly at 6 p.m.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sunday, January 29, 1961, Page 2

District Award Winners Honored at DD's Luncheon

Dapper Dans Honor Sports Heroes Tonight

A star-studded array of the greatest names in sports will be put on display tonight before approximately 2,200 guests at the Hilton Hotel Ball Room and hundreds of thousands of television viewers when the Post-Gazette Dapper Dan Club's Silver Anniversary Dinner is presented at 8:30 p.m. over Channel 11, W11C.

Despite the severe cold weather of the past few days, an overflow crowd is expected in the ball room and the adjoining dining rooms. This will make the party the largest sports affair ever held in this country.

Dick Groat, the National League's Most Valuable Player and batting champion last year, and Arnold Palmer, National Open and Masters Champion in 1960, are to be co-honored as dual winners of the annual Dapper Dan Award for the sports figures who did most to publicize the Pittsburgh District.

Groat will be on hand while, Palmer, who is currently in the Desert Classic tournament on the West Coast, will miss the party since he is still in contention for the top money.

Groat will accept both awards to be presented by Al Abrams, Post-Gazette sports editor and national president of the Dapper Dan Club.

The Pittsburgh Pirates first pennant in 33 years and the explosive triumph over the New York Yankees in the World Series will share top-billing. Besides Groat, ten other Bucco players will be presented handsome trophies.

The ten who will be honored for either helping to win the pennant or the series are:

Bill Mazeroski, Don Hoak, Elroy Face, Hal Smith, Vernon Law, Harvey, Haddix, Wilber "Vinegar Bend" Mizell, Bill Virdon, Bob Friend and Rocky Nelson

In addition, Manager Danny Murtaugh, General Manager Joe L. Brown, John Galbreath and Tom Johnson, will receive special citations presented by William Block, publisher of the Post-Gazette, on behalf of the Dapper Dan Club

The Yankees won't be forgotten. Two of their series' stalwarts, Roger Maris and "Moose" Skowron, will be honored. Also present will be Ralph Houk, the man who succeeded Casey Stengel as manager.

Another highlight of the affair is the induction of Bill McKechnie, former Pirate manager who won four pennants with three different clubs, and Marshall Goldberg, an All-American at Pitt two different years, into Pittsburgh's Hall of Fame.

Some of the other greats in sports who will be present and honored include Rafer Johnson, Olympic Decathlon champion in Rome last year; Joe Bellino, Navy's All-America halfback who won the Maxwell Trophy and the Heisman Award; Stan Musial for his contributions to baseball; Murray Warmath, 1960's College Coach of the Year from Minnesota.

Others include Wilt (The Stilt) Chamberlain, Norman Van Brocklin, Johnny Unitas, Gene (Big Daddy) Lipscomb, Paul Hornung, Chuck Bednarik, Kyle Rote, Bill George, the latter seven all big stars in the National Pro League. Also attending will be Pete Rozell, the NFL's young commissioner.

Umpire John (Jock) Conlan will be signally honored for 20 years in the National League. Four brother umpires also will be on hand to pay him tribute. They are Augie Donatelli, Vinnie Smith, Tony Venzon and Ed Vargo.

Four Pro coaches, Buddy Parker, Bill McPeak, Nick Skorich and Van Brocklin will be at the guest table as well as Art Rooney, owner of the Steelers and Art Lewis assistant coach.

The collegiate world will be represented by Dan Devine, highly-successful Missouri University coach; Jordan Olivar, who led Yale to its first unbeaten season in 33 years; Wayne Hardin, who Navy team shared Lambert Trophy honors with Yale as the best in the East - Rip Engle, Johnny Michelosen, Frank Carver, Doc Skender, Ernie McCoy, Eddie Hirshberg, Al DeLuca.

Bill Veeck, Branch Rickey Sr., Tommy Richardson, president of the International League, and Judge Robert C. Cannon, major league players' legal representative, will be at the dais.

The boxing world will offer several top names in Mickey Walker, the famed "Toy Bulldog" and champion of the past; Nat Fleisher, Carmen Basilio, the ex-welter and middleweight king; Sonny Liston, the No. 1, heavyweight contender, Anton Christoforidis, Billy Conn, Fritzle Zivic, Cuddy DeMarco and Charley Affif.

Fourteen district award winners who were honored yesterday at a luncheon in the Variety Club will be introduced to the audience. They include:

Mike Ditka, Marine Captain Bill McMillan, an Olympics shooting champion; Dick Hoak, Tom Tracy, John Reger, Dave Fawcett, Johnny Burke, Harry Keck, Larry Bruno, John Bruno, Joe Zerilla, Gus Brickner, John F. Brannan, Sr., and Regis C. Graff.

Other top guests include Governor David L. Lawrence, Mayor Joseph M. Barr, Dean Moor, Canon Wilson, Rabbi Harold Silver, Keith Morris, Dan Galbreath, Pie Traynor, Wilbur Cooper, Tom Davies, Argentina Rocca, Franke Thomas, Ronnie Kline, Bob Purkey, John Henry Johnson, Larry Krutko, George Tarasovic, Jimmy Orr, Goose McClaireon, Charley Scales, Red Manning, Butler Hennon, Rex Peery, Ed McCluskey, Pete Dimperio, Joe Walton, Paul Smith, Bud Jeannette, Professor Milton Moss.

Mal Alberts, WHC Sports Director, will act as master of ceremonies. General Chairman Dr. William D. McClelland says doors to the big ball room will open at 5:30 p. m. with dinner served promptly at 6 o'clock

The televised end of the program sponsored by the Pepsi-Cola Dealers of Western Pennsylvania will start at 8:30 p.m.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sunday, February 5, 1961