Awards & Recognition
Union County Police Pistol League Dinner

Police Pistol Marksmen Hear Olympic Champion

By LOUIE DUMONT

Linden - "The awards you have just received for your marksmanship indicate your willingness to concentrate on a very important phase of police work."

So spoke U.S. Marine Corps Capt. William (Bill) McMillan, principal speaker at the 12th annual Union County Police Pistol League dinner at the Polish National Home here last night.

The attendance was 325. There were team as well as individual trophies, medals and pistols given for competitive shooting in the season just closed.

Introduced by toastmaster Judge Julius Kwalick of Linden, McMillan, who won the Olympic rapid-fire pistol championship this past summer in Rome, brought laughter from his audience by saying "we had better be able to shoot faster than the fella who is aiming at us."

The husky, 6-2, 210-pound Olympian who presently stationed at Quantico, Va., won the revolver match in Moscow in 1958. McMillan closed his short talk by congratulating all of the contestants for putting departmental interests ahead of self interests.

After a welcome by Linden Mayor William Hurst, greetings were extended the members of the league and special guests by Detective Sgt. Alfred Vardalis of Westfield, president of the league.

Plainfield area winners were Westfield in Division "A", Fanwood, Mountainside and Springfield in "B", Berkeley Heights and Scotch Plains in "C" and New Providence in "D".

A special award went to Vardalis for a high team average of 294.20. Lieut. Ed Mullin of Mountainside, Chief Wilbur C. Selander of Springfield, Patrolman Anthony Parenti of Fanwood, Patrolman Al Christensen of Berkeley Heights, Sgt. Mike Rossi of Scotch Plains and Patrolman Earchan of New Providence received individual awards.

Team captains awards went to Sgt. Charles Persson of Fanwood, Patrolman Bill Ayres of Mountainside, Patrolman Vince Tragno of New Providence and Patrolman George Siessel of Springfield.

High score honors went to Patrolman Ed Greer, Lieut. Al Reimer, Patrolman Floyd Hewitt, Detective Bernard Mormelo, Patrolman Floyd Beane, Patrolman Ray Lawrence, Patrolman Bob Bell, and Patrolman Bill Muth of Westfield.

The Courier-News, Bridgewater, New Jersey, Thursday, November 3, 1960, Page 28

TROPHIES FOR CHAMPS

Marine Corps Capt. Bill McMillan, left, presents championship trophy to Police Chief Henry J. Tomaszewski of Linden at 12th annual Union county Police Pistol League dinner last night at Police National Home, Linden. Looking on are Detective Sgt. Alfred Vardalis, second from left, of Westfield and Eddie Gray of Elizabeth, individual-average champion.

Linden Squad, Gray Recipients Of Top Awards At Police Fete

LINDEN - Linden's undefeated champions, perennial individual-average titleholder Eddie Gray of Elizabeth and Olympic champion Bill McMillan shared the spotlight at the 12th annual Union County Police Pistol League dinner last night at Polish National Home.

The Linden squad, which compiled a dazzling 25-0 record, was toasted for its sweep of both the regular-season and playoff championships. The champs carted off three handsome trophies, including the Daily Journal Trophy.

Gray again won the league's individual-average title, posting a 297.63 mark in 22 matches, to win the Captain Lester Sargent Award, the R. J. Goerke Co. Award and the Union County Police Chiefs Association "300" Award. He fired the only two perfect scores of the season in the league.

McMillan Describes Win

McMillan, Marine Corps captain, was the principal speaker, describing his dramatic victory in the Olympic raid-fire pistol competition in Rome. He also discussed shooting in general and its value to law enforcement officials.

Runner-up to Gray in the individual-average was Patrolman Bill Brinckmann of Roselle with a 295.52 mark, followed closely by Patrolman Andy Sweet of Linden with 295.17. Both Brinckmann and Sweet shot 299s during the season.

Other division champions cited in addition to Linden in Class A were Union Class B, Cranford in Class C and Roselle in Class D.

Capt. Michael Tymezyn of Union won the Class B individual title with a 295.95 figure, while Patrolman Paul Benkovich of Rahway took the Class C crown with a 286.18 mark. Brinckmann was the Class D champion.

Dunn Most Improved

Deputy Sheriff Robert Dunn won the Captain Norman F. Gibbs Memorial Trophy for being named the most improved shooter. He boosted his average from 228.91 in 1959 to 260.95 this year.

The Union county Sheriffs received the Raymond C. Barton Memorial Trophy, awarded by Merck & Co., for being the most improved team, raising their average from 975.11 in 1959 to 1075.21 this year.

A special award was made to Detective Sgt. Alfred Vardalis of Westfield, league president from 1956 to 1960.

Judge Julius Kwalick served as toastmaster, while James J. Vigilante, State PBA president, introduced guests. Mayor William Hurst of LiInden was among the guests.

Capt. McMillan received a gold key to the City of Linden form Mayor William J. Hurst and a citation from the National PAL, presented by Gray.

Special trophies also were presented to Sgt. Michael Barry and Patrolman Walter Leamy of Union by Vardalis for shooting it out with Michael Fekecs, accused murderer, who died yesterday from a self-inflicted bullet wound.

Special Award for Cron

A special award also was given to George Cron, superintendent of recreation for the Union County Park Commission, for his aid to the league.

The trophy winners were announced by Sgt. Pete Bartus of Linden, chairman of the awards committee. Sgt. Joseph Novalany and Patrolman George Modrak of Linden were in charge of dinner arrangements.

Judge Julius Kwalick served as toastmaster. Speakers included James J. Vigilante, State PBA president; Mayor Hurst, Chief Edward Stupak of Kenilworth, Chief Christian Fritz of Mountainside and Cron.

Unknown news article November, 1960