Alumni Hall of Fame
The Port Jervis
School District established the Alumni Hall of Fame to recognize
individuals who were educated and inspired by our school system.
Those selected for this honor have achieved personal success and
have made a significant contribution to society. They will serve
as role models to inspire current and future generations of
students.
Port Jervis School
District has announced its 2010 Alumni of Fame inductees:
Eddie Dunn '35, Chuck Salmon '47, Chris Farlekas
'47,
Gib Romaine '62, Anita Pahmahmie Evans '76, Col.
Steve Banach '77, David Farace '77, and Col.
Steven Dutkus '83. The distinguished graduates will be
honored October 10 at the second annual Port Jervis High School
Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
The Alumni Hall of Fame was established in 2009 to recognize and
honor individuals who were educated and inspired by the Port
Jervis school system. Each fall, a new group of alumni is
inducted into the Hall of Fame, and plaques with their
photographs and biographies are placed on permanent display at
Port Jervis High School.
“All of the inductees are quality citizens who serve as role
models to present and future generations of students,” said
Superintendent John Xanthis. “It is important that we continue
to look back and recognize the achievements of our alumni. We
are excited to honor each of these individuals.”
The following 2010 Hall of Fame inductees were selected by a
committee of Port Jervis alumni, educators, and community
members:
Eddie Dunn ’35
– Legendary Port Jervis High School football player Eddie Dunn
went on to be a star running back for the University of Miami
where he held every rushing and return record in Hurricane
history. It took 62 years for his last punt record to be broken.
Dunn was drafted by the Detroit Lions, but remained at Miami to
coach. He went on to become the head coach for both football and
baseball, and served as athletic director from 1943-45. After he
retired, Dunn, who married the daughter of the founder and first
president of UM, continued to serve the university as president
of the Alumni Association and as a member of the Board of
Trustees from 1964 until his death in 1980. Dunn is one of four
members of the UM inaugural Sports Hall of Fame class. In 2009,
he was posthumously awarded one of the University of Miami’s
greatest accolades – the UM football ring of honor – along with
Bennie Blades and Steve Walsh.
Chuck Salmon ’47
– A versatile football player, Chuck Salmon played offensive
guard and defensive tackle at Williams College, leading his team
to win the “Little Three Championship.” The team captain also
earned four athletic letters, and qualified for the first-team
"Little All American" status in senior year. When he graduated
in 1952, Salmon was asked to try out for three NFL teams: the
New York Yanks, Philadelphia Eagles (World Champions 48-49), and
the Detroit Lions.
But, he joined the U. S. Air Force as a commissioned officer.
After receiving his wings, he flew an F86 Saber jet. When his
squad was attacked by Russian-made MiGs, Salmon was credited
with 1.5 kills and decorated for valor with the Distinguished
Flying Cross. This action almost reignited the Korean War. In
1958, he was selected to join the elite Thunderbird air
demonstration squadron. In 1959, Salmon died during a
Thunderbird training flight prior to reaching his dream of being
Port’s first astronaut.
Chris Farlekas ’47
– Writer, arts advocate, and storyteller Chris Farlekas has been
a shining example of a community journalist in the Mid-Hudson
Valley since 1964. His writing career actually began at Port
Jervis High School when he served as the editor of the Port
Jervis High School newspaper and 1947 yearbook. After
graduation, Farlekas joined the Army, serving as a combat medic
in Korea. When he came home, Farlekas traveled 15,000 miles to
visit the families of the soldiers who died on the battlefield,
sharing their last words with their loved ones.
After earning a degree in English, Farlekas returned to writing,
working as a reporter for the Times Herald-Record in Middletown
for the next 45 years. Most his career was spent covering the
Port Jervis area. Since his retirement in 1998, Farlekas has
continued to write stories about the arts and his hometown for
The Port Jervis Gazette. In 2006, he was awarded an honorary
doctoral degree from Mount Saint Mary College in recognition of
raising more than $2 million for charities over the years
through his production of benefit shows and other events. At the
age 80, he also serves on the Friends of the Port Jervis Library
Board and as a champion for all things in Port Jervis.
Gib Romaine ’62
– He coached football at University of Maryland for 14 seasons
including the last four as defensive coordinator under head
coach Bobby Ross. During his tenure, the Terps won six ACC
titles and appeared in 11 post-season bowls. Romaine coached
three NFL first-round picks including 1974 Outland and Lombardi
Trophy winner Randy White. He also helped the program by working
for 10 years as fundraiser for the Terrapin Club. Later, he
served as assistant athletic director at Mt. St. Mary’s College
in Maryland. Currently, he serves as the athletic director at
Hood College in Maryland.
Anita Pahmahmie Evans ’76
– After graduating from Port Jervis, Evans went on to earn a
degree in physical education and French from Emporia State. In
1980, she started her teaching career in Kansas in the Kew
Valley School District. During her 15 year tenure, Evans coached
numerous sports including volleyball, track, softball,
basketball, and the drill team. Since 1995, she has served as
the Title VII (Indian Education Federal Funds) director and as a
physical education teacher at Royal Valley High School, where
she has coached volleyball and softball. In 1997, Evans was
named Native American Educator of the Year by the Kansas
Association of Native American Education. Four years later, she
was named National Indian Teacher of the Year by National Indian
Education Association.
Col.
Steve Banach ’77
– A Raider football and wrestling standout, Steve Banach went on
to wrestle for the legendary Dan Gable at the University of
Iowa, where he was a runner-up in the 1984 USA Olympic Freestyle
Eastern Tournament. After graduating and completing the
University of Iowa ROTC Program, Banach was commissioned as a
U.S. Army infantry officer. Banach is retiring in May after 27
years of service. A Gulf War veteran, Banach’s illustrious
career includes commands at the company, battalion, and brigade
level – including six combat tours. Banach’s military
decorations include two Legion of Merit Awards and two Bronze
Stars with V for Valor for the First Gulf War.
David Farace ’77
- Star quarterback for the Port Jervis Raiders and the West
Point 150-pound football team, David Farace led Army to three
undefeated, national championships. After graduating from West
Point, Farace served as an officer in the U.S. Army for 23
years. His tours of duty included a stint at the NATO command
under General Wesley Clarke and 12 overseas tours. Farace, who
holds a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from North Carolina
State, now serves as the civilian director of the Facility
Program Office for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
at Ft. Belvoir, Va. A component of the Department of Defense,
the NGS is responsible for the collection, analysis, and
distribution of geospatial intelligence (imagery and mapping) in
support of national security.
Col. Steven Dutkus ’83
– After graduating from Port Jervis, Dutkus went on to graduate
from the Air Force Academy in 1987. A decorated fighter pilot,
Dutkus flew missions in Operations Desert Shield and Desert
Storm. During his 23 years of service, Dutkus has also served as
an F-15C instructor pilot, worked for the Deputy Undersecretary
of the Air Force, and lead the team responsible for flight
operations and parachuting at the Air Force Academy. In 1997, he
was named the Air Force Association’s Flight Commander of the
Year. Dutkus returned to flying the F-15C in 2003 as mission
commander of Operation Noble Eagle, which was responsible for
patrolling U.S. airspace to prevent further “9/11 style
attacks.” Later, he commanded the Air Force Academy’s airmanship
training program which conducts 15,000 training and competition
flights annually for cadets. After graduating from the
highly-selective Air War College, Dutkus was named Deputy
Director of Operations for NATO Combined Air Operations Center
in Turkey.
2010 Hall of Fame Committee
The district wants to thank the
following alumni, teachers, staff, school board member, and
community members for serving on the Hall of Fame Committee:
Christine Addy
Tom Hoppey
Frank Bell
Jared Kahmar
John Bell
Lori Lawrence
Kevin Birmingham Tom Leek
Tom Bongiovi
Luann McCarthy
Deb Cassara
Mike McCarthy
Phil Chase
Deb Meerdink
Mike Cordisco
Richard Roberts
Kelly Decker
George Rollman
Nancy Dunn
Dan Ronson
John Faggione
Ron Semerano
Chris Farlekas
Bill Smith
Lynn Hendershot
Hugh Spangenberg
Jim Hendry
John Xanthis
If you love Port Jervis and have a good memory, please consider
joining our committee by contacting John Bell at (845)858-3177
or via e-mail
jbell@pjschools.org
Tell us who you think
should be in the 2011 Alumni Hall of Fame
If you would like to submit alumni names for consideration,
please submit the name, graduation year, contact information and
reasons for consideration to:
John J. Bell, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction
Port Jervis City School District
9 Thompson Street
Port Jervis, NY 12771
jbell@pjschools.org
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2009 Hall of Fame
- Inaugural Class |
The first class of inductees were honored October 11, 2009 at the
inaugural Alumni Hall of Fame banquet at the Erie Trackside Manor. Pictured (left to right) are
Ed Banach. '78;
Marion Rohner, '35; Brigid
Gray,'78, who accepted the award for her father
Senator E. Arthur Gray, '43; Dr. Sam Levinson, '47,
who accepted the award for his brother
Dr.
Harry Levinson, '39;
General William Norris, '45;
Philip Chase,
'50; and
Lou Banach, '78.
Click here for the 2009 Hall of Fame Page to learn
more about the seven distinguished alumni.
Click here to see more photos of the Hall of
Fame Banquet & to watch the
Channel 6 news segment about the
inaugural induction ceremony.
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