Wall of Fame To Be Unveiled

PINE PLAINS — Friday night, Feb. 2, the Pine Plains Central School District will unveil a brand-new Wall of Fame to honor decades worth of athletes.

"Pine Plains has a very special and rich sports heritage that goes back even to the 1930s and before, and there had been some very special athletes and coaches, community members and teams that have made some contributions to this legacy," said former Pine Plains coach Bill Brewer.

Brewer is the committee chair who spearheaded the wall of fame project. He said it was important to remember the legacy created by those who had come before those who are there now. It was an idea that was supported by former coach John Soracco, who passed away in 2004.

"It was a concern of John’s, that the legacy was going to be lost and therefore there needed to be a sports wall of fame that would preserve the legacy and it would preserve it by remembering, recognizing and honoring those who are such an important part of the legacy," Brewer said.

As far as what the wall will mean to the students who will get to see it on a daily basis as they walk through the halls of the high school, Brewer said it will make an impact.

"I think one of the goals is to make them appreciate what has been accomplished before them and to even be an inspiration to students as to what they can possibly accomplish," he said.

At the Wall of Fame ceremony a handful of men and women will be honored. They include former coach Les Barton, who led three basketball teams, from 1959 to 1962, to set the record in New York State for the most consecutive wins. Those teams will be honored on the Wall of Fame. Austin Knickerbocker and Irv Jackson will also be listed on the Wall of Fame, as will Barbara Remsburger and Theresa Vaill, all top-notch athletes who have attended Pine Plains schools over the years.

"I think excellence in sports builds self-confidence and a sense of teamwork that carries over into both cooperation with others as adults and the leadership of others," Brewer said, adding that he coached basketball at Stissing Mountain High School in Pine Plains for 33 years.

"I came in 1966 from the state of Indiana, and I planned to stay a few years, but the community grows on you and I spent my whole career here," he said. "The people of Pine Plains always made me feel very welcome, so I never wanted to leave."

In return he’s enjoyed being a part of the community and doing things such as leading the committee for the Wall of Fame. Brewer said he hopes that as much of the community will turn out for the unveiling of the wall as is possible.

The event will take place in the high school’s auditorium tomorrow night at 6 p.m.