Anyone from PANTHER VALLEY who remembers little "Petey" Radocha scrounging around his dad, Pat's service station on COALDALE'S Fifth Street, had to feel good last week when they learned he was going to be inducted into East Strooudsburg University's Hall Of Fame next month month.
As a dirty-faced youngster, he was nicknamed " CALHOUN " by patrons of the garage. And he was pumping gas when he could barely reach the pumps.
He grew up in a hurry in that environment, learning the business before he could spell it. As he grew, his attentions turned to sports. Combining God given natural abilities with a great desire to excel, he became one of the most versatile and prolific athletes in PANTHER VALLEY HISTORY.
He went on to TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, found it not to his liking, and took his talents to EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY, where hisexploits became egendary. He starred in FOOTBALL and BASEBALL in College. He might have been a few pounds too light, and maybe a half-step too slow for the com- puter experts who tell the NFL SCOUTS who's good and who's not, but at STROUDSBURG he always managed to play a notch above the competition , while there he set rushing records. His team didn't lose a game in two consecutive years. In his spare time he did the punting, kicking off, tried long field goals, threw several touchdown passes off the halfback option play, and occasionally filled a slot in the defensive backfield.
He was never asked to drive the team bus, contrary to some rumors. In BASEBALL he caught, and played third base while leading the team in hitting.
Now a married man with two small children, PETE RADOCHA will take his place among his alma-mater's elite next month with his induction into
EAST STROUDSBURG HALL OF FAME. He set high standards that future hall - of- famers will have to contend with.
No one's more deserving of the honor than the former COALDALE KID, the one who always had grease on his face, but who provided so many thrills for fans and alumni.
SUBMITTED BY: RICHARD C. REHATCHEK
Now a married man with two small children, PETE RADOCHA will take his place among his alma-mater's elite next month with his induction into EAST STROUDSBURG HALL OF FAME. He set high standards that future hall - of- famers will have to contend with.
No one's more deserving of the honor than the former COALDALE KID, the one who always had grease on his face, but who provided so many thrills for fans and alumni.
SUBMITTED BY: RICHARD C. REHATCHEK
