Two men who helped shape the lives of many Coaldale youths received a measure of recognition from a grateful community last month.
The athletic field next to the old high school at 6th and Phillips streets was re-dedicated and now bears their names: Thomas "Doc" Raymer and Joseph "Chappy" Sharpe Memorial Park.
Both are deceased Coaldale heroes.
After the re-naming of the field, CHOSE, the borough's recreation organization, conducted its annual Mini-Olympics for youngsters in track and field events.
CHOSE is an acronym for Church, Home, Organizations, School and Environment.
Before the Mini-Olympics, there was a moment of silence for Raymer and Sharpe, after welcoming remarks by Nancy Pascoe, president of CHOSE, and the pledge to the flag by the Coaldale Boy Scouts.
Mayor John Radocha of Coaldale stepped to the podium and introduced special guests: Sharpe's widow, Mary, and her son Robert; Michael Panchura of Sterling, Va., who is a nephew of Sharpe; and Gregory Malaska, representing state Rep. David Argall (R-124th District).
Sharpe is also survived by a brother, Cornelius, of Coaldale, and three grandchildren.
A memorial in the form of a field sign was unveiled.
The elaborate marker was built by David Hnat of Coaldale who initially asked CHOSE members to re-name the field after Raymer.
They agreed but decided to add Sharpe's name because he was the founder of CHOSE.
The recreation group then sought and received permission from borough council to carry out the re-dedication.
Malaska presented a copy of a resolution honoring Raymer and Sharpe, which was introduced in the state House of Representatives by Argall, who could not attend the re-dedication of the athletic field.
Panchura fondly recalled his uncle's tutelage and long years of community service.
Sharpe's son and widow lauded him as worthy of the honor for his many years of working with youngsters in honing their athletic skills and building their character through sports competition.
"He was a good husband, a great father and grandfather," added Mrs. Sharpe,of 3 W. Ruddle St., Coaldale.
Sharpe's son, a high school teacher in the Washington D.C. suburbs, pointed out that his father and Raymer knew that time spent with youngsters bears fruit.
In contrast, the legions of troubled teen-agers and children today are the result of their being ignored by adults, including parents, he said.
Raymer was also singled out as a man of zeal and commitment to athletics and young people.
He coached the Coaldale Tigers who played their home games on the field.
Raymer came to Coaldale from Sunbury after graduating from Susquehanna University.
Earlier, he coached school-boy football in the Chicago area for two years.
Raymer succeeded Ervin Murphy as coach of the Coaldale Tigers and they rose to prominence as a football powerhouse.
Raymer's record as Tigers coach was 162-60-17 when he retired in 1949.
He remained active for years helping other coaches and the new team formed from the Panther Valley school jointure.
He also coached basketball and track and was a strong believer that good track athletes often became better football players.
Sharpe, a borough native, graduated from Coaldale High School and Mt. St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg, Md..
He began working at Bundy Tubing Co. in Hometown and in 1956 founded CHOSE to organize Little League baseball in Coaldale.
In 1957, with the help of Mary Miller, Sharpe started a Candy Striper program at Coaldale Hospital.
He was elected mayor of the borough in 1962 and served for eight years, while remaining active in promoting sports and games for children of the community.
Sharpe was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Church parish, the Lions Club, the American Legion, the West Ward Rod & Gun Club and the Panther Valley Irish-American Association.
He was presented with the association's coveted Shamrock Award in 1975.
Source: http://articles.mcall.com/1995-10-19/news/3068053_1_sharpe-athletic-field-dedication
