CARBON COUNTY HALL OF FAME
Three outstanding football players and another that starred onthe hardwoods make up four inductees from Coaldale that will be inducted into the Carbon County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
Bill "Honeyboy" Evans, Jack "Honeyboy" Evans, Frank "Amos" Trimmel and John "Jack" Welsh have been nominated for this year's ceremony. to be held on Sunday, May 31,1999 at Memorial Park in Jim Thorpe.
Bill "Honeyboy" Evans
Bill was born on March 1, 1901, a son of William and Elizabeth "Witchey" Evans.
After his discharge from the Navy in World War I, Bill, in addition to being and outstanding and all-league end for the Coaldale Big Greens, flashed across the fighting scene.
His boxing career throughout the Anthracite region extended into Philadelphia, New York City, Atlantic City and Staten Island.
Bill would work in the mines Monday through Friday, leave that evening for fights and return to the area on Sunday to play for the Big Greens, where he was a consistent all-league choice at end and a member of the Anthracite football league champion Coaldale Big Greens of 1921, 1922 and 1923.
Prior to one fight, he suffered an arm injury and had to box the entire bout with one arm and decisioned his opponent. In another fight, he boxed with broken ribs and KO'd his opponenet in the 8th round.
Bill fought at middleweight and as he became more well known, many of the middleweights didn't want to enter the ring with hime. So he had to step up and box heavyweights.
In his early days, he and his manager, Casey Gildea, traveled alone. Often he was pressed to go for an early knockout and did so or face the possibility of missing the last trolley back to Coaldale from the rail line in Mauch Chunk following his fights.
Although he never captured a championship, his career was probably the most exciting of anyone coming out of the coal regions. His career ended after 148 bouts.
He died in 1962. His son, William, who was killed during the Korean conflict, preceded him in death. Survivors are son, Marvin and daughter, Rosemarie, both of Coaldale.
Jack "Honeyboy" Evans
Jack was born on May 20, 1894 to William and Elizabeth "Witchey" Evans.
After serving in World War I, he joined the Coaldale Big Greens football team.
The "Big Greens" gained national recognition when crowned Anthracite Coal Region champions in 1921, 1922 and 1923.
Jack played center for the Big Greens. There will always be an argument as to just who was Coaldale's greatest football player.
Anyone close to the Coaldale scene will give Jack the nod. He was a ball hawk by instinct, a sure pass rusher from his line position, a fearless tackler and a football player faster than he looked.
He had everything it takces to be an All-American and was consistently a first team all-league star.
The long Anthracite strike in 1925 sounded the death of the big Greens. The crowds that flocked to the home games had shrunk. Money was desperatly tight and the team's veterans were past their prime.
After the depression in the 1930's, there was an attempt to revive the Big Greens. However, without "Honeyboy" and a host of his other great teammates, they could not revitalize the program.
Jack died in 1969. His son, John, who was killed in the battle of Coral Sea, preceded him in death. Surivors are his son, Donald Evans of Tamaqua and daughters, Jean Mangin of Summit Hill and helen Carpenter of Hobe Sound, Florida.
Frank "Amos" Trimmel
Take speed, mix it with toughness and natural instinct and you'll come up with an outstanding athlete named Frank "Amos" Trimmel.
A three-sport athlete, "Amos" is considred one of the finest centers in the history of Orange and Black football history, once scoring a 85-yard touchdown following an interception of a lateral. He also chalked up two blocked punts for TDs.
His achievements led to his selection on the Dream Game team in Pottsville where he was coached by Ken Millen. Franbk ran in a blocked kick for a touchdown in that game.
The late Tom "Doc" Raymer, another Hall of Famer, often told Tiger gridders that if he had to choose a center for his all-time teamhe would probably have chosen "Amos" Trimmel.
Frank also played four years with the Coaldale varsity basketball team. In track, he anchored the half-mile and mile relay teams, with the 880-yard squad copping first place in the state finals and second place at the Penn Relays with Coaldale's team finishing third.
Following his graduation, Frank joined the U.S. Marine Corps and attained the rank of Corporal while serving inKorea. He has been married for 36 years and has two daughters and three grandsons. he is still working, managing a 91-unit condominium in Elkins Park PA.
John "Jack" Welsh
Born in Coaldale, the second of three sons to Vera and George Welsh, John attended St. Mary's Grade and High School whre he was an outstanding basketball player.
He was high scorer on a team which was always in contention for Catholic League honors.
In one game against St. Stephen's of Port Carbon, he scored all 42 points for St. Mary's in a 42-39 win. His basketball prowess earned him a scholarship to St. Joseph's College in Philadelphia.
His college career was interuppted for 2 1/2 years to serve with the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II.
He returned and played for St. Joe's prior to the formation of the Big Five.
One of his fondest memories was scoring 23 points in Madison Square Garden in a win over CCNY.
He worked for Bundy Tubing in Hometown before moving to Philadelphia to take a job in the banking business where he was Vice President with the Philadelphia National Bank and newtown Savings.
He and his wife, the former Anne Cornely are the parents of eight children and 13 grandchildren. He is currently retired and residing in Rosyln, PA.