This article about Coaldale’s Jack McGeehan was written by Bob Urban in the Lehighton Times-News in 2001 and is from the archives of Bill Scutta

Jack McGeehan

The section of West Point's Michie Stadium where the Boston College fans were seated was silent.

The host Cadets were running roughshod over the visiting Eagles on that bright October afternoon on the banks of the Hudson River. Army's vaunted Wishbone offense was ripping off 8 and 9 yards each play, and BC's defense had no answers as to how to stop it.

Bill Donovan paced the sidelines, his gold helmet clutched in his left arm. He missed the last BC game because of an injury and his backup started at fullback today. But, feeling better, he was hungry to get in the game, anxious to help turn the contest around.

It was early in the second quarter when Jack McGeehan, one of a contingent of Coaldale fans who had made the trip to Army to see their favorite son in action, began the chant.

"Put Donovan in. Put Angel (Donovan's coal region nickname) in," McGeehan exhorted with his bullhorn Irish voice. Before long, the entire section of fans picked up the chant, and it wasn't long until the senior fullback trotted out onto the field and into the BC huddle.

It was first down, and the BC quarterback quickly called Donovan's number. But no sooner had he gotten the handoff and POW!!!, three Army defenders leveled him in the backfield.

The crowd winced. But McGeehan never missed a beat. He rose from his seat, kneeled in the concrete aisle, and made an exaggerated sign of the cross. Looking heavenward, he boomed, "Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Please, dear God, don't give Donovan the ball again. He's going to get killed."

Bill Donovan and the rest of his friends and family have heard that story a thousand times since that incident 35 years ago. And Bill laughs no matter how many times he's heard it, because it was always Jack McGeehan telling the story, as only Jack McGeehan could.

Jack died last week. He lost his battle of cancer at age 75. His hometown of Coaldale lost a good portion of its humor that day. John Patrick McGeehan was arguably the funniest man in the world, or at least in that town.

Less than a week before he died, he knew the end was near. But the sense of humor that was to be Jack's legacy still prevailed.

"It's time to punt" he said to his son, J.P."There's no more offense."

Keeps them laughing

When retired Navy Commander Mike Panchura returned to Coaldale 10 years ago to give the Memorial Day address, he spoke about growing up in his town, and all the people who helped him instill his values.

"What Jack (McGeehan) gave to my generation, I believe, is an appreciation for humor," Panchura said. "I can't ever remember speaking with Jack without my cracking out into a big, wide grin within about two seconds of meeting him. His infectious smile and gregarious personality are things that money can't buy and are things that helped us have a positive outlook on life."

Jack had a story for everyone.

When his young neighbor, Tim Dolena, was trying out for the Marian High School football team as a freshman some years back, Jack, who played quarterback at Coaldale back in the early 1940s, and later played semi-pro ball after World War II, gave Tim this sound advice.

"Timmy," he said. "If you're out on that field and you see a hand on the ground, and it's not yours, then stomp on it." Then he'd laugh until his cheeks were red.

Much of Jack's humor (no, make that about 95 percent) was off color. But Jack had a gift where he could be offensive without offending.

Whether he was talking about his Navy stint in the Pacific during WW II (Jack could even made a world war sound funny), or displaying his famous "hook shot" way of getting out of sand traps, he broke people up.

Anyone who ever heard his rendition of "Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey" or his drinking toast, will never forget them.

Every woman was "Sweetheart", every guy was "Sam".

The love of his life was his wife of 52 years, the former Celia Flyzik. His other passions were Notre Dame football, the Philadelphia Eagles , Panther Valley sports and his vegetable garden.

He chastized former Irish Quarterback Ron Pawlus for his play calling the first time he met him; never forgave former Eagles' kicker Tony Franklin for missing a field goal which cost Jack a pile of money in a Super Bowl pool; and there's a story he told about ex Eagles running back Izzy Lang that would cost this publication its status as a family newspaper if I were to repeat it here.

Jack McGeehan was Coaldale. Coaldale was Jack McGeehan. He was a councilman, headed the sewer authority, and his family's High Street bar was once one of the most popular watering holes in town.

Coaldale's loss is Heaven's gain. But here's some advice to the other funny men up there - Jackie Gleason, Lou Costello, Groucho Marx and the rest.

Step aside, boys. Bill Bailey just came home.