LEGENDS OF THE GAME—2024 CONNIE HAWKINS LEAGUE H.O.F. INDUCTEES; SEATED ARE COACH ROBERT CASH, ANDRAE KING, EARL MILLER, COACH CLIFFORD AITCH, ANTHONY PORTIS, JIMMY NICHOLS. STANDING ARE ROBERT CLANAGAN-BEY, WARREN WILSON JR., JAMES BAILEY, MARCUS TOMLIN, TONY HOPSON. (PHOTOS BY J.L. MARTELLO)
The 50th Anniversary of the Willie “Pops” Stargell Pittsburgh and Allegheny County MVP Awards and Connie “The Hawk” Hawkins Hall of Fame Inductions was celebrated in grand style, Friday, May 31, at the Riverside Landings Banquet Center in Oakmont. And to suggest that this may have been the grandest of them all may just be an overstatement, but I can assure you it just landed in the top five!
Nearly 200 longtime supporters, believers and past participants arrived at Riverside for an evening of recognition, great memories, important fundraising and quite possibly “TOO MUCH FUN,” thanks in part to some of the Original Ballers of the Connie Hawkins NCAA/Pro/Am Summer Basketball League who also wear the title of Westinghouse Bulldogs. (Proving that it must be true “The House, The House, The House will never fall.”)
2024 STARGELL MVPS FEATURING THE HIGHLAND PARK TENNIS CLUB!
Very, very, very special thanks and appreciation goes out to this year’s Willie Stargell MVP Awardees. Most especially, the Highland Park Tennis Club for their nearly 50 years of support presented this year under the direction of Fred Crawford, Joyce Scott, and Bob Gibbs. And the surprising and breathtaking presentation by artist Ernie Bey of a “Historical African Staff” presented to yours truly.
CLIFFORD E. AITCH, LEGENDARY COACH, WITH DANA HUNTER
Additional MVP…Most Valuable Person Awardees included Ann Lennox – Pressley Ridge Family Services; Robert Bey – MAD DADS; Dawn Golden – Penn Hills School District; David Freeman – Northwestern Mutual Co.; Javid Shojaie – Toys For Pittsburgh Tykes; Paul Zeise – Sports Talk personality 93.7 The Fan; Judy Clack – Community and Voters Service Activist; Bob Gibbs – original HPTC founder; and Keith and Melanie Yarbough – Wing and a Prayer Restaurant.
VOICE OF THE CONNIE HAWKINS LEAGUE, MIKE BOOKER
This year’s Connie Hawkins League H.O.F. Inductees included Anthony “Sweet Pea” Portis, Terrance Taylor, Donnie Johnson, Coach Clifford E. Aitch – Honorary Inductee for Lifelong Service to the Game by way of Detroit, Michigan, James “Jim Bay” Bailey, Sam Adams, Warren Wilson Jr., Andrae King, Marcus Tomlin, Robert “Bobby” Clanagan, Earl “Pro” Miller, Bridal Pearson, Robert Cash and Tony “Tone” Hopson.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS SUPER BOWL CHAMPION JUDGE DWAYNE WOODRUFF HOLDS COURT WITH A FUTURE STEELER SUPERSTAR…
Needless to say, special thanks to all who attended and most especially Pittsburgh superstars Judge Dwayne Woodruff, Pittsburgh Steeler Super Bowl Champion, and Keynote Speaker, Baron “BB” Flenory, Charles “Buddy” Allie, Ricky “Black Magic” Coleman, Judge Kevin Cooper, Ms. Debbie Norrell, Mayor Pauline Calabrese, Dr. Charlene Coleman, MAD DADS, the Highland Park Tennis Club, Achieving Greatness Advisory Board and Executive Staff, and of course, and as always, our dedicated sponsors UPMC, Attorney Jack Goodrich, Attorney William Goodrich, Attorney Alexis Cobb, Diversified Municipal Services, Attorney Vince Lackner, Senator Jay Costa, and the irreplaceable Frank B. Fuhrer Wholesale Co. and the legendary Pittsburgh Pirates!
WILSON TO WILSON—THE FIRST AND ONLY FATHER & SON CONNIE HAWKINS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES! WARREN WILSON JR., WARREN WILSON III
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