The 15th Annual Cattaraugus County Sports “Hall of Fame” banquet was held on Saturday, April 8 at the Little Valley Legion. A sellout crowd was present to support the twelve new inductees. This year’s class included: Robert Jimerson, Sr. (Gowanda), Barb Duggan, (Little Valley), Susan Horton, (Ellicottville), Dick Edmunds, (Pioneer), DJ Whitmore, (Salamanca), Mike Williams, (West Valley), Fred Caya, (Portville), Royce Ross, (Franklinville), Bruno DeGiglio, (Olean), Wayne Marsh, (Little Valley), Chad Lyter, (Allegany-Limestone) and Tommy “The Ironman” Irons, posthumously, (Olean). Seventeen previous inductees were also in attendance to offer their support to the newest “Hall of Fame” members.

Robert “Robbie” Jimerson was a three sport all-star athlete at Gowanda Central School and is credited with getting the boys lacrosse program up and running at his Alma Mater back in 1976. Barb Duggan was the first female Athletic Director in Western New York when she took over the reigns of the Little Valley Central School program in 1977. Wayne Marsh, former Big 30 all-star from Little Valley coached youth football in the Cattaraugus County Youth Football League for 15 seasons and has refereed high school basketball for the past 28 seasons.

Dick Edmunds graduated from Delevan-Machias High School in 1965 and was the second former United States Olympian to be enshrined in the county sports “Hall of Fame.” His rowing team finished fifth at Mexico City in 1968. Fred Caya was a contributing member on several championship basketball teams at Portville Central School during the mid 1970’s. He also had a successful coaching tenure for the Panthers winning 93 games. Chad Lyter coached multiple sports at Allegany-Limestone also with success. Several of his teams were awarded post-season Sportsmanship Awards.

Susan Horton has been touted as the best overall female athlete to ever come out of Ellicottville. She flew up from Dallas, Texas to receive her award. Horton traveled three hours each way to practice and play women’s professional football for the Austin Rage and the Dallas Diamonds. Bruno DeGiglio graduated from Olean’s Bishop Walsh High School as the school’s all-time leading scorer. He was awarded a full scholarship to St. Bonaventure University. DeGiglio was a member of the “Bonnies” 1977 NIT championship team.

Royce Ross is a legendary baseball and softball coach at Franklinville Central School. His teams combined to win 18 league and 4 Section VI titles. DJ Whitmore played on some of the finest Salamanca Warrior varsity football teams and later created the alumni football game that has raised over $100,000 for charities. He has also won several awards as a power lifter.

Tommy “The Ironman” Irons who passed away on June 27, 2015 was as inducted posthumously. As a fast pitch softball pitcher in the Olean area, he won numerous league and tournament Most Valuable Player awards. He pitched seven games in a day on several occasions and recorded 26 career no hitters.

Banquet sponsors included Community Bank in Gowanda, the Cattaraugus County Bank, Irons Insurance Agency, Slovenian Club of Gowanda, Inc., Allegany-Limestone Sports Booster Club, Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bisons and the Bank of Cattaraugus. Sports auction prizes were donated by Rick Feuz, Sally Marsh and Rick Chapman, all former inductees, plus Linda Milks and Caryn Benton.

With the induction of twelve former athletes/coaches, the Cattaraugus County Sports “Hall of Fame” now has 180 members.