Readers have responded to my musings on a mostly bygone sports era with helpful suggestions, personal recollections and the occasional bit of criticism.

Let’s tackle the criticism first. This past summer I wrote about the top high school and college athletes I had the privilege and pleasure of either playing with or against in the late 1960s or covering for this paper as sports editor starting in late 1972.

I disclosed my choices in a variety of sports I played or wrote about and asked for additional suggestions of standout athletes I might have missed.

My former Fredonia State baseball coach Tom Prevet, who famously built the Blue Devil soccer program to new levels of success, was disappointed in what he reasoned was an obvious omission.

Larry Erick

I had failed to acknowledge Herve Guilloid.

As Coach Prevet succinctly put it:

“I am disappointed that you failed to mention one of the best if not the best athlete to participate in Chautauqua County during your era. You saw him up close and personal at every home weekend soccer match during the early 70’s.

“Herve Guilloid was not only the best soccer player to ever play at Fredonia State, he was recognized as one of the best players in the country his senior year. He was named a First-Team NCAA All-American.

“At that time there was only one All-American Team which included all Division I, II and III soccer players in the country. That means he was recognized as one of the best 11 players in the country. He was also runnerup in the voting for the Herman Award (equivalent to the Heisman Award in football).”

Point well taken. Memory slipping slightly. Herve definitely deserves to be on my list. Thanks for the note, Tom. My apologies.

I also heard from Susan Erick, who said, “Mr. Hammond, long before Mike Heary broke school records in his basketball career, I was disappointed not to read my husband’s name. It took many years before someone finally broke his record. The night Mike was going to beat his record, I called him at home to wish him good luck! He was a wonderful young man to talk to and appreciated the call.

“Of course I’m speaking about my husband Larry Erick’s basketball record for the most lifetime points scored!

“Those were really fun days and the Forestville Hornets would pack the gym to maximum capacity, with standing room only!

“Larry graduated in 1972 and still has many fun memories of the “good old days.”

Thanks, Susan. Clearly a glaring omission on my part. Big Larry certainly deserves to be on my list. He scored a then Chautauqua County record 1,456 points from 1968-72 for the Forestville Hornets and won a couple Section VI Class BB titles along the way.

In defense of my original list, which only included players I saw in action, I regretfully note that I never saw your husband play a game. My basketball nights when he was dominating defenses along with Tom Szydlo and others corresponded with my high school and college years at Cardinal Mindszenty and FSUC.

Curiously, I met Larry for the first and only time when he sold me and my wife a used car in what I believe to be the late ’70s.

I did receive two additional nominations for my list courtesy of Frank Benamati, whose grandson Reed started playing baseball for Wingate University this fall.

He wrote, “I think I’d add Terry Leja and John Vendette to the list of pitchers. Of course, the list is endless.”

Thanks, Frank. Good, solid choices.

Of course, my favorite correspondence has come from people who shared memories of my dad.

Mindszenty classmate and freshman basketball and Snyder Realty softball teammate Tom Jakubiec offered a memory.

“Forgot to mention that at Findlay College I helped with the Athletic Dept. Actually, I was the statistician before computers. During the 1971-72 basketball season we won the NAIA District #22 title and got to go to the championships in Kansas City.

“Being with the team I got to sit with the press and scouts. I mentioned to a couple scouts if they knew a Mr. Hammond from the Buffalo area and they sure did. They mentioned that he was to arrive for the evening session and I got to spend time with your Dad and talked of him coaching us at Mindszenty. Good memories.”

And finally there was Dunkirk High grad Ray Pienta, longtime Southwestern educator and coach.

He made my day when he wistfully recalled how much he enjoyed conversing with my dad when calling in his team’s results after games. I’m not going to lie, it brought more than a tear or two. Meant a lot. Thanks, Ray.

So please keep those comments coming dear readers, good or bad. All are welcome and deeply appreciated. See you next month.

ııı

DO YOU have a favorite memory of playing, coaching or officiating? Drop me a line at mandpp@hotmail.com and let’s reminisce.

ııı

Bill Hammond is a former EVENING OBSERVER sports editor.