Bruno Foundation cites latest Special Achievement inductees; awards banquet slated for July 30

HOPEWELL TWP. – In celebration of the upcoming 11th annual Larry Bruno Foundation Special Achievement banquet, several athletes and one area high school football team are being lauded as this year's most celebrated from the Beaver Falls area.

Eight individuals and an entire team, are being honored this year. Athletes and coaches include Alvin Gibson, Van Golmont, Gene Harr, Broderick Hauser, Lynn Hill, Paula Nahal, Eugene Palka Sr., Henry “Butch” Rousseau and the 1972-73 Beaver Falls High School Fighting Tigers Football Team, the co-MAC champions along with Hopewell High School.

Bruno Foundation member Ron Main, said achievement inductees typically adhere to Mr. Bruno’s “Seven Attributes – Reverence, Integrity, Leadership, Teaming, Motivation, Discipline and Communications – while delivering knowledge needed to build a new and improved culture for our community.” Bruno, the legendary Beaver Falls football coach, is often affectionately known as the “Magical Coach.” Bruno was also Joe Namath’s high school coach.

Steve Higgins, another Bruno foundation executive, said the criteria for selecting inductees involve more than solely athletic excellence. "We tend to follow a player's complete career and achievement after they have left the athletic realm," said Higgins, himself a three-sport letterman at Beaver Falls High School and a member of the '72-‘73 football team. Higgins played wide receiver at the University of Alabama under legendary coach Paul "Bear' Bryant.

Past inductees have also included non-athletes. This year’s class will be honored on July 30 at the Shadow Lakes Country Club in Hopewell Township. The banquet is slated for 5 p.m. For tickets, contact foundation member, Ed DeRose at 412-298-1430.

Larry Bruno Foundation 2022 Special Achievement inductees are:

Alvin “Emol” Gibson, BFHS/Clarion University basketball

Before becoming a Hall of Fame guard at Clarion University (Pa.), Gibson honed his craft on the asphalt courts of Beaver Falls area playgrounds. He initially became a cross-country star in high school and ultimately used his stamina to outlast his opponents. Under head coach Frank Chan, Gibson led his 1976-77 Tigers to the WPIAL runner-up and to the PIAA state tourney, while upsetting perennial powerhouse Pittsburgh Brashear, led by NFL and Pitt gridiron star, Sam Clancy. Gibson starred for four years at Clarion University where he’s a member of the school’s Hall of Fame. He also helped mentor Kentucky coach John Calipari’s transition to Clarion, after Calipari transferred from UNC-Wilmington.

Van Golmont, BFHS/University of Miami, Football

Van Golmont is considered one of Beaver Falls High School’s greatest all-around athletes. He lettered three years on the football team and in many circles has been lauded as the “greatest sophomore football player in Beaver Falls history. The 1966 BF graduate still holds the all-time record at Beaver Falls for career touchdown receptions (21). He’s also second in overall receptions (68). He was the Midwestern Athletic Conference (MAC) MVP for 1966 and earned all-Section and all-WPIAL honors for that same year. Golmont was also a Big 33 selectee as a defensive player. He attended the University of Miami and lettered for two years there. After college, he later became a Division 1 college and NFL official and referee

Gene Harr, BFHS football coach (defensive specialist)

Coach Gene Harr is often considered one of the most knowledgeable defensive coaches in Pennsylvania high school history.

He initially started his career at Freedom (Pa.) High School – leading the school to its first undefeated football season since 1920. Harr graduated from Geneva College in 1943 ― and 16 years later became an assistant coach under Larry Bruno. He developed a vaunted defensive strategy which he later dubbed the “Alley Cat Defense.” He applied that same defensive strategy to various defensive units at Beaver Falls until his retirement in 1979.

In earning his reputation as a nationally recognized defensive strategist, Harr often gave presentations at various high schools throughout the nation.

Broderick E. Hauser, BFHS football, track/Hampton University football, track/Ellsworth Community College, football/1976 Jr. Rose Bowl Championship team

Though he was one of Beaver Falls High School’s premier overall athletes, it’s his post-high school achievement that puts Broderick E Hauser in another class as a Tiger standard-bearer.

From 1993-99, Hauser served as the first and only (to date) African American to be named as athletic director at Beaver Falls High School. Under Hauser’s tenure, the boy’s basketball team won the 1994 WPIAL and PIAA High School State basketball titles. Before graduating from Beaver Falls in 1975, Hauser became a three-year football letterman, a three-year letterman in track (high hurdles) and a one-year letterman in basketball.

After high school, Hauser first attended Ellsworth Community College in Iowa, where he became a standout tight end. The team won the Junior College Football title game in Pasadena California in 1976. Hauser then moved onto the CIAA division where he joined forces with Hampton (University) Institute’s football team in Hampton, Va. There he lettered three years in football and one year in track. He later coached defenses at Geneva College and Robert Morris University under NFL great Joe Walton. After suffering a debilitating stroke, Hauser rehabilitated and earned a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He later relocated to Atlanta, got married and currently works in social services – mentoring young people, homeless and the mentally ill. He’s also a father and grandfather.

Coach Lynn Hill – Gymnastics/Slippery Rock University/BFHS championship teams

Coach Lynn Hill is considered a pioneer in WPIAL and PIAA gymnastics.

The Burgettstown, Pa., native founded the Beaver Falls Gymnastics program in 1966. He also formed the inaugural Beaver County Invitational tournament in 1970.

As Beaver Falls gymnastics coach, in 1977, Hill coached the first WPIAL girls all-around champion gymnast. The school also won five section championships; and was undefeated as WPIAL and PIAA champions in both 1977 and 1978. In addition to being a member of the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame, he’s a member of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame ― Washington and Greene County chapters.

At Beaver Falls, Coach Hill enjoyed an outstanding record of 74-4 – including five consecutive undefeated seasons. In high school, he was a swimming and diving champion prior to earning a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Slippery Rock University. He also coached at Steubenville University after leaving Beaver County.

Paula Nahal – Champion gymnast/BFHS/West Virginia University

Paula Nahal Alessi is considered one of the most prolific gymnasts in Beaver County history.

During her three-year career at Beaver Falls High School, Nahal served as team captain over two Midwestern Athletic Conference (MAC) championships in and while she captained a 1977 WPIAL championship squad, a first for Beaver County. As an individual, she was a perennial winner on both floor activities and the balance beam. She also garnered a PIAA state championship while competing individually on the beam. After high school graduation in spring 1977, Nahal continued to shine – this time on the collegiate level.

After accepting a full scholarship from West Virginia University, Nahal went on to reach successful achievements as a collegiate participant. She holds WVU records on the balance beam (9.23) under the original scoring system for 1977-78. At WVU, her team was ranked No. 3 regionally and No. 16 nationally, in 1977-78.

During her college career, Nahal managed to perform on the highest academic level – earning honors for WVU's scholar-athletic dean's list for 1979-80.

Eugene Palka Sr./BFHS pitcher, Major Leaguer, successful coach

A generation of youths from the 1960s will fondly Eugene Louis Palka Sr. as an influential and effective mentor-coach in the Beaver Falls Little League program.

However, prior to his coaching days, Palka was a top major league pitching prospect and played several years in the Baltimore Oriole’s minor league system. After a successful pitching career at Beaver Falls High School and with the American (Jr.) Legion program, Palka quickly earned a stellar reputation as a fire-balling southpaw.

In the Orioles system, he played in the Appalachian League, in Texas and in Canada. In his mid-20s, he was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. The illness cut short his professional career, but Palka returned to his young wife, Norma Palka, and three young children, Gene Jr., Michael and Becky.

Palka immediately enjoyed a renewed coaching career, imparting his invaluable knowledge of the game to his Turners Little League team and the American (Jr.) Legion program – leading the Tommies to four county titles, four district titles and three state playoffs. His Turners squad won the 1967 City Little League Championship, led by his son and star pitcher Gene Palka Jr. Palka was also hired by the Pittsburgh Pirates to scout and hold tryouts for Beaver County area prospects. He died on Sept. 28, 1974. at just age 39.

Henry “Butch” Rousseau/All-Around great BFHS athlete

Henry “Butch” Rousseau is considered one of the greatest all-around athletes to darn the orange and black.

According to Beaver Falls High School records, Rousseau is considered the greatest-ever punter in school history. He averaged 43 yards per punt, during the 1966 season. During that same year, he was third in total scoring in Beaver County, while also aiding the team as a spectacular running back.

He also enjoyed stardom on the diamond – while pitching the school to a Section Title during the 1966 baseball season. After high school, Rousseau went on to lend his talents to the girls softball program at Beaver High School, ultimately winning the WPIAL in 2014. That team was led by his daughter and catcher, Tavyen Rousseau. Coach Amy Haggart led the 2020-21 Beaver High girls softball program to WPIAL and PIAA titles. Coach Rousseau is an assistant coach of the current squad.

1972-73 BFHS Football Team – Co-MAC champions/50th anniversary season

Fifty years ago this fall, the Beaver Falls Fighting Tigers football team enjoyed a nearly perfect 9-1 season. Their only loss occurred on the final game of the season, when the Tigers faced an explosive offensive machine in Hopewell High School, led by future NFL Hall of Famer Anthony “Hawk” Dorsett. At the time, young Dorsett was being recruited by several D-1 colleges including Penn State and Pitt. Hopewell slashed the Tigers in a 35-0 rout, but both teams shared the MAC title with similar records. Tigers head coach Larry Bruno, called the 72-73 team his ”most talented ever,” including undefeated teams led by Joe Namath (1960) and Karlin ‘Butch” Ryan (1961). The team was ranked No. 1 in Pa. for six weeks that season. This would be Tony Dorsett’s final high school game. Significantly, this was the final BFHS team to include students from Chippewa Township. The following year, Blackhawk High School opened its doors and a whole new rivalry began in Beaver Falls.

Timothy Cox is a graduate of Point Park University’s journalism school and a 1975 graduate of Beaver Falls High School. Cox can be reached at teacawks2@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Athletes, team honored by Larry Bruno Foundation