The inaugural class was inducted into the Camillus/West Genessee Community Sports Hall of Fame last weekend at the Town of Camillus Municipal Building.
Six individuals and one team were honored for their contributions to the community through sports. Each inductee was presented with a plaque, and identical plaques will be permanently displayed at the Municipal Building denoting the impact Hall of Fame members had on the community.
Town of Camillus Parks and Recreation Director Eric Bacon said with the experience and success that the Camillus and WG community has had with sports, it made perfect sense to create the Hall of Fame.
Bacon said the planning process began just over a year ago, when a committee was organized.
The committee faced a formidable task of selecting inductees. Nominees fall under one of three categories: Legends Era, Pre-1955, Modern Era, Post-1955, and Team. The committee considered worthy nominees to be recognizable and respected community members who have made a significant impact in the areas of sports and/or recreation.
Town Supervisor Mary Ann Coogan commended the inductees for their enthusiasm and love of life, sports, youth and community.
Paul Delallo, 84, was inducted for his contributions, which included the creation and development of youth basketball, baseball and softball programs.
My only regret is that I don’t have another 42 years to give, Delallo said.
When people ask why he committed so much time and energy to the youth sports in Camillus, Delallo said his reason is simple: he was dedicated to kids having fun.
That was it, Delallo said definitively.
Bill Ellithorpe, Royce Newell and John Gibbons were inducted posthumously, evidence of the legacy left on the community.
Ellithorpe’s son, Doug, remembered his father returning home from a job interview for the Vice President position with another school district, which he told Doug he did not want to take.
He wanted to stay and make Camillus as great as he could, work with the people here, Ellithorpe said.
The committee unanimously voted member Tom Kehoskie into the Hall during one meeting he did not attend.
Parks and Recreation Director for 29 years, Kehoskie spoke of the volunteering spirit present in the Camillus community.
I drive into towns and see the signs that say, ‘A great place to live’… you haven’t seen Camillus operate yet, he said.
Various sports and community organizations donated toward the creation of the Hall, Bacon said.
More than 100 people attended the ceremony. Each year, community members will be able to nominate individuals and teams for the Hall.
The envelope, please…
The 2008 inductees of the Camillus/West Genesee Community sports Hall of Fame:
Paul Delallo
Bill Ellithorpe
John Gibbons
Tom Kehoskie
Mike Messere
Royce Newell
1957-58 Boys Varisty Basketball Team
