Vince O'Connor

Coach - Teacher - Mentor

Inducted March 11, 2015

Vince O'Connor won 14 CHSFL titles in a legendary career that spanned 62 years as St. Francis Prep Head Coach

Tom Nash

Great Athlete - Teammate - Friend

Inducted March 11, 2015

Tom Nash was a High School All-American at Holy Cross High School. He rushed for over 1,000 yards in his senior year. He played on two CHSFL Championship teams (1963 and 1965) and graduated in 1966.

He went on to play at the University of Notre Dame, Class of 1970 under Ara Parseghian.

Bill Stetter Inducted April 20, 2016

Athlete – Coach – Educator – Entrepreneur

• Alumnus of Cardinal Hayes HS and the College of Holy Cross
• All City high school football & baseball; College of Holy Cross football; picked #192 in 1950 NFL draft
• Co-founder & co-head coach of Holy Cross HS football
• Teacher at Cardinal Hayes HS; Asst. professor at St. Peter’s College
• Assistant football coach at Cardinal Hayes HS
• Head of NY Football officials
• Cardinal Hayes HS Hall of Fame; Holy Cross HS Hall of Fame; CHSAA Hall of Fame; Cardinal Hayes HS Athletic Hall of Fame
• Successful 35 year career in sales 

Frank Gargiulo  Inducted April 2016

Athlete – Coach – Educator – Public Servant

• Alumnus of St. Joseph’s HS West New York and the University of Notre Dame
• St. Joe’s football standout – scholarship to Notre Dame, played fullback under Joe Kuharich
• Teacher and football coach at St. Joe’s and Cardinal Spellman
• Longtime principal at St. Joe’s
• NJ state assemblyman- 1985
• Head of NJ Republican party of Hudson County – 1986
• Superintendent of Hudson County Vocational School – one of the most prestigious trade schools in America

Al Groh Jr.  Inducted April 20, 2016

“A Football Guy”
 

• Alumnus of Chaminade HS and the University of Virginia
• Played for undefeated 1961 CHSFL championship Chaminade team under coach Joe Thomas
• 4 year player for university of Virginia football team & four year lacrosse player
• 16 years as defensive coordinator under Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick
• Member of the coaching staffs on the Super Bowl winner NY Giants and on the New England Patriots
• 17 years as head coach with Wake Forest, University of Virginia and NY Jets
• 2 time ACC Coach of the Year
• 13 players drafted into the NFL & 19 free agents
• Won 3 major college football bowl games
• 38 years as a football coach - also on the coaching staff of North Carolina, Wake Forest & Georgia Tech
• ESPN football announcer
• 2 sons involved in professional football as assistant coach and scout

Bob Griffin Inducted April 20, 2016

Player – Coach - Mentor

• Quarterback at University of Delaware (freshman) then remainder of college playing career at Southern Connecticut
• Head coach Holy Cross HS football for three years, winning two CHSFL titles – 1963 & 1965
• Head coach at Idaho State & head coach at University of Rhode Island for 17 years. American Football Coaches Association District Eight (Rocky Mtn. West)  Coach of the Year 1975. AFCA  District One ( Northeast ) Coach of the Year 1984, 1985.
• Winningest coach in URI football history & member of the URI Football Hall of Fame
• Two time New England Coach of the Year
• Two time Yankee Conference Coach of the Year
• Three time Yankee Conference Champions
• 50 Year coaching career in total, recruiting many CHSFL players

Kevin Ogletree Inducted April 20, 2016

Player – High School – College – NFL

• Alumnus Holy Cross HS under Tom Pugh and University of Virginia under All Groh Jr.
• CYO Man of the Year as senior at Holy Cross HS
• CHSFL All-City & NY Player of the Year at Holy Cross HS – 61 receptions; 1,151 yards; 19 TDs
• Two time 2^nd Team all ACC at University of Virginia
• Signed by Dallas Cowboys; played six years in the NFL with Dallas Cowboys; Tampa Bay Bucs; Detroit Lions and NY Giants

Chris Brauer Inducted April 20, 2016

Distinguished Member of New York’s Finest – Public Servant

• Alumnus of Cardinal Hayes HS and Buena Vista College, Iowa
• Varsity football captain at Cardinal Hayes and player at Buena Vista College
• New York Police Academy and Supervisor and Sergeant of Emergency Unit
• Detective Bomb Squad
• Managing Director of Explosive Detection Division
• Winner of New York Daily News Award for Heroism
• Awarded Policeman’s Medal of Valor  

Dr. Denny Golden Inducted April 2017

Player - Coach - University President

CHSAA All-City Holy Cross High School; All-New England and All-East twice and AP honorable mention All-American for the College of Holy Cross. Drafted by the Dallas Cowboys but instead joined the US Marines.

Held various administrative positions of increasing responsibility at the College of Holy Cross; Duquense University; University of Louisville and finally as President of Fontbonne University in St. Louis MO. for over twenty years. 

Tom Kiernan Inducted April 2017

"An American Hero"

Regis HS. Manhattan College. He held positions of responsibility at the Dept. of the Navy for 24 years and the Dept. of Defense (Pentagon) for 11 years. At the Dept. of Navy, Tom was Instrumental in the development of the titanium hull for nuclear subs including the submersible Alvin used to locate the Titanic and also to locate lost hydrogen bomb off the coast of Spain.  

One of only 37 men qualified over the last 100 years to test instrumentation and overall sea worthiness of nuclear submarines. Tom volunteered to test the Scorpion and the Ethan Allen submarines to depths of over 4,000 feet. He received more than a dozen awards form the Dept. of the Navy.

At the Pentagon, Tom headed several anti-terrorism operations such as Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Gulf Mine Operations Removal.  He was responsible for responding to crisis situations such as deployment of equipment and weapons, ally interactions/coordination and anti-classified technique responses.   He was awarded America’s highest civilian award "The Distinguished Citizenship Award" by Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney in a ceremony at the US Capitol in 1991. Pete Martin: "My brother–in-law Tom was a humble warrior. His only response in my attempts to get information from him, over a few beers, on covert operations was a smile and a simple statement "We Kicked the Hell out of Them".

Darrell Reid Inducted April 2017

"The Enforcer" 

Freehold Boro HS Freehold NJ, Football Captain;  All League, All Conference, All NJ State First Team Linebacker, Top Ten All-Time linebacker at Jersey Shore. University of Minnesota 4 year starter - nose guard, defensive tackle and defensive end.  Team leader in sacks.  Second Team All-Big Ten. Degree in Communications and Rhetoric. Free Agent with Indianapolis Colts 2005-2008. Played defensive tackle and fullback in goal line situations. Al-League Special Teams. Check "Top 50 hits of All Time” and Darrell Reid’s monster hit on Chris Henry 12/30 2007 (You tube).  Member of the Super Bowl 41 championship team that defeated the Chicago Bears. 2009-2010 Denver Broncos defensive end special team All Star.

Founder of Footz Foundation charity for development and future success of young children. ESPN sports commentator; Dynamic motivational speaker. Football camp Clinician for Vivri Health and Fitness Independent Distributor                                                                                                                                    

Tom Ehrhardt Inducted April 2017

"All-American"

Holy Cross High School. He was the greatest quarterback in Ram football history. In just two years at URI he set nearly every passing record at Kingston and in New England. Ehrhardt was a two-time, first-team All-America (1AA), All-New England, and All-Yankee Conference selection in 1984 and 1985 and Conference Player of the Year in 1985. He led the Rams to a pair of Conference championships and two NCAA playoffs in which the team advanced to the semifinals in 1984. The Rams finished second in the national polls that year and seventh in 1985. Ehrhardt, who won several Golden Helmets, symbolic of the top weekly performance in New England football, is the only football player in Ram history to have his number (12) retired. Tom is currently a candidate to be inducted into the College Hall of Fame.

JP Foschi Inducted April 2017

"Student / Athlete"

Chaminade High School - 4 year starter - Football & Basketball. 1998 Team Member of Chaminade HS championship team with QB Matt Groh (Al Groh's son). Coached by Bill Basel. Super Prep All-American, All-League, All-Met. National Honor Society member. Football Starter at Georgia Tech. Honorable mention All-ACC 2003. Played for Chan Gailey. Academic All-American at Georgia Tech. Played in NFL with Cincinnati Bengals, Oakland Raider & Kansas City Chiefs. Was on the ACC Academic Honor Roll at Georgia Tech.

Renzie Lamb Inducted April 2017

“The Indomitable Renzie Lamb”

Chaminade HS football and Lacrosse. Captain of Hofstra and Lacrosse teams under coach Howdy Myers.

Player and coach for the US Marines at Quantico. Head football coach at Iona Prep. 1967 undefeated championship team. Head lacrosse coach at Manhasset HS. 1968 undefeated championship team.

Assistant professor of physical education at Williams College over 35 years. Assistant football coach at Williams College. Head lacrosse coach at Williams College for 35 years. Won numerous championships. Coached 30 lacrosse All-American players. All-star coach. Member of 3 lacrosse Hall of Fames. Most recently inducted into the IMLCA Hall of Fame. He is the only Division 3 coach to be inducted in the IMLCA Hall of Fame. He was inducted with his college coach, Howdy Myers.

Assistant coach of Naval Academy Sprint Football Team in Annapolis, MD.

Peter Martin  Inducted April 2017

Master Blaster - Man of 1,000 Moves 

Cardinal Hayes HS; University of Rhode Island, Montclair State College

Athlete- Football Starter Cardinal Hayes,  URI, Montclair State Coach - Asst. Football Coach Mount St. Michael HS and Madison Central HS; Head Football Coach Cardinal Spellman and South Brunswick HS; Basketball Coach 30 years AAU & CYO Middle School    Financial Advisor – 1982 to present                                                                                                                         

Founder of Big East Blast Party - March 2011                Nationwide Head Blast Recruiter 2012 - present            Founder of Blast Committee 2012 Ongoing Member Selections to Present Founder Blast Hall of Fame 2015 - Present        

“I am very grateful for my Honorary Induction into the Blast Hall of Fame. My life achievements do not measure up to the lofty criteria I set for induction into the Blast Hall of Fame. Therefore I stand below our other Hall of Famers.” Pete Martin, Master Blaster

Honorary Member of the Big East Blast Hall of Fame

Dr. Gerard J. Hevern   Inducted May 2018

The "Good Doctor"

St Francis Prep ’68. Class President and Football Team Captain   All City and All League Football Player.  National Honor Society. St Francis Prep Hall of Fame and Ring of Honor Member.

Attended Harvard University. All-Ivy Conference Team; All-New England Team and Harvard National Football Scholar Athlete Award 71 Graduated Cum Laude 72.   

Graduated Stony Brook Medical School. His practice has included work with people with opioid and alcohol addiction, and is considered an expert in the field. Among his numerous awards,

Gerry was New Hampshire Academy of Family Physicians Family Physician of the Year in 2016. In 2018 he was presented the American Academy of Family Physicians National Family Physician of the Year Award.

Jack McGee  inducted May 2018

"An Actor for All Seasons"   

Jack is the youngest of 8 children born in the South Bronx in 1949. Attended Cardinal Hayes - member of the football team and class president.  Graduated 1967.

Studied acting at the University of Santa Fe.   Jack was a backup singer for the Young Rascals. He was a FDNY firefighter for years in the Bronx while increasingly involved in TV commercials.   

Started acting at age 35. Jack made up for lost acting time by appearing in over 100 TV roles including Lieutenant Reilly on the very popular Rescue Me series for 3 seasons and the lead in The McCarthy’s show. He has over 100 movie appearances including The Chase, The Fighter, Money Ball and Backdraft.

Jack is a colon cancer survivor. He supports The American Cancer Society, Autism Speaks and The Michael J Fox Foundation.  He is a loyal Hayesman, a natural born actor and a fellow true Bronx Bomber. 

Lt. General William J. Lennox Jr.  

inducted May 2019

"This We'll Defend"

Cardinal Hayes ‘67 Scholar/Athlete, Football and Track.  Member of the National Honor Society. 1971 graduate of US Military Academy at West Point. Princeton University Doctorate in Literature. Commanded at every level in Field Artillery.  General Officer assignments included Chief of Staff for III Corps (Ft. Hood) and Combined Forces Command Operations Officer and Deputy Commander 8th Army (Korea).  White House Fellowship included the Dept. Of Education under Bill Bennett.  Bill was the 56^th Superintendent of West Point, 2001-2006.  Served during 9/11 and the 200th Anniversary of West Point.  President of Saint Leo University, 2015-2018.  Bill and Anne are proud parents of Matthew and Andrew Lennox, both senior officers in the US Army, and Jon, a CFP in Dallas.

Mike Ehrhardt

"All American/MVP"

Mike Ehrhardt Lacrosse All American, world MVP. Chaminade high school player for jack moran class of 2010 Under Armor high school all american. University of Maryland all american. Drafted professional lacrosse Charlotte hounds. World lacrosse team member and world lacrosse MVP player 2018. World lacrosse US championship team member 2018. Championship team member whipsnakes 2019-2020 professional lacrosse. 2 year all star of the Whipsnakes. His team is Whipsnakes now in the PLL (Premiere Lacrosse League).

Eugene McQuade 

"The CEO Philanthropist"

Gene McQuade is a prominent banking executive with a distinguished career in leadership roles at companies such as Citibank, Freddie Mac, Bank of America. FleetBoston Finacial and Promontory Financial Group. Gene served as Vice Chairman of Citigroup, from which he retireed in May 2015. He joined Citigroup in 2009 as Chief Executive Officer, where he was responsible for governance of the bank around the globe. in 2015, Gene joined Promontory Financial Group (an IBM company) as Vice Chairman of its Advisory Board. In 2020, Gene retired as a member of the Boards of Directors of both Citigroup and Citibank. He is the governor of the Boys and Girls Club of America, Director for  Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of New York,  Chairman of the All Ireland Funds America and gifted to St Bonaventure The Gene Mc Quade Center (Building) for Accounting Excellence.    

Tim Gallin

"The Stuntman"

Hollywood actor (stuntman). Iona prep class of 74. Football, Baseball, Wrestler team members. CW Post-football team member class of 78.

Started in 1978 with an appearance in the “Wanderers”.

Since then has appeared in over 300 tv shows and movies.

Tv shows include, The Sopranos, Blue Bloods, Rescue Me, Blacklist, Sex in the City, Gotham and Law and Order. Movies include, Dr. Strange, Men in Black, City by the Sea, Spider-Man and Mohamed Ali Film. Many Marvel movies.

Screen Actors Guild Awards 2003, 2014, 2016. 

Outstanding action performance by a stunt ensemble.

CMG Talent-stunt professional organization.

President Mellin Productions - Tv film projects.

Owner Stunt School.

Mike Toop

"Call Me Coach"

Player, Coach and Mentor. 

John Glenn HS class of 73. Football team member honor student. Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point) 77.

All conference linebacker NFL free agent.

Academy Athletic Hall Of Fame Football Member.

Assistant coach of Chaminade and Holy Cross highschool. Won city championships at both. Assistant coach at University of Pennsylvania, Colgate, Union College and Albany. Defensive Coordinator at University of Connecticut. Named the top defensive unit for a number of years. Head coach - Davidson College in South Carolina for seven years. Head coach - Merchant Marine Kings Point for 17 years. Winner of the Power Of Inspiration Award, Coach Of the Year Award and the James Liebitz Memorial Award. Culminated 45 years of coaching with final bowl game win vs Western New England 2022.

Jim Cavanaugh

"The Cat"

Football coach, master recruiter. Chaminade class of 66 played for Joe Thomas - All League William and Mary football hall of fame. Played for Marv Levi and Lou Holtz. Division 1 assistant football coach for over 40 years. Coached at North Carolina, NC State, UMI, Maryland and Virginia Tech. Coached for Lou Holtz, Bo Rine, Bobby Ross, Mack Brown and Frank Beamer. Coached in 27 major bowl games as an assistant including the national championship game in 2000 vs Florida when at Virginia Tech W. Voted in top 3 D1 recruiters in the country by Sporting News and Sports illustrated. Recruited Micheal Vick and Tyrod Taylor Among many others. 2013 Ray Tate  Memorial Award - Received for lifetime dedication to the sport of football to Jim Cavanaugh by the TD Club of Richment, VA. Played football for Cardinal Hayes class of 1967. Graduated from St. Bonaventures in 1971.