Mon Valley Sunday SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2011 A publication of the Tribune-Review and the Valley Independent Speers woman urges cancer awareness Idol star comes to ‘Cathy’s Pink Brunch’ through self examinations. a fundraising program that inspires “I don’t hound them, but I do send McGrath will preside over a breast cancer advocacy and honors friendly reminders,” she said. planned for Oct. 15 fundraiser for Passionately Pink for those affected by the disease. McGrath said she saw a friend at a Stockdale the Cure called “Cathy’s Pink So far, McGrath has raised $3,700 shopping mall who was quick to in West Newton Brunch,” at 11 a.m. Oct. 15 at the Le for Passionately Pink for the Cure. report her news. Grande Room, 107 Second St., West “I just want to do all I can to help “It was so funny. She saw me and BY STACY WOLFORD Newton. Over the years, she has fight this,” McGrath said. “I figure just said ‘I just had my mammo- for benefit THE VALLEY INDEPENDENT shared her inspirational story as a every dollar helps.” gram,’” she said with a laugh. “If I can guest speaker at churches and other McGrath said a representative inspire one person, than it’s all worth Cathy McGrath will never forget gatherings in the area. from the Susan G. Komen Pitts- it.” the devastation of learning she had Since 1997, she has participated in burgh branch will be the guest Tickets for “Cathy’s Pink Brunch Concert sponsored by breast cancer. the annual Susan G. Komen Race speaker. are $20. The event will feature door Today, 20 years later, she is proud wish foundation, for the Cure Pittsburgh walk-a-thon Although she has been in remis- prizes and gift auction. to say she is a cancer survivor. and race. She also participated in a sion for two decades, McGrath said The last day for ticket sales is Oct. Friends of the Coyle McGrath, 59, of Speers, has made breast cancer research study con- she still frightened at the the 7. Tickets can be purchased by mailing a complete recovery since undergo- ducted by the University of Pitts- prospect of a mammogram. a check made out to Cathy McGrath, ing surgery in 1991 to remove a TRIBUNE-REVIEW burgh. “I still get a little edgy, but I know P. O. Box 11, Dunlevy, PA 15432. malignant lump in her breast. She supports Passionately Pink it’s something I have to do,” she No tickets will be sold at door. Since then, she has made it her Aaron Wayne Kelly, one of for the Cure, a cause of Susan G. said. For more information, call 724-483- mission to spread hope and the the stars of television’s Komen for the Cure. She often encourages her friends 5063 or e-mail: pinkbrunch importance of early detection “American Idol,” will head- Passionately Pink for the Cure is to go for annual mammograms. @yahoo.com. line a show Oct. 22 at the Stockdale Fire Hall. “We’re very pleased to pres- ent Aaron to his many fans in the Mon Valley and south- western Pennsylvania,” Charleroi mayor Nancy Ellis, co-chairman of the concert organizing GOOD TIMES ON THE PITCH committee said. “He is truly one of the rising Rossi, Shannon celebrate young stars on the roles in WVU soccer history national music scene, Kelly so it should BY RON PAGLIA FOR THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW be a big night for the area.” Walter Stelma of Charleroi They didn’t set out to become part is chairman of the organizing of West Virginia University’s ath- committee and his daughter, letic history but Ralph “Butch” Michelle Tegtmeier, is the Rossi and Jack Shannon did just liaison coordinator with that, as pioneers of sorts. Aaron Kelly. Rossi, a native of Dunlevy, and The concert will benefit Shannon, who grew up in Allenport, Unity — A Journey of Hope, were among the former players hon- an organization that grants ored at the golden anniversary cel- wishes to adults 18 years of ebration of WVU men’s soccer. age and older, and Friends of “It was quite a weekend, a time for the Coyle, a civic organiza- sharing a lot of great memories with tion involved in efforts to men who have played at West Vir- restore the Coyle theater in SUBMITTED ginia the past 50 years,” said Rossi, Charleroi. who lives in Greensboro, N.C. Ralph “Butch” Rossi shows his All Friends of the Coyle is not The two-day event in Morgantown Southern Conference form in 1966. affiliated with the Mon Valley included a reception at Dick Diesk Cultural Trust, which also is Soccer Stadium prior to the Moun- working toward that goal. taineers’ 2-1 victory over Bingham- Early days Kelly, 18, who finished fifth ton; a banquet at the alumni center By comparison, Shannon recalled on the ninth season of Amer- featuring WVU basketball coach that when he played, the soccer ican Idol, will be accompanied Bob Huggins as the keynote team shared locker facilities with by his band, The 2nd South. speaker; an alumni soccer game, the track squad, practiced on a play- Also performing at the show and on-field recognition at the West ing field that was not lighted and will be Steeltown, a Pitts- Virginia-Marshall football game. RON PAGLIA | FOR THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW “there was no thought of a women’s burgh-based country rock The reunion evolved as the result Reminiscing at West Virginia University’s golden anniversary of men’s soccer program. band. of efforts by head men’s varsity are (from left) Ralph “Butch” Rossi, Ken Juskowich and Jack Shannon. They “Our scholarships were limited to The doors will open at 6 p.m. coach Marion LeBlanc as a means of were teammates and roommates in the 1960s three and included only books, Tickets for adults are $20 in re-engaging the sport’s alumni tuition and fees,” he said. There- advance and $25 at the door base.. fore, soccer success at that time had the night of the concert. Tick- “We had lost touch with many of Penn State, is “a great guy … one of dium that includes a well-mani- to be attributed not only to those ets for children under 16 are the people who helped put WVU on the hottest coaches in college soccer cured and lighted pitch, plenty of few scholarship players but also to $10 and for children under 10 the college soccer map,” LeBlanc today.” seating for fans, a beautiful score- the many walk-on athletes that $5. said. “I have met many alumni, but Shannon offered similar senti- board, locker space for players and made a commitment to the pro- Tickets also are available in with 50 years of history I hadn’t met ments. a separate soccer facility for the gram.” advance at Maple Creek Dis- nearly enough. It seemed like a “It was a pleasure to return to women’s program. Coach LeBlanc West Virginia fielded its first tributors in Charleroi. great way to rally this group Morgantown and see the changes in informed us that he now has nine men’s varsity soccer team in 1961, Additional information are together again, bring them back to the university and the soccer pro- scholarships to be shared with team and Rossi and Shannon, who lives in available at 724-489-0951 or the campus and continue making gram,” he said. “The soccer facili- members. It’s very obvious that he Raleigh, NC, were among the early 412-889-9795. them proud of their alma mater, on ties are state-of-the-art compared to and the athletic department have standouts for the Mountaineers in The event will include a spe- and off the field.” our early playing days of the 1960s. made a firm commitment to sup- cial section at the fire hall des- Rossi said LeBlanc, a graduate of Now there’s a separate soccer sta- porting soccer at the national level.” SOCCER · 2 ignated for those who bring their own alcoholic beverage. Refreshments including soda, water, sandwiches and pizza also will be available. Kelly, a native of Daven- port, Fla., who makes his home in Sonestown, Sullivan Russell a super resource for Leopards County, and works out of Nashville, has sung profes- sionally since the age of 9. He Book reviews history of Belle season. has performed at festivals and The document is divided by the 10 fairs and opened for such acts Vernon Area football different head coaching eras, begin- as Charlie Daniels, Loretta Belle Vernon ning with James K. Russell, who Lynn, Emerson Drive, Bill Area high guided the team for its first four sea- Anderson and The Marshall School third- sons. Russell goes through each sea- Tucker Band. BY BRUCE WALD year head son chronologically while listing FOR THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW Because of his strong per- football coach players, stats and facts. Aaron Krepps formances during season nine Monongahela resident Steve Rus- “This history of BVA football is of American Idol, Kelly was sell has preserved a part of the Mon (left) enjoys a not intended to be a definitive study moment at the chosen to participate in the Valley’s rich athletic tradition. but a summary of the past 45 years American Idols Live Tour Leopards’ photo of the spirited sport in the Belle Ver- Author, historian and sports day with Belle 2010 with Siobhan Magnus, non community,” Russell said. “It enthusiast, the tireless Russell Vernon area Tim Urban, Katie Stevens, recently compiled “History of BVA superintendent, was a difficult undertaking to place Andrew Garcia and Didi High School Football (1965-2010).” author and an overall synopsis of this particu- Benami. The 32-page publication made its historian Steve lar football history into one docu- His first recording, a single, debut during Belle Vernon’s 2011 Russell. ment.” “I Can’t Wait for Christmas,” home opening game with McGuffey BRUCE WALD | FOR He praised Ringgold School Dis- was released last year and he on Sept. 9. The 12th annual Belle THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW trict junior high basketball coach is working on a new album. Vernon Football Hall of Fame Class and Belle Vernon resident Joe Lopez “Aaron certainly has very was also honored at the game, which for his encyclopedia-like knowledge Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame. project was focused on accumulat- impressive credentials and culminated with a 54-12 victory for of Belle Vernon football as well as accomplishments for a young the host Leopards. He previously wrote and published ing photos, stories and game pro- fan Marilyn Williams, who provided the hall’s Biographical Journal in grams. Russell’s work covers the performer,” Ellis said. “He A longtime educator who is the Russell with game programs dating has a strong fan base in this superintendent of the Belle Vernon 2002 and updates that publication program from its inception when back to the inaugural 1965 season. with biographies of each new induc- Class A schools Rostraver and Bell- area and we’re confident that Area School District, Russell is also he will offer a show that will the general chairman of the Mid- tion class. mar still existed for two seasons but His research for the BVA football formed one team through the 2010 RUSSELL · 2 delight them.”