Gene Guarilia led ‘Pops’ to 1969 win

Warren Lahr defensive back for the Cleveland Browns passed away in February of 1969. Lahr played for what area high school football team?

1969 – 41 Years Ago

St. Rocco’s Church, 62 W. Oak Street in Pittston, was planning its 20th annual smoker in February of 1969. Committee members Sam Campenni, Joseph Infantino, Michael Flume Joe Vasta, John Brogna, Biagio Manganaro, Cataldo Pirrello and Richard Newhart were busy arranging the event.

This year’s Smoker will be the final one solely sponsored by St. Rocco’s Holy Name Society due to church consolidation and closings in the Diocese of Scranton. A joint sponsorship is being planned for the event in the future.

Pittston Police Chief Joseph Delaney set up a “miniature” crime lab in his office, filled with photos of each local perpetrator, dates of crimes and descriptions.

A master log was kept for easy access to information. The state police and other units were utilizing Chief Delaney’s system to help solve crimes in Wilkes-Barre, Scranton and Old Forge.

Navy Commander William B. Rennie of Pittston was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism, The Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V” and his 15th Air Medal, while serving as section leader with Fighter Squadron 211 aboard the attack aircraft carrier USS Bon Homme Richard in Vietnam.

The squadron designated “Checkmates” was the final squadron to fly the F-14A Tomcat.

Tony Cella, golf pro at Fox Hill Country Club, was set to provide golf lessons to beginners and advanced golfers at the Pittston YMCA.

A graduate of the PGA Gold School, Cella shot a 72 in an exhibition tournament with Julius Boros at Wyoming Valley Country Club.

The Pops whipped the Bachelors at an exhibition basketball game played between the married and single faculty members of Pittston Area High school. More than a thousand fans cheered as the Pops toppled the Bachelors 69-64.

Gene Guarillia scored 32 points while Lee Wasilewski followed with 16 points.

1979 – 31 Years Ago

Area Catholic Schools were preparing to observe Catholic School Week, assuming the motto “Next to the Family, The Catholic School.” Sister Therese O’Rourke, and students Michael Kovaleski and Margaret Kelley appeared on the cover of the Greater Pittston Spot-Light a weekly pullout section of the Sunday Dispatch.

Wyoming Area Catholic and Seton Catholic students participated in many planned activities as part of the observance.

Clarence “Ky” Levin, owner of Levin Furniture, 80 S. Main Street, retired from the business after 34 years.

After leaving the military in 1946, Mr. Levin worked with his father and brother-in-law in the operation of the store. In 1968, he assumed sole control until January of 1979.

The retirement sale at Levin’s advertised four piece bedroom sets for $359, recliner chairs for $99 and box spring and mattress sets for $199.

The Excelsior Hose Company No. 2, Duryea was battling back from a devastating fire that consumed their firehouse and equipment.

The Duryea Lions Club and Montrose Fire Company were instrumental in aiding Excelsior with equipment in order to continue operations. Members of the Hose Company were Richard Craig, Steve Scoda, Dave Polak, Tom Scoda, Fire Chief Ed Scoda, Bob Girman, Ron Wickizer, Dave Scoda, Bill Yedesko, George Seldon, Dino DeBiasi and Nick Pace.

Forty-five dealers were expected to attend The Wyoming Valley Coin Club annual coin show. Available, would be the second in a series of Wyoming Valley modes of transportation commemorative medals and George Washington Wooden Quarters.

Some committee members were James Kaub, Ronald Schwartz, Robert and Eleanor Matylewicz, Martha Hastie, Charles A. McCarthy.

Falls native SSgt Joseph Wachs, decorated Vietnam veteran was a commander of a team testing the new XM-1 listed as the tank of the future.

SSgt Wachs and his team were required to put the tank through demanding maneuvers in all conditions.

Wachs graduated from West Pittston High School, served in Vietnam from 1969-70 and received the Army Commendation Medal, Purple Heart, Defensive Service Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Medal of Valor.

1989 – 21 Years Ago

A rash of attempted child abductions in the Greater Pittston Area led to a meeting of public and parochial school officials to formulize a plan to keep area children safe.

Letters were sent to parents and students were made aware of the dangers of talking to strangers. Police Chief Edward Doran reported there were reports of suspicious vehicles in the city and cautioned children to stay in groups if walking on the street.

The community worked together to set up safe houses and lines of communication for parents and law enforcement.

Question #2

In what year was the Amber Alert the first fully automated alert notification system notifying surrounding communities of missing children first utilized.

The Pittston Job Center was seeking applicants for several area jobs: Secretary - $5.00/hr; Production Helper – $4-$6/hr; Industrial Electrician - $10.19/hr; Garment Presser - $475/hr and lifeguard - $4/hr.

Mayor Thomas Walsh issued a proclamation designating February 16, 1989 as Lithuanian Independence in Pittston. A flag raising ceremony was being planned for city hall.

Present at the signing were Annamarie Sewatsky, Frances Shoppel, Nellie Bayoras Romanas. Kenneth Scaz, Carmen Falcone, Celestine Swantkowski, Anna Rovala, Adele Brooks, Mary Chorba, John Argo and Maria Capolarella.

The Act of Independence of Lithuania was signed by its council on February 16, 1918 to announce their independence from Germany.

1999 – 11 Years Ago

Drew Smith, Tony D’Angelo, Andy Griglock and Phil Brown were preparing for Valentine’s Day, but then so were Bill Zdancewicz and Ty Williams, not to propose to their special gal, but to sing to anyone’s special gal.

They were members of two local Barber Shop Quartets and the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America. The Chordial Connection and the Valentine Quartet were taking reservations for singing Valentines.

Members had also recently sung for a Mass for victims of the Knox Mine Disaster.

Allan Capozucca, Frank Alba, James Steer, and John Amico, officers of The Germania Hose Company and Pittston Township Volunteer Fire Department, joined to announce a new nation-wide rescue program.

The program encouraged residents to place stickers on windows of residences to alert firefighters to the presence of needy individuals such as children, elderly disabled residents and pets occupying the home.

Some milestones in 1999 – Lindsey Bennie, Avoca, and member of St. Mary’s School basketball team scored her 1000th point.

The Killer Bees Athletic Club honored local athletes Rich Musinski of Wyoming Area and Pittston Area’s Adam Loyack at their annual banquet. Musinski was nominated for the Hoinski Award for Excellence in Athletics and Loyack for the Male Student Award.

Judge Thomas F. Burke, Jr. of West Pittston formally announced his candidacy for election to a full term on the Luzerne County Bench.

A Vietnam veteran who was awarded the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service practiced law for 25 years prior to his judgeship and looked forward to serving the people of Luzerne County “honorably and honestly”.

Answer #1

Warren Lahr played football at West Wyoming High School, graduated in 1941, and went on to play at Western Reserve University, on scholarship.

He was picked up by the Cleveland Browns from 1948 to 1959 and was one of the teams all time best defensive backs.

Answer #2

The Amber Alert named after a missing Texas girl and adopted as an acronym for America’s Missing Broadcasting Emergency Response was first used in July 5, 1997 in Dallas Texas.

The unrecorded past is none other than our old friend, the tree in the primeval forest which fell without being heard.