Published Tuesday, Jan. 21, 1996 
Mercer County
Hall of Fame
Jim
Raykie
Hall ceremonies evoke memories of local heroes who made a difference
LAST WEEKEND'S 50th anniversary celebration of the Mercer County Hall of Fame was a terrific two days. It was the culmination of more than 18 months of work as treasurer of the Hall in helping to plan the special activities for the golden anniversary of the oldest local hall of fame in the world.So, in that respect, it was special.
But it was special in another way. I got to spend a little bit of time with great athletes from our area, but in particular, four of them from Farrell High School who I revered when I was a little kid. And today, years later as adults, it was a lot of fun to get together and talk about those glory days when I thought they could walk on water.
They are Don Jones, Brian Generalovich, Willie Somerset and Jack Marin, four of the 10 superb athletes who were selected to be honored this year. It was a nostalgic feeling to know that four of the players who I'd grown to idolize as a kid were in the same room more than 35 years later telling war stories about their playing days at Farrell.
I remember my late father, who was an avid Farrell fan, telling me about Jones and his exploits for Coach Ed McCluskey. At 4 years of age, obviously I was too young to remember the man they called Nipper in action. But I had heard so much about him whenever people talked about Farrell basketball and had read so much about him when I got a little older that I felt as though I'd watched every game he'd ever played in.
Former NBA All-Star Jack Marin instructs a youngster during a clinic Saturday featuring Marin and ex-Lakers star Jamaal Wilkes as part of the Mercer County Hall of Fame 50th Anniversary weekend. Marin, a former Farrell High star, said he had a rush of emotions when he walked into the McCluskey Gymnasium. (Clem Marion/Herald)
I was barely 8 years old when Generalovich and Somerset played and led Farrell to back-to-back state championships in 1959 and 1960. But even at that age, I can remember going to the gym with my dad and waiting for my childhood heroes, Brian and Willie, to storm onto the floor to the sounds of Sweet Georgia Brown. I remember fans sitting in the packed gymnasium dwarfing me when they joined people already standing on the ramps to cheer the Steelers in a wild frenzy.
I have the most vivid memories of Marin, the big, lanky guy with the crew cut who could shoot the eyes out of the basket and who could make this difficult game look so easy. I was nearly 10 years old when Jack played, so my recollections of those long left-handed jump shots are vivid.
Today, I can only wonder how many points Jack would have scored in his senior year had the three-point rule been in effect. As it was, he finished the 1961-62 season with more than 520 points. Unknowingly, he made life a lot easier for my dad that year.
Trips to the barbershop were not my idea of fun. I might have wanted to look like Jack, complete with a crew cut and the mandatory ``butch wax'' to keep the front standing on end, but I hated going to the barber with my dad with the same passion that I enjoyed going to the gym with him. But all that changed when I found out that Jack got his hair cut at Frank Lombardo's barber shop.
What do you know? Frank just happened to cut my dad's hair. Bingo.
His shop was located in a small brick building on the south side of Idaho Street just above Sunset Lanes. As you might suspect, the Marin connection was dad's leverage, but he didn't have to coax me for long. After seeing Jack step through the door one Saturday after practice, I became Frank Lombardo's best customer. I wanted to get a haircut even when I didn't need one.
Marin, Jones and Somerset have lived out of the area for a long time. Generalovich returned after college as a very successful dentist and I've enjoyed working on many projects with him, either associated with McCluskey and Farrell High School or for the Hall of Fame, where he serves on the board as well.
Asked to speak on behalf of the inductees, Marin reflected a bit on their playing days, saying it was great to know that people still remembered what they did and how they did it. Watching the looks of gratitude and humbleness on all of the inductees' faces when they received a standing ovation from more than 530 people attending Saturday night's fete only served to bolster my welcoming message earlier in the evening.
People like Brian and Willie, Jack and Don, and Posey, Robbie, John, GeeGee, Jeff and Jerry are some of the real heroes in our country. They have made a difference in people's lives, and years later, continue to have an impact on the lore, the legend and the pride of this area. You can't find them any better.
Jim Raykie is editor of The Herald.