The Hill School Athletics Hall of Fame
Induction Classes

Athlete: William R. Leckonby '58

Bill Leckonby was noted for both his athletic prowess and natural leadership abilities that truly inspired his teammates to follow on the gridiron, basketball court, and baseball diamond. Bill was a member of the undefeated 1955 and 1957 football teams, and as starting quarterback he was the high scorer on the 1957 team. A true triple threat player, Bill also was the starting defensive back and kicker. During the 1957 football season, Bill scored five touchdowns in the first half In the team's 64-6 victory over Peddie, scored the only touchdown in a 6-0 victory over Mercersburg, and scored both touchdowns in a 12-7 win over Lawrenceville in the final game of the season. Bill consistently was the basketball team’s leading scorer throughout his career, and especially during his sixth form season. He netted 17 points in a double-overtime victory against Lawrenceville, and scored a season-high 27 points in the season's home-opener. Bill was the captain of the baseball team as well as the number one pitcher. He was virtually unbeatable against Lawrenceville, defeating the rival Larries five consecutive times over the course of three seasons. Additionally, Bill was a member of the Athletic Association Committee and was voted the best athlete in his class by his classmates. Having earned nine varsity letters during his three years at The Hill, Bill won the 1958 Wilbur C. Riley Award, given annually at Commencement to the sixth former who best demonstrates high leadership and outstanding sportsmanship in competitive athletics.

Athlete: Jamieson J. Slough '90

Jamie Slough dominated the soccer field, squash courts, and lacrosse field during his time at The Hill. During his debut varsity soccer season as a fourth former, Jamie was second on the soccer team in scoring. He led the 1988 and 1989 teams in scoring and finished his career with 52 goals and 21 assists – his 52 career goals was a record that stood until 2013. Jamie scored 22 goals in the 1988 season, a single-season record that stood until 2007. For his contributions to the soccer team, Jamie won the Cowperthwaite-Morgan Soccer Trophy in 1989. Jamie was a four-year member of the squash team during one of the best stretches in program history: the team record during his four years on the team was 56-16. He played at number six on the ladder as a third former before working his way up to the number one ladder position during the 1989-90 season, when he also was team captain. The 1990 team was truly dominant in finishing 15-2, losing only to college teams and shutting-out more than half of its opponents. Jamie was the squash School Champion in 1989 and 1990. Noted for his speed, scoring, and ground ball ability, Jamie was the heart of the strong lacrosse teams of the late 1980s. He was both an All-State and All-American selection in 1990, a season in which he also won the Class of 1962 Lacrosse Cup. Jamie went on to play squash and lacrosse at the United States Naval Academy. He was a four-time All-American squash player in college and won Navy's USS Barb Squash Rackets Perpetual Trophy three times. Jamie also played four years of college lacrosse, earning three All-American selections.

Coach: James K. Finn

James Finn, best known by the school community as "Doc," took over as head baseball coach in 1979 and was head of the team until his retirement in 2011 after 35 years at the School. Doc elevated what had been an average program into a truly elite program that enjoyed unprecedented success in the late 1980s and the entire decade of the 1990s. Between 1986 and 1999, the baseball team's record was 188 wins, 46 losses, and 2 ties, with three teams finishing undefeated. In a six year stretch from 1994 through 1999, the team won five Independent School State Championships and finished as runner up in the one year they did not win. The 1987 team finished with a perfect 19-0 record, setting a program record for most wins in a season that still stands, and their closest game was three runs – many games that season finished with Hill winning by more than 10 runs. Part of what put Hill on professional scouts' map was the team's reputation as a hitting factory during the team's heyday, as the team's batting average routinely was over .300. In addition to the numerous players that moved on to play college baseball, seven of Doc's former players were drafted by Major League Baseball clubs and went on to play professionally. Doc Finn was inducted into the Tri-County Area Hall of Fame in 2008, and retired with a career record of 348-217-5.

Extraordinary Sports Achievement: William F. Porter '44

Bill Porter spent two years at The Hill, and set the 110 high hurdles school record in 1944; that year, he also won the Millrose Award as the most outstanding high school competitor at the Millrose Games in Madison Square Garden. He spent one year at Western Michigan University before transferring to Northwestern University in 1945. Bill flourished as a hurdler while at Northwestern in both the 110 meter high hurdles and the 220 yard intermediate hurdles. Bill was the NCAA runner-up in the 220 hurdles during his junior campaign in 1947, with his time of 22.5 seconds equaling the former world record (the record was broken by the event's winner). He qualified for the 1948 Olympics as the third of three American 110 meter hurdlers by defeating the pre-Olympic gold medal favorite Harrison Dillard, who had won his previous 82 races in the event. Bill cruised through the preliminary rounds of the Olympics, winning his heat in all of the qualifying rounds. Though he was not the highest seed in the final, Bill claimed the gold medal in a then-Olympic record of 13.9 seconds. Watch a video of Bill's victory in the 1948 110 meter hurdle final.

Team: 1963-1964 Basketball

The 1963-64 basketball team finished with a perfect 17-0 record, becoming the first Hill basketball team since 1941 to finish undefeated. No basketball team in school history has gone undefeated since. The team's 17 wins in a season was the most in program history to that point. The 1963-64 team was truly dominant, outscoring its opponents by an average score of 68-46. Only four times was Hill's margin of victory was less than ten points. They scored more than 70 points in eight games, and allowed less than 50 points 11 times. Three victories came against college freshman or JV teams, including a thrilling 54-52 victory over the Kutztown freshman team to cap off the unbeaten season. Captain Tom Northrup '64 set a new program single-season scoring record with 372 points, an average of 21.9 points per game.

Coach: Donald S. Ronnie

Team Members: Douglas Carver '65, Thomas Chen '64, R. William de Vries '64, William Dickey '65, James Kovar '64, Robert Laughlin '64, James Matthews '66, Robert Metzler '66, H. Tulley Mott '65 (mgr.), Thomas Northrup '64 (captain), Bradley Oliver '64, Michael Porter '64, Wayne Quasha '66, Richard Sammis '66, Lenward Simpson '68, Robert Sloan '64, Neil Tytler '65, Peter Young '65

Dick Hebard '33 earned a total of 12 letters in five sports and was a member of five undefeated teams throughout his four years at The Hill. He played soccer in the fall, serving as team captain in 1931, but decided to join the football team his sixth form year. The 1932 team finished undefeated, and Dick was regarded one of the best open field runners in prep football. He played basketball in the winter, and was a key player on the undefeated 1932 and '33 teams, starring as the team's leading scorer his sixth form year. Dick joined the baseball team in the spring of 1932, and for two seasons was the team's starting left fielder and an outstanding hitter. Tennis arguably was his strongest sport. He was a four-year standout, winning the school championship three times and serving as team captain. He won the Princeton Interscholastic championship in 1931, and in the winter of 1933 advanced to the final of the National Indoor Tennis Championships.

In addition to competing for five interscholastic teams, Dick also played form hockey and form squash, and was a three-year member of the Athletic Association. After graduating from The Hill, Dick attended Springfield College (Mass.), where he played football and basketball, captaining the basketball team. Dick continued to play competitive tennis throughout his adulthood. He excelled in platform tennis, winning eight National Men's Championships and five Mixed Doubles Championships. He was inducted into the Platform Tennis National Hall of Fame in 1996.

Back to top »

Athlete: John R. Hyatt, Jr. '70

When considering John Hyatt's athletic ability, perhaps the most telling statistic is that, although he was not a full-time member of the track team, he set a school record in the high jump in 1968. John was a tremendous all-around athlete, earning 11 of a possible 12 varsity letters during his time at The Hill. He was a three-year letter winner on the football team, and was a four-year member of the varsity basketball and baseball teams. When a track meet did not interfere with a baseball game, John would compete for the track team as a high jumper. He was captain of the outstanding 1969-70 basketball team that finished with a 16-4 record and defeated Lawrenceville twice, including a thrilling last-second victory in New Jersey. In the second-to-last game of the season, he set a new program single-game scoring record of 38 points. John rotated between the outfield and the pitcher's mound for the baseball team.

He was one of two outstanding pitchers on the 1969 team that posted a 9-3 record: he and team captain Jim Metzler '69 allowed a total of five earned runs that season, both posting earned run averages well under 1.00 and combining for a no-hitter. That season, John hit cleanup and earned the team award for highest batting average. In 1970, he won the Robbins Cup, awarded to the pitcher with the lowest ERA. In addition to an outstanding athletic career at The Hill, John was a major contributor to school life. He was heavily involved in Student Council, serving as the form Vice President his fourth and sixth form years. An excellent student, John won the Isaac Thomas Award and was a National Merit Scholar.

Athlete: David A. Scanlon '67

Dave Scanlon excelled on the gridiron, wrestling mat, and lacrosse field during his four years at The Hill. During his first two semesters at The Hill as a third former, he played fifths football and junior hockey - these were the only two seasons in which he did not earn a varsity letter. During his fourth form year, Dave made the jump to the varsity football team and decided to join the wrestling team, immediately becoming an impactful member of the varsity squad. He was captain of the 1966 football team, anchoring the line on both sides of the ball. The team won its final five games of the season, including a convincing 26-8 victory over Lawrenceville. At the season's conclusion, Dave was awarded the Lawrence Durrell '34 Football Award for Outstanding Contribution to the team.

He was a reliable contributor in the upper weight classes during his three seasons on the wrestling team, and during his sixth form year pinned his opponent in the final bout of the Lawrenceville match to break a tie and extend the team's lengthy winning streak against the rival Big Red. Lacrosse was Dave's best sport at The Hill, as he anchored the midfield for four seasons. In 1965, he set a program record for goals in a season by a midfielder. He was the team's leading scorer in 1966 and 1967, and in his sixth form year scored twice as many goals as the team's second-leading scorer. His play during the 1967 season led him to be named the top midfielder in the Greater Philadelphia Suburban League, and also earned him the Class of 1962 Lacrosse Award for outstanding contribution to the sport. Dave was the Vice President of the Hill Athletic Association in 1966-67, and won the 1967 Riley Award, which is given annually to the sixth former who best demonstrates high leadership and outstanding sportsmanship in competitive athletics.

Extraordinary Sports Achievement: Stanley A. Ward

Stan Ward is not far behind Founders Hall Mike Sweeney for the title of "Father of Hill Athletics." He began his 41 year tenure at The Hill in 1919 as an assistant football coach under Sweeney, and was an assistant in the Physical Education Department until 1923, when he became the Assistant Director of Physical Education. Ward started The Hill's basketball program in 1921, serving as the head coach until 1923, and also was the head football coach from 1921-26 and 1931-34, leading the 1922 and 1932 teams to undefeated seasons; the 1922 team did not concede a single point all season. Ward was appointed the Director of Athletics in 1937. He introduced the Far Fields program in 1938 – prior to that, there only was an intramural system. A donation from the Sixth Form funded the 1938 Far Fields season, which allowed the formation of the thirds, fourths, fifths, and sixths football teams, all of which were able to play six games against other schools.

The program was so successful that the Trustees appropriated money for the program's continuation. He left Hill to serve in World War II from 1942-45, but immediately resumed his duties as Athletic Director upon his return from the War. During his tenure as AD, ice hockey, swimming, cross country, squash, and wrestling all became varsity sports, and three established programs that were considered minor sports – tennis, golf, and soccer – also became varsity sports. The School's athletics facilities also were upgraded substantially during his tenure, as four new facilities were constructed: Cunningham Pool (1949), the hockey rink (1953), the Wrestling Room (1956), and the Butcher Squash Courts (1958). In 1958, he helped oversee the removal of the baseball diamond from the infield of the track and its relocation to its current home at the base of the Far Fields. This also allowed the track to be reconfigured into a conventional shape, as it previously had been lopsided to accommodate the baseball diamond.

Team: 1958 Wrestling

The 1957-58 wrestling team arguably is the greatest in the program's storied history. The team compiled a perfect 9-0 record during the regular season, including a dominant 27-13 victory over the previously undefeated Bethlehem High School. Their closest match was the first of the season, a 22-16 victory over Northampton High School. Midseason highlights included back-to-back shutouts against Blair Academy and Mercersburg Academy. Hill dominated the National Prep Tournament en route to the program's tenth National Championship. Of the 10 weight classes, a Hill wrestler placed in the top three of each weight class, claiming six first-place finishes, one runner-up, and three third-place finishes. The team's national champions include Robert Chappell '59 (115); captain Danny Dyer '58 (123); Sandy Mersereau '58 (130); Key Moore '58 (141); Jim Detrixhe '58 (157); and Bill Fox '58 (UNL). Of the six champions, Chappell, Dyer, and Mersereau were three-time champions (Chappell earned his third the following season), and Detrixhe was a two-time winner. The Hill amassed a team score of 126, which nearly doubled the score of the second-place finisher and set a new tournament record. No Hill wrestling team has gone undefeated since.

Coach: Frank Bissell '33

Team Members: Bob Chappell ‘59, Bill Cochran ‘58, Jim Detrixhe ’58, Danny Dyer ’58 (capt.), Charles Ellis ‘58, Tony Fiore ‘59, Bill Fox ‘58, Doug Grier ’59, Pete Jones ‘59, John Judis ‘59, George Kellner ‘60, Dennis Merklinger ‘58, Sandy Mersereau ’58, Jamie Moffatt ’61, Key Moore ‘58, Ken Rugh ‘59, W. Buffington Ward ‘58

Class of 2012

Athlete: Ralph Hills ’21

Ralph Hills was a national record setter in both the 12 pound and 16 pound shot puts, and is the only Pennsylvanian to hold national records in either event; the 16-pound shot put is the weight currently contested at the collegiate and Olympic levels. Ralph was named the first-team All-American shot putter during his fifth form year in 1920 after winning the national AAU Junior championship with a toss of 44’ 10”, which was a state record with the 16 pound shot. Having thrown farther than the fourth-place finisher at the next day's AAU meet, he was named to the 1920 U.S. Olympic Team, although he did not compete in that year's games. The next year, he set a short-lived national record of 53’ 5” with the 12 pound shot, which also was a school record that stood for 28 years. In addition to the shot, Ralph excelled in the hammer throw, which was a commonly contested high school event at the time. He was a three-time All-American in the event, and his best throw of 181’ stood as the fifth-best ever in U.S. high school history at the time. His versatility extended beyond the throws, as Ralph was the fastest hurdler in the state his sixth form year, running 16.2 over the 42” hurdles, which is the current collegiate hurdle height. He qualified for and competed in the 1924 Olympics and was the bronze medalist in the shot put.

Athlete: Mike Vollmer ’86

Mike Vollmer was a tremendous all-around athlete at The Hill, serving as captain of the 1985 football team that finished with a 7-1-1 record; he was the captain of the 1985-86 wrestling team and placed second at the state championship match; and also was captain of the state champion 1986 lacrosse team. During his sixth form year, Mike was the president of the Hill Athletic Association, and at the 1986 Commencement ceremony he was awarded the Riley Award, given to the sixth former who best demonstrates high leadership and outstanding sportsmanship in competitive athletics. He went on to attend Harvard, where he was a member of the Crimson's football team. After his senior season at Harvard, Mike was named second-team All-Ivy for his strong play on the defensive line. After college, Mike earned a law degree and returned to his home state of Ohio, where he fought for those who were not strong enough to fight for their own social security benefits and also continued his involvement in sports by coaching at the youth level.

Coach: Don Ronnie

Don Ronnie arrived at The Hill School after graduating from Colgate in 1955 and immediately became the head varsity boys’ basketball coach, a position he would hold for 37 years. He can still be seen on the bench at home games today, as he has remained an assistant coach with the program since his retirement as head coach. In 1956-57, he guided the team to its first victory over Lawrenceville in 10 seasons, and in 1963-64 led the team to a perfect 17-0 season, the first undefeated basketball team since 1941 – no team has gone undefeated since, though there have been plenty of outstanding teams. The 1969-70 team finished 16-4, and the 1970-71 team set a new program record with 18 wins, including three wins against Lawrenceville and an upset of the top team in New Jersey, Admiral Farragut. In 1977-78, the team won the Mercer Invitational Tournament for the first time. In each of Don's final three seasons, one of his players topped the 1000 career point plateau: Barry Pierce in 1989-90; Steve Eidle in 1990-91; and Todd Marquette in 1991-92. Pierce became the area’s second all-time leading scorer with 1,591 career points and went on to play at Penn; the 1989-90 team set a new program record with 21 wins in a season. He retired with a career head coaching record of 435-305. In 1993, he was inducted into the Tri County Chapter in the Eastern Region of the PA Sports Hall of Fame. Other honors bestowed upon him include: the center circle of Gillison Court being named after him in 2001; the establishment of the Don Ronnie Scholarship Fund in 2001; and recognition for 50 years of service to Hill basketball in 2009.

Extraordinary Sports Achievement: Dick Harter ’48

Dick grew up on The Hill's campus as his father, Mr. Charles Harter, was an instructor of science at the School from 1917-58. He was a standout basketball player, and went on to attend the University of Pennsylvania. He is best remembered for his coaching career, however. He began what would become a lengthy, accomplished basketball coaching career at both the collegiate and professional levels at Rider University before returning to Penn in 1966. Dick coached at Penn until 1971, guiding the team to an 88-44 record during his five seasons, including an incredible 44 consecutive regular season victories in 1969-70 and 1970-71. He accepted the head coach position at the University of Oregon, where he made a name for himself as a defensive specialist. His most famous win at Oregon came in 1976, when the Ducks traveled to UCLA and handed John Wooden's team their first home loss in 98 games. He finished his collegiate coaching career at Penn State University, where he was the head coach from 1978-83. Dick's overall record as a collegiate head coach was an impressive 295-196.

After finishing his college coaching career, Dick made the jump to the NBA as an assistant coach with the Detroit Pistons. He became the first head coach in the history of the expansion Charlotte Hornets in 1988 and remained with the team for two seasons. He then spent the remainder of his career serving as an assistant coach for various teams, including the Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, Portland Trailblazers, Boston Celtics, and Philadelphia 76ers.

Team: 1949-50 Football

The 1949 football team capped off a perfect 7-0 season with a 40-7 blowout of Lawrenceville at Lawrenceville, which was the worst loss the Larries had suffered at that point in their history. The team outscored its opponents 190-53 for the season, its closest game being a 13-6 victory over a very tough Franklin and Marshall College freshman team. Seven of the team’s starters went on to play collegiate football, including Dick O’Shaughnessy ’50, who captained the University of Michigan’s 1953 football team. Quarterback Lamar Hunt ’51 became a world famous sports icon, and a NFL Films documentary about him showed archival footage of the team in action.

Coach: Wilbur "Jack" Riley

Team Members: Daniel Barren ‘51, John Beebe ‘50, Richard Burket ‘50, Robert Davenport ‘50, Stanton Dossett ‘50, James Fenstermaker ’51, John Frantz ‘50, Edgar Garbisch ‘50, Harry Griffith ‘50, Ronald Horne ‘50, Lamar Hunt ’51, Robert Hunter ‘50, Robert Jeffrey ‘50, Eric Jones ‘50, Earl Killian ‘51, William Luckett ‘50, Robert Malatesta '51, Robert Martin ‘50, Dick O’Shaughnessy ‘50, Tom Richey ’50, Peter Scott ‘50, Wheeler Spackman ‘50, George Wilson ‘50, James Yonge ’50 (capt.)