The News Journal from Wilmington, Delaware • Page 30

C8 SUNDAY NEWS JOURNAL APRIL 11. 1993 lyiinKoinidl to keadl off 1 993 ela i Hens coach Tubby Raymond: "I strongly Delaware football and that pleases me." think of this award as a recognition ol v. 'V IP Mi' i Mix Waiver helps Hens coach join 6 others By JACK IRELAND Staff reporter The Board of Governors for the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame Association felt it was time to recognize the achievements of University of Delaware football Coach Harold "Tubby" Raymond. The board didn't want to wait until Raymond was retired for five years, the normal time frame necessary before a person is eligible for election into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame. Thanks to a waiver from the board, Raymond heads the inductees' elected for 1993.

The four living inductees joining Raymond are former NFL wide receiver Steve Watson, who played in two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos; John Wockenfuss, who played 12 years of major-league baseball; heavyweight boxer Henry Milligan and retired News Journal sportswriter Izzy Katzman. The two deceased members elected are Milton Roberts, a member of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, and John J. Brady, who spent 22 years as sports editor of The Morning News. The waiver was necessary because Raymond is still coaching the Blue Hens. He began his 28th season with the opening of spring drills last week.

"I'm highly flattered and pleased to join the people who are in the Delaware Hall of Fame," said Raymond, who has 223 career wins at Delaware. "I have said time and time again that any kind of award I get at Delaware is for Delaware football. I strongly think of this award as a recognition of Delaware football and that pleases me. I don't think there are any great football coaches and there are not many bad ones. It is a reflection of the people around them.

For me, it has been the coaches and players with me all these years." Raymond, an accomplished painter, said the team aspect would fit well into a portrait of this honor. "If I did a painting I would do a montage of faces that played for me and worked with me over the years at Delaware," said Raymond. "For pure talent I think of guys like Rich Gannon, Scott Brunner and Jeff Komlo. For tremendous strength and heart I think of Bill Vergantino and the late Chuck Hall right away. So many of them have taught me about football and life.

My goal has always been to work with kids, put them on the field and give them a chance to enjoy the experience of winning. It has been my life and I love it." Steve Watson Steve Watson, who had a brilliant career at Temple University, went from a free agent in 1979 to All-Pro wide receiver with the Denver Broncos in 1981. He fclayed 10 years in the NFL with Denver. Watson, a St. Mark's High graduate, remembers how the disappointment of not being drafted made him more determined to the Denver foster.

"When I came out of Temple I had a little score to settle," said Watson, who owns a real estate company in Denver. I "I remember Babe Parilli, the former pro quarterback, came to Temple before the draft to scout a player named Zack Dixon for Denver. He also gave me a workout. It was a rainy, muggy day and he held the workout in the gym. I remember diving into the bleachers for passes and had bloody knees and elbows afterward.

Babe said Denver had a pick in the third round and that we are going to pick you. Well, they let the wind out of my sails on draft day. I was angry Denver overlooked me and felt I had a point to prove. I decided to go, make the team as a free agent." After two seasons as a backup, Watson was first team All-Pro in 1981 with 60 catches for 1,244 yards and 13 touchdowns. "The first high point came when I walked in the locker room after the last cut and the general manager, John Beake, grabbed jny hand and said 'Welcome to the said Watson.

"The second was starting in the 1987 Super Bowl against the Giants. Even though we didn't win, being announced as a starter and running on the field was quite a high point." John Wcckenfuss John Wockenfuss defied the od( after being selected in the 42na round by the Washington TTVT Harold "Tubby" Raymond: Head football coach at the University of Delaware since 1966. Raymond is elected under a special waiver by Hall of Fame members since he is still active in coaching. Raymond has compiled a 223-8S-2 overall record after serving as an assistant to Dave Nelson for 12 years. Delaware has won three national titles (1971, '72, 79) and 11 Lambert Cup Eastern Championships under Raymond.

Twenty-four of Raymond's 27 UD teams have had winning records. Ray- mond is one of only 22 college coaches to reach 200 career wins. Steve Watson: He became an All-Pro NFL wide receiver after making the Denver Broncos as a free agent in 1979. Watson, a St. Mark's High graduate, had a fine college career at Temple.

He played on two Super Bowl teams (1986-87) and started 64 straight games for the Broncos from 1983-86. First team All-State end for unbeaten 12-0 St. Mark's High team in 74. John Wockenfuss! He played 12 years in the major leagues, 10 with the Detroit Tigers and two with the Phillies. Wockenfuss played every position in the majors except for pitcher and third base.

He was named 1979 Delaware Athlete of the Year by the Delaware Sportswriters and Broadcasters Association. Wockenfuss was a four-sport star at Dickinson High. Manages the Carolina Mudcats, a Pittsburgh Pirates Double-A affiliate, in the Southern League. Henry Milligan: Milligan had an outstanding amateur and pro boxing career after earning a school record 10 varsity letters in football, wrestling and baseball at Princeton. Milligan was the Delaware Athlete of the Year in 1983 when he won the national amateur boxing title.

Milligan reached the semifinals of the 1984 Olympic trials before losing to Mike Tyson. Milligan was 41-6 as an amateur with 31 knockouts. He turned professional in 1985 and posted a 13-2 record before retiring in 1987. Milligan was an All-State football player at Alexis I. du Pont and won two state wrestling titles.

Israel "Izzy" Katzman: A distinguished member of The News Journal sports staff for 36 years until his retirement in 1986. Katzman was best known for his coverage of harness and thoroughbred racing along with high school and college track and field. He was named Delaware Sportswriter of the Year twice (1962 and '63) and won the John Hervey Award in 1962 for excellence in coverage of harness racing. Milt Roberts: Roberts, who died in 1991 at the age of 72, Is a member of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in Baltimore, the Maryland Lacrosse Club Hall of Fame and the Severn School Hall of Fame. Roberts p'ayed lacrosse on the .1941 national championship team at Johns Hopkins University.

He coached lacrosse at the University of Delaware from 1950-57. With help from assistants Robbie Schroeder and Lou Norbeck, Roberts started the first public high school lacrosse program at Cape Henlopen High In 1979. A native of Annapolis, Roberts received a Purple Heart and three Bronze Stars during World War II. Roberts, an accomplished writer, wrote numerous magazine articles on lacrosse and contributed to the late Arthur Ashe's book of African-American sports history "A Hard Road to Glory," published in 1988. John J.

Brady: He spent 22 years (1924-46) as sports editor of the Wilmington Morning News. Brady, a Wilmington native, was a beat reporter and official scorer for the Wilmington Blue Rocks minor-league baseball team. Brady is also honored for managing Parkside, a powerful local baseball team, to three consecutive city and state titles (1919-21). His 1919 team was removed from the Boys City league and placed In the higher class All Wilmington league. His 1919 team, led by Walter (Hawk) Hayes, beat Eleventh Ward for the league title and Milford Caulk for the state crown.

Brady, was a charter member, president and vice-president of the Inter-State Baseball Writers and Broadcasters Association. He died In 1951 at the age of 51. Delaware Sports Hall of Fame banquet induction: Wednesday, May 19, at the DuPont Country Club. Living inductees: Tubby Raymond, Steve Watson, John Wockenfuss, Henry Milligan, Izzy Katzman. Deceased inductees: Milton Roberts, John J.

Brady. Tickets: $30 each. Tables of 10 are available. For information, contact Joe Ackerman (654-2798) or George Frick (734-8192). 1991 File Photo console him.

It was a wonderful experience." Katzman also talks of his association with high school track and Howard Coach George Johnson. "George was a good disciplinarian and could get the most out of his athletes," said Katzman. "He molded great character. I remember some of his athletes, Quinton Sterling, Bob King and Spencer Henry, who all went on to be principals or administrators in Delaware high schools." Katzman said one high school sprinter he will never forget was Rod Lambert of Mount Pleasant, who now coaches girls track and cross country at Padua Academy. "I wonder just how fast Rod would be running on the high school tracks they have today," said Katzman.

"He ran mostly on cinder-type tracks." Milt Roberts Milt Roberts put lacrosse on the map wherever he went. "Lacrosse it was a passion for Milt," said his wife, Nancy. "It was his sport, his life. I just wish he was alive to receive this honor." Roberts is best known for starting the state's public school lacrosse program at Cape Henlo-pen (1979) where he taught Spanish. Roberts was also a brilliant lacrosse player at Johns Hopkins University and coached seven years at Delaware.

"I'll never forget how Milt promised himself he would get out of the hospital in time for us to attend the opening game for Johns Hopkins in 1990," said Nancy. "Milt had cancer and had undergone bypass heart surgery. He didn't make the opener, but we were there for the second game. He felt lacrosse was such a pure sport. He was so proud of being involved with the sport." As a writer, editor and researcher Roberts was deeply involved in the history of African-Americans in college and pro sports.

"Milt spent many years researching black participation in football and baseball," said his wife. "He is responsible for the exhibit they have on that at the Pro Football Hall of Fame." John J. Brady The ultimate tribute to John J. "Soup" Brady came shortly after his death in 1951 when the Wilmington Sportswriters and Broadcasters Association named its annual award for the Delaware Athlete of the Year in his name. The group, now known as the Delaware Sportswriters and Broadcasters Association, continues that tradition.

"We only hope that the winner of the trophy will be blessed in some measure at least with the qualifications of the sportsman in whose name it will be annually awarded," said Marty Levin, who succeeded Brady as sports editor. Levin, who came to The Morning News in 1929, once noted about Brady: "As the sports editor and sole staff of The Morning News sports page, Brady would scamper from one playing field to another, covering baseball, fights, tennis and golf events and then return to the office to do battle with reams of wire copy and hundreds of telephone fcjUMrfffMTf'ifflM'rriii tir IT i 1- Senators in the 1967 free-agent draft. Wockenfuss, a three-sport standout at Dickinson High, went on to play 10 years with the Detroit Tigers and two more with the Phillies before he retired in 1985. Wockenfuss spent 9Vi years in the minor leagues before being called up to Detroit in 1974. "I had confidence in my ability and felt I was good enough to play in the major leagues," said Wockenfuss.

"There were a lot of blockades along the way, but I was just too stubborn to give up. My dad always taught me that you can't replace hustle. I'm very proud of my career and the fact I played 12 years in the majors." Wockenfuss remembers his first game on national TV in 1975 against Boston. "They went with a left-handed pitcher and I got a chance to catch," said Wockenfuss. "I knew my mom and dad and friends would be watching back home.

I picked a guy off third base and hit a home run." Wockenfuss remembers having second thoughts about his baseball career after missing a chance to play in the Delaware High School All-Star Football Game after graduating from Dickinson. "When I signed a contract they told me I would be one of 25 players in Geneva, N.Y.," said Wockenfuss. "When I got there I was one of 45 and spent all my time from June to September just practicing with the team. I remember saying, 'I gave up the Blue-Gold game for Playing in the Blue-Gold game was always a dream of mine." Wockenfuss, who had a .262 lifetime major-league average, hit 15 home runs in 1979 and 16 in 1980 for Detroit. "I think I played as long as I did because of people like managers Ralph Houk and Sparky Anderson," said Wockenfuss.

"Ralph was always positive and Sparky gave me the opportunity to play. Sparky platooned Champ Summers and me as the designated hitter, and we combined for 38 homers and 142 RBI in '79 and 36 homers and 137 RBI the next year." Henry Milligan Henry Milligan became the darling of the boxing world after he graduated from Princeton University with a degree in civil engineering. Milligan earned 10 varsity letters in football, wrestling and baseball before he embarked on a fight career. "I had a chance to sign with the New ,4 IVn York Mets and play in a rookie league, but I wanted to be a fighter," said Milligan, the 1983 national amateur heavyweight champion. "I remember as a kid, my younger brother Mike and 1 would watch the fights on TV, then go down the basement and start boxing.

We used to wrap old rags around our hands for gloves and call all the kids in the neighborhood to come over. I had no idea then that I would be any good at it. I wasn't really a great athlete, but I always wanted to be in better shape and try harder than anyone else." Milligan, 34, beat five opponents, including future Olympic champion Henry Tillman to win the '83 national amateur title. k'. the staff of the Wilmington Eve- ning Journal by former sports edi tor Al Cartwright, a 1980 Hall of Fame inductee.

"When I came to Wilmington in 1950 there was just a three-man staff, Al, myself and Broadway Bob MacDon-ald," Katzman said. "I was fortunate enough to cover Delaware football when Dave Nelson came in 1951. I covered the Blue Rocks in '51 and '52." Katzman said his election to the Delaware Hall brings back fond memories of the day he covered the induction of the late Judy Johnson into the Baseball Hall of Fame. "I remember riding up to New York on the train with Judy for the press conference announcing his election," said Katzman. "The most pleasant assignment I ever had was covering his induction in Cooperstown, meeting some of his teammates, like "Cool Pappa" Bell and Buck Leonard.

I remember Judy starting to cry when he was at the podium and Billy Bru-ton, his son-in-law, coming up to 1975 die photo A fir Former major leaguer John Wockenfuss: "There were a lot of blockades along the way, but I was just too stubborn to give up." 'That was the most meaningful thing in my career," said Milli gan. "Howard Cosell was there at ringside doing the championship for ABC television." Milligan said the one regret he has was letting Charlie Messina go as his manager after starting out 11-0 as a professional. Milligan lost two of his next three fights and retired. "The one thing I did wrong was getting away from Charlie," said Milligan. "If I had it to do over I would have found some way to keep Charlie.

He wanted to manage and train me. I would have pleaded with him to train me. I didn't lose with Charlie." Milligan said the best fighter he ever faced was former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. Tyson knocked Milligan out in the semifinals of the '84 Olympic Trials. "The one thing I remember most about Tyson is that when I hit him with my best shots he didn't blink," said Milligan.

"I remember thinking how the heck am 1 going to get out of here alive. Nobody compared with Mike Tyson." Izzy Katzman Izzv Katzman wasrhired on.