2019 Inductees & Honorees
The following inductees & honorees were celebrated by the Larry Bruno Foundation throughout several events in July 2019.
2019 Hall of Achievement Inductees
The following individuals were inducted into the Larry Bruno Foundation Circle of Achievement for 2019.
Robert “Bob” Blythe
Robert Edward Blythe was born on April 12, 1941 in Koppel. He was the son of Thomas and Josephine Blythe. During his younger years, he played youth baseball in Koppel and was part of the Beaver County Champion Midget team with Circle of Achievement Inductees Karl Florie and Tony Esoldo.
From 1956 to 1959, Bob attended Ellwood City High School. There, he played football for legendary coach Chuck Knox, who later became the head football coach for the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks. After high school, he matriculated at Geneva College and graduated in 1963. Bob was an outstanding baseball player in college and was Geneva’s team Captain in his Junior and Senior years.
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Glenn Dennison
Of all the great athletes who have played sports from Beaver County throughout this century, precious few have had the opportunity to play on a national collegiate champion, but Glenn Dennison of Beaver Falls is one of the fortunate.
Glenn was the starting tight end for the Miami Hurricanes, who upset No 1 Nebraska, 31-30, on January 1, 1984, giving the Canes their first national championship. Before his college days, Glenn excelled under Larry Bruno at Beaver Falls High School and helped the Tigers to the playoffs. He then earned a full scholarship to the University of Miami. He started as a sophomore and caught 29 passes to rank third on the team, with eight catches against Virginia Tech. Despite missing 21 1/2 games to an injury the next year, he still caught 25 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns.
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David Miller
David Miller graduated from Beaver Falls with Highest Honors in 1965.Dave played and was coached by Larry Bruno at Beaver Falls in 1965 where he was captain and Most Valuable Player. David was active as a student-athlete and leader in school, student government, and the Lutheran church.
In 1967 through 1970 he was awarded a Grant-in-aid/athletic scholarship to the Princeton University Football Program. He obtained his Bachelor’s Degree from Princeton University in 1969 and earned a Master’s Degree in the Teacher Education Program at Stanford University in 1970.
From 1970-1976, David served in the U.S. Army Reserves/California National Guard, Company A, 1/149 Armored Battalion. First Lieutenant, Tank Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer. Second in command of armored tank company- leader, trainer, manager of 100 soldiers Battalion instructor.
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Charlene Taylor
Charlene Taylor began playing basketball in grade school after being encouraged by her third grade teacher to enter a foul-shooting contest. Taking her teacher’s advice, Charlene entered the contest and won first place. This early experience was the start of her love of basketball.
Charlene played point guard at Beaver Falls High School, where she averaged 15 points per game. In her senior year (1985), Taylor helped her team to a 25-1 record, and both the conference and state championship titles. Charlene was named the conference MVP, a member of the “Terrific Twenty” (top twenty girl basketball players in Pennsylvania), received the high school’s “Carolyn Clark Girls’ Sports Award” and earned a scholarship to the University of New Haven.
Taylor had an astounding athletic career at the University of New Haven from 1985- 1989. During that time, New Haven won four NECC titles, two Division II New England Regional Championships, and a National Championship en route to a 102-22 record.
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Ken Yonkee
Ken graduated from Beaver Falls High School in 1949 where he earned letters in varsity baseball under the tutelage of 2014 Circle of Achievement inductee Bill Ross. After graduation from Beaver Falls High School, he attended Geneva College where he majored in education and played 2 years of baseball.
His college education was interrupted during the Korean War when he served in a Military Police Unit with the U. S. Fourth Army from 1953-1955. He played baseball at Camp Leroy Johnson before returning to Geneva College where he graduated in 1956 with a B. S. in Education. After graduating from Geneva, he joined the faculty at Highland Junior High School and taught General Science. Ken then enrolled in graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh earning his Master’s Degree in Education plus certification in Guidance and a Secondary Principalship. This was followed by Advanced Studies at Pitt that resulted in the acquisition of a State Commission to serve as Superintendent of Schools.
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2019 Hall of Achievement Honorees
2016 Beaver Falls Football WPIAL and PIAA Champions
The Fighting Tigers entered the 2016 football season with high expectations. With 9 starters returning on both offense and defense, the team was expected to be a section title contender and one that could make a deep run in the playoffs. In the season opener, The Fighting Tigers faced the #1 ranked team in the WPIAL, the Aliquippa Quips. It was a tough night for the Tigers, falling 44-13.
The Fighting Tigers would bounce back with victories over Apollo Ridge, Ellwood City, Southmoreland and New Brighton to improve their record to 4-1. During this 4-game winning streak, the Fighting Tigers offense was clicking and the defense was dominating. Week 6, the Tigers host the Quaker Valley Quakers. On this Homecoming evening, the defense would score 3 times and the Tigers coasted to a 33-0 shutout victory to improve their overall record to 5-1.
Read more about the team
