20140512    Our classmate, Joe Simonetta, offers gratitude to the Monday Morning Quarterback Club for his induction to the Pittsfield Football Hall of Fame.  The event on 12 May 2014 was enjoyed by a large crowd in the main hall of the Berkshire Hills Country Club.  Several teammates were in attendance. Shown are John Kozaka, Hank Allessio and bob Morris sitting with Joe. In the photos Joe is seen wearing his 'parrot shirt' to honor his recently deceased friend John Codey whose nick-name was 'Parrot,' and who was instrumental in Joe's well-deserved induction.

    The PHS class of 1957 remembers Joe as the football team captain, first team All-Berkshire County according to both the impartial Springfield Union/Republican and the North Adams Transcript, and the unquestioned hero of the exciting PHS victory over St. Joseph's in 1956, highlighted by two long touchdown runs.  He was the team's leading ground-gainer and leading scorer, all for a PHS football team that was the first to have a winning record since the late 1940's.

    The Springfield Union/Republican chose Joe as an Honorable Mention for the All-Western Massachusetts Class A League All-Star team, and The Berkshire Evening Eagle included Joe on the second team All-Berkshire County team.

    One account has it that Joe never fumbled in his three years of running the ball for PHS.  Except for injury, Joe virtually never came out of a game; he played both offense and defense.

In the photo above are John Kozaka, Hank Allessio, Joe,  and Bob Morris.

Posted By: Thanks to Hank Allessio and Bob Rohlfs - 05-16-2014
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