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Don Smargiassi honored by PHS baseball alumni
Pawnee High School honored former coach Don Smargiassi and welcomed back 43 former PHS baseball players for the
school's first Alumni Baseball Game Saturday afternoon.
The event was coordinated by Chris and Raph Hennemann, PHS baseball coaches. Chris Hennemann thanked the alumni
for helping to build the program into a success and said he hoped the current players, who were present, could learn that they
are part of a great tradition that has been years in the making.
But the main emphasis for the day was to honor Smargiassi, who compiled a 272-128 record in his 20 years at the helm of
the baseball Indians and served many more years as athletic director before retiring last year. Chris Hennemann, John
Salzeider and Don Burton, former superintendent, all made brief speeches before a banner was unveiled on the left field fence
honoring Smargiassi's years of service at PHS.
Hennemann spoke first, saying that "Don has been associated with Pawnee baseball for over 40 years. When you talk about
Pawnee baseball, you're talking about him and we thank him for the many years he's given to the community."
"He has helped me as a coach more than he will ever know and it's been a true privilege to learn from him and work with
him," Hennemann continued. "It's a honor for me to carry on his tradition as coach and believe me, it's not something that I
take lightly."
Burton, who had two daughters attend PHS during his tenure as superintendent, spoke with them about the guest of honor.
"They told me Don always made school fun and that Don always cared about the kids, it was something they all knew. The
things you have done over 40 years in this school district are unprecedented."
Burton concluded by commenting on a recent effort to name the PHS baseball field after Smargiassi, which was turned
down by the school board. "I know one thing, when I drive by here and look over, this is Smargiassi Field."
Salzeider, a 1981 graduate of PHS, said "I've thought a lot about what I wanted to say but it really comes down to thank you.
Thank you for the time you've given to the community." He then presented his former coach with a smaller replica of the banner
that was unveiled.
Smargiassi thanked everyone for coming back for the alumni game and those who had organized the event. "I feel very
fortunate that the community that I settled in was Pawnee," he said. "I remember that Tommy LaSorda once said, if you cut
him, he would bleed Dodger blue. Well, if you cut me, I'd bleed the red, white and blue for Pawnee."
Smargiassi talked about how he had come to Pawnee straight out of college for his first job in teaching and coaching. "That
just doesn't happen any more, that a young teacher comes out of college and settles in one community and stays there until
he retires. We had a great thing here," he said, turning to the alumni. "I'll always remember the P on the hat, we used to say it
stood for Pawnee pride. It's bigger than all of us. Thank you all very much."
The alumni, who were broken up into three different teams, then began their game. Coach Hennemann said he was very
pleased by the turnout and hoped that the event could become a regular feature in years to come.
The returning alumni players included the following:
Steve Busby (1968), Ken Jenkins (1969), John Bailey (1969), Mike Henry (1973), Roger Lee (1973), John Martin (1975),
Randy Lee (1976), Dan Martin (1978), Kurt Behrent (1978), Dan Edge (1979), Rod Bourne (1979), Joe Murphy (1981), John
Salzeider (1981), Tracey Butler (1981), Terry Cashen (1981), Jim Salzeider (1982);
Todd Anderson (1984), Dave Matheny (1984), Jerry Dougherty (1985), Bart Fontana (1986), Erik Berkley (1988), Ken Fontana
(1988), Sean Oliver (1990), Tim Burke (1990), J.D. McTaggart (1994), Donald Farris (1996), Brandon Reese (1996), Kevin
Farris (1997);
Christopher Curtis (2000), Kyle Wolfe (2000), Jeff Clemence (2000), Derek Tomso (2001); Caleb Kirkpatrick (2003), Erik
Angeli (2003), Jordan Harris (2003), Dylan Hall (2004), Ryan Lee (2004), Anthony Atkins (2004), Tommy Angeli (2005),
Stephen Underwood (2006), Andy Lee (2007), Seth Carter (2008) and Bryce Jones (2008).
Pawnee High School honored former coach Don Smargiassi and welcomed back 43 former PHS baseball players for the
school's first Alumni Baseball Game Saturday afternoon.
The event was coordinated by Chris and Raph Hennemann, PHS baseball coaches. Chris Hennemann thanked the alumni
for helping to build the program into a success and said he hoped the current players, who were present, could learn that they
are part of a great tradition that has been years in the making.
But the main emphasis for the day was to honor Smargiassi, who compiled a 272-128 record in his 20 years at the helm of
the baseball Indians and served many more years as athletic director before retiring last year. Chris Hennemann, John
Salzeider and Don Burton, former superintendent, all made brief speeches before a banner was unveiled on the left field fence
honoring Smargiassi's years of service at PHS.
Hennemann spoke first, saying that "Don has been associated with Pawnee baseball for over 40 years. When you talk about
Pawnee baseball, you're talking about him and we thank him for the many years he's given to the community."
"He has helped me as a coach more than he will ever know and it's been a true privilege to learn from him and work with
him," Hennemann continued. "It's a honor for me to carry on his tradition as coach and believe me, it's not something that I
take lightly."
Burton, who had two daughters attend PHS during his tenure as superintendent, spoke with them about the guest of honor.
"They told me Don always made school fun and that Don always cared about the kids, it was something they all knew. The
things you have done over 40 years in this school district are unprecedented."
Burton concluded by commenting on a recent effort to name the PHS baseball field after Smargiassi, which was turned
down by the school board. "I know one thing, when I drive by here and look over, this is Smargiassi Field."
Salzeider, a 1981 graduate of PHS, said "I've thought a lot about what I wanted to say but it really comes down to thank you.
Thank you for the time you've given to the community." He then presented his former coach with a smaller replica of the banner
that was unveiled.
Smargiassi thanked everyone for coming back for the alumni game and those who had organized the event. "I feel very
fortunate that the community that I settled in was Pawnee," he said. "I remember that Tommy LaSorda once said, if you cut
him, he would bleed Dodger blue. Well, if you cut me, I'd bleed the red, white and blue for Pawnee."
Smargiassi talked about how he had come to Pawnee straight out of college for his first job in teaching and coaching. "That
just doesn't happen any more, that a young teacher comes out of college and settles in one community and stays there until
he retires. We had a great thing here," he said, turning to the alumni. "I'll always remember the P on the hat, we used to say it
stood for Pawnee pride. It's bigger than all of us. Thank you all very much."
The alumni, who were broken up into three different teams, then began their game. Coach Hennemann said he was very
pleased by the turnout and hoped that the event could become a regular feature in years to come.
The returning alumni players included the following:
Steve Busby (1968), Ken Jenkins (1969), John Bailey (1969), Mike Henry (1973), Roger Lee (1973), John Martin (1975),
Randy Lee (1976), Dan Martin (1978), Kurt Behrent (1978), Dan Edge (1979), Rod Bourne (1979), Joe Murphy (1981), John
Salzeider (1981), Tracey Butler (1981), Terry Cashen (1981), Jim Salzeider (1982);
Todd Anderson (1984), Dave Matheny (1984), Jerry Dougherty (1985), Bart Fontana (1986), Erik Berkley (1988), Ken Fontana
(1988), Sean Oliver (1990), Tim Burke (1990), J.D. McTaggart (1994), Donald Farris (1996), Brandon Reese (1996), Kevin
Farris (1997);
Christopher Curtis (2000), Kyle Wolfe (2000), Jeff Clemence (2000), Derek Tomso (2001); Caleb Kirkpatrick (2003), Erik
Angeli (2003), Jordan Harris (2003), Dylan Hall (2004), Ryan Lee (2004), Anthony Atkins (2004), Tommy Angeli (2005),
Stephen Underwood (2006), Andy Lee (2007), Seth Carter (2008) and Bryce Jones (2008).
Issue Date: April 30, 2009
