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Court Luminaries Accept PY Fete BidAt. CEHVITwo men. prominent in the playing and coaching ranks o! basketball have accepted invitations to attend the Sports Night dinner, slated April 6th at St Michael's Hall, Penn Van, under auspices of the men of St MichaelsBilly Hassett has accepted an invitation to be Master of Ceremonies for the fete A1 Cervi will attend the event as one of the galaxy of stars from the sports worldBilly Bassett is a native of New York City and began his climb to basketball prowess at LaSalle Military Academy While at LaSalle the team received and accepted a bid to compete in the Glen Falls (NY) Eastern States Tournament, an annual event that attracted the top prep and high school teams in the East Billy Hassett won the Most Valuable Player AwardIn 1941 he entered GeorgetownUniversity, and tn his Sophomore year co-captained the club as well as receiving All-American honorable mention World War II brought about his transfer to Notre Dame where the scrappy athlete played both varsity basketball and baseball Hassett was a star member of the Notre Dame 1944-45 and 1945-46 quintets and m both seasons was named first string All-American He, too, captained the College All-Stars that beat the World Champion Fort Wavne Pistons at Chicago Stadlurn in 1 lt;iHassett went on to spend a number of years in the professional basketball ranks with the Minneapolis Lakers and the Baltimore BulletsFor the past seventeen years he has been associated with Eastern Freight Ways, Inc. in the companys Sales fiepartment. and just recently was appointed Vice Preside*!. Northern Divi.skxiHassett still has a keen interest in basketball He coached high school basketball in the Syracuse area for several seasons, and is Assistant Director of the Al Cervi Basketball Camp that annually holds forth tn the Adirondack Region of New York State He is very active in Notre Dame Alumni activities, and is a frequent figure on the sports banquet circuitHe maintains his office and resides in Syracuse, N Y., is married and has two daughtersAt age 19, Al Cervi, joined the Buffalo Bisons in his hometown of Buffalo (N Y.), and walked off with the National BasketballLeague’s Most Valuable Player Award This was only the beginning of a brilliant career in professional basketball as a player and coach that extended over twenty yearsAfter his debut World War II curtailed Cervi’s active player career for four years with his induction into the United States Army Upon discharge he joined the Rochester Royals of the NBL, gaining notariety as an All-League selection This was only a start to the great career of Al Cervi, later named by Sport’s Illustrated as one of the greatestBILLY HASSETTlittle men in the history of pro basketball, and by areasportsw liters and sportoasters asthe greatest pro competitior ofhis teamWith the Rochester Royals he was an All League selection for three consecutive years, as well as the NBL’s leading scorer In I94fl Al signed a contract as plaver coach with the Syracuse Nationals That year the club finished second and Al was named “Coach of the Year In addition, he too was named an AH League selection as a player Cervi remained at the helm of the Syracuse Nationals for seven years more gathering in one world championship, three league titles, three runnerup spots, one third and one forth place finish in the final standings In the 1949-50 season he was named Man of the Year” in Syracuse as well as being a mod to the All US pro team of the NBA Again, in 1953-54, he was named ‘‘Coach of the Year” in the NBA.Regarded by many as the best defensive player in his day,always one of the leagues leading scorers and a great clutch player. Cervi was and still is anavid student of the game of basketball Since his retirement, after coaching the Philadelphia Warriors in the 1957-58 season, he has operated and directed the Al Cervi Basketball Camp The camp. which attracts approximately two hundred boys of high school age each summer, is now in it’s thirteenth year Cervi has been associated with the Eastern Freight Way, Inc since 1958 and is presently serving as Regional Sales Manager for the firm s operation at Rochester (NY.) Cervi resides in Rochester with his wife, son and two daughters For tickets to St Michael s Sport Dinner contact Mike Mahar, Ken Johnson or Jim AsheThose who have ordered tickets to the event must pick them up this week, James Ashe, general chairman, saidMore Than Half State Im ForestedNew York State is 57 per cent forested, American Forest Institute reports Of the 17.4 million forested acres. 14 5 million bear harvestable trees. 2 5 million have been set aside in preserves, and 400.000 acres do not bear trees of commercial quality.
Newspaper Details
Penn Yan Chronicle Express
Penn Yan, New York, US
Thu, Mar 02, 1972
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Brian T.
TN, USA 31 Jan 2019
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