by Jeff | Jul 11, 2019
Class of 1960 – Dick Pohlman was, arguably the greatest wide receiver to ever play for the Hamburg football team, catching 8 touchdowns in both junior and senior years, and being named to the Courier Express All-WNY football team his senior year. Football wasn’t the only sport that Mr. Pohlman excelled at as he played 2nd-base and provided the power with the bat for the Division I champion 1960 Hamburg baseball team. In his senior year, Mr. Pohlman hit a home run over the left field fence at Howe Field against Frontier, to highlight his baseball career. At 6’1, Mr. Pohlman was also unstoppable on the basketball court, as he finished third in ECIC Division I scoring, averaging 18.6 points per game his senior year. Mr. Pohlman went on to graduate from Valpariso University and earn a law degree from SUNY@Buffalo.
by Jeff | Jul 11, 2019
Class of 1975 – Mrs. Ryan is used to many firsts in her sports career, however one of the most significant was being the first female (and perhaps only) to compete on the boy’s swimming team, since a girls team did not exist at Hamburg at that time. Not only did she compete, she excelled, and was named team captain. In May of 1973, Mrs. Ryan set the Erie County Girl’s Athletic Association 50-yard freestyle record of 27.4 seconds, during the high school championship meet. After graduating from Hamburg in 1975, and swimming at Syracuse on a scholarship, Mrs. Ryan was the first Syracuse University woman athlete to qualify for a national championship since the inter-collegiate program began in 1971. She went on to qualify for national competition for four consecutive years. ln 1979, as team captain, Mrs. Ryan was awarded the college’s prestigious Verhulst Award for swimming, making her sportswomen of the year. In 1987, Mrs. Ryan was inducted into the Syracuse Orange Plus Hall of Fame. Mrs. Ryan was a teacher for the City of Buffalo -Deaf and Hearing Handicapped for 29 years.
by Jeff | Jul 11, 2019
Class of 1955 – One of the best all-around athletes to ever wear the purple and white, Jack Griffin won at any sport of at any level that he competed. Despite being stricken with polio as a child, Mr. Griffin became a dominant football, basketball, and track & field star. As a freshman, Griffin would play three football games a week, playing on the freshman, IV, and Varsity teams! In 1955, Mr. Griffin, or “Mr. Touchdown USA”, as he was nicknamed, was named to the Division I-Section VI football All-Star team. He was also the leading scorer on the basketball team, and reamed to the Division I-Section VI basketball All-Star team. However, his greatest high school accomplishment could very well be setting the New York State Public High School, high jump record of 6’4.25”, (into sawdust), which he held for 21 years. Mr. Griffin went on to The Citadel, where he played football for the legendary coach and NFL owner Al Davis, also playing basketball, and competed in track & field. After his prolific athletic career, Mr. Griffin returned to Hamburg, where he raised his family, and served on the Hamburg School Board during the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.
by Jeff | Jul 11, 2019
Class of 1951 – Pete Vann was perhaps the most accomplished athlete to ever come out of Hamburg High School. A gifted athlete, who excelled at football, basketball, and baseball, Mr. Vann went on to greater feats at the collegiate level. After graduating from Hamburg, Vann gained an appointment to Army, and became a star quarterback for the Cadets, under the of legendary football coaches, Earl Blake and Vince Lombardi. In December 1954, Vann was featured on the cover of “Sport Magazine” with the tagline, “As Vann goes, so goes Army”. Mr. Vann set several passing Army records, most notably, most completions, attempts, and touchdowns in single season. In Vann’s senior year, he finished 9th in the Heisman trophy balloting, given to the top collegiate football player in the country, and also set the NCCA record for most yards per completion (23.2) which he held for many years. Mr. Vann was also inducted into the Army Sports of Fame. Pete passed away in May 2010 at the age of 75.
by Jeff | Jul 11, 2019
Class of 1936 – Mr. Sullivan was one of the first successful quarterbacks to come out of Hamburg, leading the purple and white to an undefeated season in 1935. Mr. Sullivan also was a catcher on the baseball team and played forward on the basketball team. Mr. Sullivan also served as Class President of the 1936 class. After graduating from Hamburg, Mr. Sullivan went on to the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated in 1940, also serving in the Army Air Force as a Captain during World War II.
