Berks Sports Heritage

Part of the fabric of the sports community, racing at the Reading Fairgrounds was a staple for the thousands and thousands of fans who witnessed it. This edition features Galen Koller and Craig Ray of the Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society. The RFRHS has its own "Home of Champions" that remembers the drivers and all of the other personalities that made Reading one of the best racing destinations in America. Koller, in fact, is one of the 111 inductees to the "Home of Champions." In this interview, we find out where the love of racing was born for both Galen and Craig.  And they recall their days of going to "the races" that Lindy Vicari so ably promoted. We encourage you to visit the organization's website by clicking here.  They club is always looking for memorabilia (photos, etc.), and there is contact information on the website. They also have a Facebook page here. 

The Reading High 1977 Central Penn League Championship football team was inducted into the RHS Hall of Fame this past fall. A key member of that team was Scott Weidner. Weidner (center, noseguard, linebacker) was an all-CPL first-team choice as well as an honorable mention all-state selection. In this episode, we go into a lot of detail about the championship campaign and, in his youth, cutting his teeth in the Rising Sun Athletic Association. He also played baseball at RHS. The officiating bug bit, and Weidner had a long career in the high school and college ranks. In June, he will be inducted into the Berks Football Coaches Hall of Fame. Weidner had a 30-year career on the Reading Police force. He has not let a recent medical diagnosis stand in the way of his love for pickleball ... and we cover both topics.

Your host continues to delve into candidates for the Mt. Rushmore of Berks County sports. This time, the subject is Reading High alumnus Alvin "Doggie" Julian. Julian played professional football and baseball after his graduation from Bucknell University. He then went on to coach football and basketball at the collegiate level, most notably at Holy Cross. Julian was at the helm of the Bob Cousy-led Crusaders when they won the NCAA championship in 1947. He coached the Boston Celtics for two years before a standout 17-year coaching career at Dartmouth College. Julian is a member of the National Basketball Hall of Fame with induction in 1968. Also, want to know who's won the most PIAA titles in basketball? LISTEN and you will!PHOTO CREDIT: HoopHall.com

After 60 years, Wilson swimming coach Roy Snyder is still going strong. BSH talked with him shortly after he was named to the National Federation of High Schools Hall of Fame. It's just another chapter in Roy's amazing career at Wilson and in Berks County. Hear about his life from his childhood in Allentown, to his first aquatics job at the Reading YMCA, to his long career at Wilson that included state championships, and an Olympian.

Your humble BSH host continues in the search of the Mt. Rushmore of Berks sports. This episode presents LPGA Hall of Famer Betsy King and track star Gene Venzke. Thanks to @PaulRobertsCuse on X, we cover the crazy historical numbers put up by the Reading High and Chester boys basketball programs. And thanks to @RobGreenburg on X, we give you the list of the girls and boys hoops programs with the most PIAA titles.

Rob Flowers grew up in Reading, moved to Muhlenberg, and began a years-long journey of prominence in Berks County football. He played at Kutztown and for the Reading Express of the American Indoor Football Leage. Flowers has made his mark as a high school coach, being the head man at Reading High and Daniel Boone. This fall, he will take the reins at the school where he was a Hall of Famer. He talks about his new challenge at Muhlenberg and his remarkable career in Berks football. (PHOTO CREDIT: MikeDragoSports.com)

BSH caught up with Wyomissing football Hall of Famer Marty Stallone to talk about his time as a Spartan followed by his college career at Cornell University. Marty is the son of Al Stallone, a prominent lawyer and judge in the Reading area for decades. We talked at length about his dad's legacy. Given his Wyomissing connection, is Marty Stallone a "Swifty?" He answers that question right out of the gate!

A solo pod from the BSH host, remembering the first year of Philadelphia Eagles training camp at Albright College and the Hall of Fame career of Reading High's Lenny Moore. The Birds prepped at Albright from 1968-72. Moore is inarguably the greatest athlete in the history of Berks County.

Steve Rossignoli '77 is one of the best basketball players ever to come through Reading (Pa.) High School. "Roz," who scored 556 points (17 ppg.) as a senior, was elected to the RHS Hall of Fame in 2015 and the Berks County Basketball Hall of Fame a few years earlier. Roz then went on to collegiate prominence at Mount St. Mary's University. He was elected to the Mount's Hall of Fame in 1990 after scoring over 1,600 points and pulling down more than 900 rebounds. This conversation covered his youth in the Reading area and his climb to high school stardom at the Castle on the Hill. We also chatted about his MSM playing days and his post-college career in Chile and in minor league pro basketball.