The Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame (PSHF) is a nonprofit organization established in 1962. [1] It is the only community-based hall of fame in the United States. [2] At its annual convention and induction ceremonial, the PSHF inducts athletes, coaches, administrators, and those involved in sports medicine and the sports media, [2] whose athletic achievements "have brought lasting fame and recognition to the State of Pennsylvania". [1] At the induction ceremony, ten living and two deceased inductees are honored, with the presentation of a Gold Inductee medallion with pendant. [2] The convention and ceremonial are rotated among the chapters of the Central, Eastern, Northern, and Western regions. [2]
The first induction ceremony was in 1963. [3] [ failed verification ]
The first Ceremonial Dinner was held in 1963, in Philadelphia; the second was in 1964, at the Pittsburgh William Penn Hotel. [4]
The Western Region hosted the 50th Anniversary Dinner on November 11, 2012, at the Sheraton Four Points in Warrendale. [4]
The PSHF has twenty-eight chartered chapters, which serve over 300 communities in the state. [2] The chapters are divided into four regions: Central, Eastern, Northern, and Western. [5]
The Central Region's nine chapters are: [5] Berks County, Capital, Central, Clinton County, Huntingdon, South Central, Susquehanna Valley, West Branch, and West Shore. [6]
The Eastern Region's six chapters are: [5] Bucks County, [7] City All Star (Philadelphia), [8] Delaware County, Montgomery County, Summit, and Tri-County.
The Northern Region's seven chapters are: [5] Allen Rogowicz, Bernie Romanoski, Carbon County, Ed Romance, Luzerne-John Popple, Northeastern, and Northern Anthracite.
The Western Region's six chapters are: [5] East Boros, Erie County, [9] Fayette County, Mid Mon Valley, Washington-Greene County, [10] and Western. [11]
Each year, each chapter may nominate the names of no more than three living persons and two deceased persons, for consideration as possible inductees. [12]
The 2016 induction ceremony will be hosted by the Erie County Chapter on Saturday, October 22, 2016, at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center.