Plans taking shape for return of Plum Sports Hall of Fame

By: Michael Love
Wednesday, October 25, 2023 | 11:01 AM

The Plum Sports Hall of Fame is coming back in 2024.

From 2005-2017, Mustangs athletic greats were celebrated and enshrined each November.

In 2018, the hall of fame committee decided to make the induction of classes a biennial occurrence.

Because of a number of factors, including the covid pandemic, the hall of fame then went on hiatus.

But through a group of dedicated individuals and their love of Plum athletics and its history, the hall of fame is being revived.

“A lot of the same people who were on the committee the last time there were classes inducted are back helping,” Plum athletic director Drew Karpen said. “They are familiar with it and they brought with them some good ideas.”

More than 100 people have been celebrated and recognized with enshrinement over the first 13 years.

“The committee, we’ve had two meetings so far, and we’re looking to set things up for nominations starting next month,” Karpen said. “We’re looking at what players, coaches, possibly what teams that we can get into the hall of fame.”

Karpen said the guidelines for nominations still are being set with some carrying over from the original run of enshrinements started in 2005.

“There will be more information coming out of next month’s meeting,” he said. “We want to let everyone know that plans are coming together for the hall of fame to return. It’s been so strong in the past. It’s something that the community has really enjoyed, and something we haven’t done since covid.”

Karpen said that the committee wants to have those who know of someone worthy of being inducted into the Plum Sports Hall of Fame to prepare a resume of information to include in a nomination when the opportunity presents itself.

“We will do it all online, so we will send out all that information once it is all set up,” Karpen said. “We want to make the process as easy as possible for someone making a nomination.”

Karpen said the committee is excited about the foundation established for the resumption of inductions.

“We are about a year out from when the ceremony will most likely be, and we’re already talking about reaching out to banquet halls and things like that,” Karpen said.

Karpen said the enshrinement date could possibly land on a weekend or day surrounding a home football game or other events on or near the Plum school campus.

“We hope to plan where it can be a fun weekend of activities,” Karpen said.

Longtime former Plum football coach and Plum Sports Hall of Fame president Bill Rometo again is working closely within the committee to help make the hall of fame inductions a reality.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Plum