2007 Honorees

Fred Ferris

Fred Ferris, the son of Lebanese immigrants, was born and raised in Utica, New York in 1925. He spent his grammar school days at Brandigee Elementary School in East Utica and his high school years at Thomas R. Proctor High School.

Under the Edward J. Herrmann, namesake of the second oldest Cross country Invitational in the State of New York, Fred ran track and cross-country. After high school ended for Fred, he joined the United States Navy and served 2½ years during the Second World War. In the Navy, Fred extended his athletic prowess to include boxing where he fought as a bantamweight. The experience he gained in between the ropes during the War allowed Fred to continue his pugilistic career upon his return to Utica.

Known as "The Utica Kid," Fred earned renowned status as a fighter with a vicious right hand who stopped opponents with his power and athleticism. Fred's intuition when it came to boxing garnered him a longtime career as a boxing referee throughout both the New York State and Great Britain. Boxing, however, would not be the only sport that Fred would leave an impression on.

As president of the Greater Utica Athletic Association, Fred was very instrumental in initiating the Wednesday Night Development Runs along Utica's Memorial Parkway. As a result of his dedication to these developmental runs and the sport of running as a whole, Fred founded the "Ferris Flyers" whose runners included both Middle and High School athletes. Among those who will forever be known as "Ferris Flyers" are Brian Dodge, Len and Bruce Hoffstetter, Mello Testa, Rich Ambruso, Mark Papagno, Sal Durso, Bill DeLude, and Jose Garcia, as well as numerous others.

Fred managed to put the youth of the area first and foremost in his life all while being employed with the City of Utica's Department of Public Works where he retired after a storied 40-year career. Fittingly, Fred's last position with the Department of Public Works was that of superintendent which is truly indicative of his ability to lead and to teach.

Fred has volunteered at the Thomas R. Proctor High School Invitational and E.J. Herrmann for over 40 years now. He is an integral part of the finish line where he still serves as a volunteer in the chute this year at age 82.

Rev. Msgr. Francis J. Willenburg

"It's about time!" said His Excellency Bishop Thomas Costello upon learning of his former high school classmate Rev. Msgr. Francis J. Willenburg's selection for induction into the Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. "It was too long in the waiting."

Msgr. Willenburg participated in no less than six sports as a player, two as a coach and countless others as a supporter and promoter throughout his career in the City of Utica. As a player, he excelled at football and basketball at St. Aloysius Academy in Rome, New York. On the gridiron, Msgr. Willenburg was team captain in both 1945 and 1946. The sport, which was six-man football due to World War II, was where Msgr. Willenburg would make his first impression in the world of sports. On November 1, 1945, St. Aloysius Academy defeated St. John's of Rensselaer in a game in which Msgr. Willenburg threw for three touchdown passes, returned a pair of intercepted passes for two more scores and accounted for an additional two points by throwing one pass and catching another.

In basketball, he scored 173 points in the 1944-1945 season when he was just a junior and 328 points during his senior season. Both totals were at a time when basketball did not have the three-point shot or the 1-1 foul shot. On February 16, 1946, Msgr. Willenburg set the single-game scoring record in Rome High School basketball with 39 points, and when he graduated he was the scoring-average record holder in Rome High School basketball with just over 17 points per game.

When Msgr. Willenburg graduated St. Aloysius Academy in 1946, he graduated as the valedictorian. His academic and athletic ability led him to the Division I Basketball team of Niagara University. While Msgr. Willenburg was not a starter on the team, but he was on a squad that had beaten the City College of New York City (CCNY), the number one team in Division I basketball. It should also be noted that CCNY was also the National Invitational Tournament and National Collegiate Athletic Association champions during this time period. Two teammates of Msgr. Willenburg went on to become referees in the National Basketball Association, and his coach, John J. "Taps" Gallagher made his players train against the old Rochester Royals of the NBA during the Bobby Davies era. Msgr. Willenburg would leave Niagara University after his junior year to enter the seminary, but before he left, he would earn three varsity letters, one in basketball, one in baseball and one in golf.

After his ordination, Msgr. Willenburg played basketball in the 1950s in the old State Hospital League for the Utica State Hospital team. He played against such high caliber players as Dick Miller and Hubie Brown, both members of the Marcy State Hospital team and tremendous basketball players in their own right.

Msgr. Willenburg also excelled in golf. On June 21, 1950, he shot a Hole-in-One at the Teugega Country Club with his father serving as witness. The following year, 1951, Msgr. Willenburg attained the Teugega Country Club "Club Champion" title with play described in the Rome Sentinel as "one of the finest ever seen in championship competition at the Teugega." He defeated the reigning champion, Harry D. (Bud) White by two shots.

Ordained in 1954, Msgr. Willenburg has been inducted into the Rome Sports Hall of Fame in 1989, the SUNY Institute of Technology Utica/Rome Wildcat Booster Hall of Fame in 1995, and the Central New York Bowling Hall of Fame in 2006.

Past Honorees