I was honored to have played in the 1979 Big 30 all-star game, along with my Portville friends, Moke
Jaekle and Shane Stone. We often rode to practices in Moke's blue Nova.
We all played defense for the New York team, and I got to know Doug Bolles from Ellicottville and
Al Watt from Salamanca, both of whom have since passed away. Doug lost his life in the Atlantic Ocean during a military
routine.
We lost the game 17-6, the first Pennsy victory since the game's intro in 1974. But we had
a great time and experience.
Thanks to the Big 30 Committee, Times Herald, and Bear Connell for creating the content for this
page.
