LHU’s “Gray Eagles” boost Bald Eagle and youth football
MILL HALL, PA – It was a win-win Friday at the Clinton Country Club as the Gray Eagles continued their work to help resuscitate football at their alma mater, Lock Haven University, while also assisting youth football in the Lock Haven/Mill Hall area.
The Gray Eagles is a group of former Lock Haven University football players and supporters formed six years ago to lend support to the current program at LHU. The organization gathered at the Clinton Country Club Friday for their annual golf outing, a key fundraiser staged each year as they work to do their part to return the glory days to a Bald Eagle football program which last saw a winning season in 1981.
They were thanked for their assistance to the program by second-year head coach Dan Mulrooney. The event also saw the Gray Eagles present a $1,500 check to Lee Ramos, president of the Central Mountain Youth Football program, the feeder program for Central Mountain High School football.
Dave Hess, LHU ’81, is president of the Gray Eagles, John White, LHU ’80, is vice-president. They spoke to their work, so far providing over $200,000 in scholarship assistance to Bald Eagle football, including $50,000 this year.
Their goal, they said, is reaching $100,000, a figure they said can be reached by attracting more members, presently at a hundred or so, at $100 a year, for LHU alums and community members alike. They thanked the greater Lock Haven community for its support, noting local business sponsorship of the annual golf tournament.
When the Gray Eagles started their assistance to LHU football in 2018, they were able to provide four scholarships; now that number is up to 14.
Both talked of their positive experiences while attending Lock Haven. White, a retired law enforcement officer from New York state, said Lock Haven is “a great place for us…. we won a (PSAC) championship here in 1979” and club members enjoy returning to the local school and community, noting they do “everything” in Lock Haven upon their return, eating, sleeping and socializing, terming the town “a great place.” Hess said the organization stresses support for football’s student athletes, stating “if we can make a generational change in one student-athlete, it’s worthwhile.”
They thanked Ken Cooper, another LHU grad who heads the school’s boxing program, for his assistance in staging what is now a joint boxing/football golf event.
Central Mountain Youth Football president Ramos accepted the $1,500 check from the organization. He said 165 area youth between the ages of 5 to 11 are signed up for the upcoming season, first practice set for Aug. 1. He said the money will go towards much needed safety equipment.
He said the youth program is supporting the Central Mountain varsity program, pointing out that Rocco Serafini began in the youth program six years ago and is expected to again be a significant contributor in his senior year for the upcoming Wildcat season under new head coach Travis Thompson. Ramos said the youth program will be coordinating its offensive and defensive schemes with those utilized by the new CM coaching staff. He said for those interested in helping out the youth program, they can find out more information on the Central Mountain Youth Football Facebook page.
