Fort Hamilton H. S. Alumni Hall of Fame

Transcription

1 Fort Hamilton H. S. Alumni Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony January 10, 2018 FHALUMNI.ORG

2 To our sister Jean 77 and fellow FHHS alumna, We continue to be dazzled by your achievements and dedication to family and community! The Balukas Family Albert 63 Thomas 65 Richard 72 Paul 75 Laura 78 and in memory of Dad & Mom 43

3 Fort Hamilton High School Alumni Hall of Fame Inductions and Boys Basketball Court Naming Ceremony Wednesday, January 10, 2018 Halftime, Boys Varsity Basketball Game Fort Hamilton High School vs Erasmus Hall High School Program Welcoming Remarks... Principal Kaye Houlihan Induction of Jean Balukas 77..Valerie Hodgson 73 Billiards Great Induction of Albert King 77..Cathy Gigante-Brown 77 Basketball Legend If unable to attend, Albert King will be represented by Winston Karim Basketball Court Dedication to late Coach Ken Kern..Robert Adamski 64 and Lillian Kern Reception at the School Library following the game Jean Balukas Albert King In 1977 Jean Balukas was already famous as a child prodigy in billiards and Albert King was regarded as one of the country s best high school basketball players. And that was just the beginning of their bright futures. On the following page, we have a reflection on Jean and Albert by their classmate, writer and author Cathy Gigante-Brown. Please visit the FHHS Alumni Association website (fhalumni.org) to read their full bios and learn more about all of our Hall of Fame members. In the photo above, Al and Jean are pictured in the school with FHHS coaches Ken Kern (left) and Al Kaplan (right), in the center is sportscaster Bill Mazer.

4 Honoring the Class of 77s Gentle Giants: Jean Balukas & Albert King Perhaps the most striking thing about today s Fort Hamilton High School Hall of Fame inductees Jean Balukas and Albert King is their humility. Although there was often a flurry of attention around them in the halls of Fort Hamilton, they seemed unaffected by it. They were always so humble and poised, even as teenagers. Both Jean and Al were in my homeroom - 4E18. In our class photo, I stood next to Jean, who towered over me. Al, as usual, was camera-shy. The only pictures you ll see of him in our yearbook are of him playing basketball. Al, FHHS s small forward/shooting guard, went on to the NBA. Jean, a pocket billiards champion at age 13, played on FHHS s basketball, bowling and softball teams, and is still considered one of the world s best pool players. But you d never know Jean and Al s accomplishments by their modesty. At the Class of 77s 40 th reunion celebration last November, nothing had changed. Although the universe is now a very different place, Jean and Al remain the same. Unjaded by the fame each had achieved in their respective fields, they shared memories, warm hellos and congratulated everyone on their successes. They smiled widely as they took photos with many of the 100 present from our graduating class of 930. Today, both Jean and Al are respected businesspeople in their local communities. Al is the owner of several Wendy s franchises in New Jersey where he now lives with his wife Tammy and son Trevor. Jean, along with her siblings, is the proprietor of Hall of Fame Billiards in Bay Ridge, where she still lives. At the reunion, Tony Fickling, Al s teammate on the Tigers who went on to become a teacher, talked about how their friendship has endured 43 years. Tony became emotional when he said that Al was godfather to one of his daughters. Never once did Al refuse a classmate a photo, him always towering above everyone else. He even hit the dance floor. Toward the end of the evening, Jean was reminiscing with FHHS Alumni Association President Valerie Hodgson (Class of 73) and myself. Jean looked around, deeply moved, and said, We all did pretty good for ourselves, didn t we? We re lawyers, doctors, teachers and writers Not one mention of her own impressive achievements. Once again, I was awed by her humility. As I walked toward the coat check, I thought to myself that the world would be a better place if there were more people like Jean Balukas and Albert King. It would be kinder, calmer, happier. I m glad they re still here, still making their mark in quiet, gentle ways, inspiring future generations as well as their peers. --Catherine Gigante-Brown, FHHS Class of 1977

5 Congratulations to our classmates Jean Balukas & Albert King On your well deserved induction into the FHHS Hall of Fame Class of 2018 Wishing you both all the best from The Graduating Class of 1977

6 To All FHHS Alumni: Wishing you all good health, happiness and prosperity. My years at FHHS were some of the best times of my life. Albert King Class of 1977

7 Congratulations to my classmate & friend Albert King Hall of Fame Billiards 505 Ovington Avenue 5 th Ave & 70 th Street (in Bay Ridge) Brooklyn, N.Y (718) Air Hockey, Arcade Games, Foosball, Ping Pong Jean Balukas Class of 1977

8 With Best Wishes PANEANTICO 127,

9 Congratulations to Our Newest Hall of Fame Inductees Robert Hedlund 69

10 Congratulations to the Alumni Hall of Fame Inductees Proudly serving the community since 1985, ONE-THREE SPORTS provides quality custom uniforms and team equipment for all of your sporting needs th Avenue Brooklyn, NY Phone: Fax: Website: onethreesports.com

11 CongratulationS to Mr. King and Ms. Balukas from the Boys Varsity Basketball Team TRADITION NEVER GRADUATES Congratulations Ft. Hamilton H.S. Alumni Hall of Fame Inductees

12 OF BAY RIDGE rd Avenue Brooklyn, NY Proudly supports the FORT FORT HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI 75 th anniversary 75 Hall of th Fame Induction celebration. ceremony.

13 Congratulations From FHHS Alumnus Leo Lykourezos Family Owned & Operated Since 1995 Business Accounts Available Catering for All Occasions Congratulations to Jean Balukas and Albert King on their induction to the FHHS Alumni Hall of Fame From Tom Greene

14 Funeral Directors Since 1886 J. Peter Clavin 71 Member of the Fort Hamilton High School Hall of Fame

15 FHHS Alumni Hall of Fame CHEERS to Jean Balukas and Albert King From Valerie Hodgson President, FHHSAA The FHHS Alumni Association welcomes new members. To join us and support the Fort visit: FHALUMNI.ORG Congratulations to FHHS Alumni Association for Hall of Fame 2018 DR. ALICE FARKOUH 57, Principal BOOSTERS CROWN TROPHY 3024 Avenue U Brooklyn, NY crowntrophy.com FRAME ME, Inc rd Ave, B klyn NY JEN-BRE PRINTING rd Ave, B klyn NY Special thanks to Pr. Kaye Houlihan, A.P. Kristin LaMacchia, Coach Greg Larsen 90, Coach Anthony Attanasio, everyone at the school who helped make this event possible, our generous sponsors, our gracious honorees and all who came out to celebrate this special occasion with the FHHSAA. Congratulations to Jean Balukas and Albert King on their well deserved induction into the FHHS Hall of Fame. David Whitebook

16 FORT HAMILTON H.S. s BOYS BASKETBALL COURT TO BE NAMED FOR FORMER COACH KEN KERN Following in the steps of universities like Duke, UCLA and Syracuse, the Fort s boys basketball court will be named for former Coach Ken Kern. Coach Kern recruited and developed countless players such as Bernard and Albert King who might not have had a chance at a professional career. During Kern s tenure from 1956 to 1985 he had over 300 wins and sent hundreds of players on to college. The naming will take place at halftime during the boys varsity game versus Erasmus on Wednesday afternoon, January 10 th. Coach Ken Kern This tribute has been made possible thanks to the efforts of FHHS Alumni Hall of Fame member Bob Adamski 64 with the assistance of Principal Kaye Houlihan and donations from admirers.