1920 - 1939  

WHS Hall of Fame Members

*Sid Miles

Coached: 1927-1972
Coached: Football, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Track & Soccer
College: Ithaca College

• Started the Wellsville Spring Day 
• Officiated many sports in the community and the surrounding area
• Taught swimming lessons to thousands of kids
• Sid Miles was a legend in his own time.

Maurice Tubby Potter
Class: 1928-1932

Sports Played:
Football 4 Years
Basketball 4 Years

Colleges:
Alfred University
Cortland State

• Coached the Wellsville basketball team to the sectional finals in 1949-1950. The farthest any team has ever advanced.
• Started on the undefeated Wellsville football team of 1927
• Played 4 years on The Line of Gibraltar for Alfred University football team in the early 1930s.
• Had tremendous success as a track coach in Corning.
• After his retirement, the track in Corning was officially named the Coach Maurice R. Potter Track and Field.

Louie Debarbieri
Class: 1930-1934

Sports Played:
Football 4 Years
Basketball 4 Years
Track 4 Years

Colleges:
Canisius College
Dickenson Jr. College

• In high school he lettered for four years in football, basketball, and track.
• His senior year he averaged 14 points in basketball and had 18 touchdowns in football.
• Played football, basketball, and baseball for two years at Dickerson Jr. College
• Played football, basketball, and baseball for one year at Canisius College
• Played semi-pro baseball with the old Wellsville Sinclair

Walt Shine
Class: 1930-1934

Sports Played:
Football 3 Years
Basketball 3 Years
Track 3 Years

Military Service: U.S. Army

• Recognized by Times Herald journalist Mike Abdo as one of Wellsville High's finest all around athlete of the early 30's.
• In three years of running the mile in track he lost only one time.
• Included in his wins was the sectional crown in 1934.
• He held the Wellsville High School track record in the mile run for 33 years.
• He has been an avid supporter of Wellsville sports for the past 60 years.

Lester Dye
Class: 1931-1935

Sports Played:
Football 4 Years
Basketball 4 Years
Track 4 Years

College: Syracuse University

• Went to Syracuse University where he played varsity basketball and varsity football
• The only player from Wellsville High School to ever play in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins
• For over a decade he was the chief recruiter for the Syracuse football team under the famous coach Ben Schwartzwalde. This combination culminated into a national championship in 1959.
• In 1975, he was honored by the Syracuse Varsity Club when he was named a Letterman of Distinction.

Bob McCarthy
Class: 1933-1936

Sports Played:
Football 3 Years
Basketball 3 Years

Military Service: U.S. Navy

• Starting point guard captain of the 1935 Sectional Basketball
• Quarterback for 1935 football team that played 1st game ever under the lights at Hornell
• Known for his toughness and dedication
• Known as the "Sammy Baugh" of Wellsville Football

Walter Wightman
Class: 1932-1936

Sports Played:
Football 4 Years
Track 5 Years

Military Service: U.S. Army

• Played professional baseball in the St. Louis Cardinals Minor League system.
• Received the 20-point letter in sports while attending W.H.S. in football and track.
• While serving in the military he was chosen M.V.P. in baseball while stationed in the Pacific Islands.
• Coached Little League Baseball in Wellsville for 12 years as well as Midget Football for 5 years.
• Received the Sportsmanship Brotherhood Pin his senior year at W.H.S. and was recognized for his leadership (track captain)

Paul Hungerford
Class: 1935-1939

Sports Played:
Football 3 Years
Basketball 3 Years
Track 3 Years

College: University of Illinois
Military Service: U.S. Navy

• A great leader of men as he was chosen captain of all three sports he played his senior year
• In 1938, he was the only double winner in sectionals winning the broad jump & the pole vault
• In 1938, he set the WHS broad jump record of 20' 7" which stood for 18 years until 1956
• As an end in football, he scored more points than any other on the 1938 football team
• In 1939 he was named the Best All-Round Athlete to graduate from Wellsville and his football jersey #44 was retired by the late coach Sid Miles.
• He went on to be a track star in college at the University of Illinois.

Fran Sawyer
Class: 1935-1939

Sports Played:
Football 4 Years
Track 4 Years

Military Service: U.S. Navy

• He is still recognized today as one of the most outstanding track men in the history of the Wellsville High School.
• For two years he broke his own school records in the shot put, discus, and javelin at almost every meet he competed in.
• In 1983 he broke the sectional record in the shot put only to be beaten out by another competitor on his final toss.
• In football he was recognized as one of the hardest hitters on the field and a load to bring down when coming out of the backfield as a runner.