FRONTIER FIELD WALK OF FAME

Media	Year Inducted
Batzold, Tom The Rochester native and Bishop Kearney graduate has worked for the Times-Union and/or Democrat and Chronicle for 26 years, the last 15 as sports editor. He has covered the Red Wings, Bills, Syracuse University and high schools, and his 1984 story on the recruitment of fellow Walk of Fame inductee Tom Sheehey of McQuaid was voted the top sports story in New York by The Associated Press (No. 2 nationally).	2004
Beahon, George	1997
Cardon, Frank Former sports editor of the Rochester Times-Union; hired many of today’s popular sports writers at the D&C; behind his leadership in the Times-Union was selected the best medium-sized sports section in the country by the Associated Press in 1984.	2000
Catalana, Mike The Ithaca College graduate joined WOKR-TV (Channel 13) in 1987 and has been sports director since ‘89. He won the Rochester Press-Radio Club’s Lowell MacMillan Award for sportscasting excellence in 1991, and the WOKR sports department has twice won the New York State Broadcasters’ Award for best sportscast. The Bridgeton, N.J., native has covered four Super Bowls, an NCAA Final Four and the Stanley Cup and NBA Finals.	2004
Cullinane, Joe	1997
Cushing, Elliot One of the giants in local sports writing history, Cushing's career as a columnist and sports editor for the Democrat and Chronicle spanned several decades. He was the Press-Radio Club's first president and came up with the idea of staging an annual charity dinner in 1950. Cushing died on September 9, 1965 at 61.	1998
Decker, Tom He had the unenviable task of replacing Hall of Famer Jack Buck as the Red Wings broadcaster in 1954, but lasted eight seasons and went on to become the dean of Rochester news as the anchor for first-place WROC Channel 8 until his resignation in 1975. The Buffalo native was named to the Red Wings Hall of Fame in 1993.	1998
DeFrance, Ron A popular longtime local radio and TV sportscaster; spent 14 years at WOKR-TV (Ch 13), many as sports director; later a sports anchor at WROC-TV (Ch 8); host of the hit Bowling For Dollars (1973-77) and several subsequent long-running bowling shows; did TV play-by-play for the Lancers soccer team, Red Wings and high school sports.	2001
Dykes, Roger	2005
Frattare, Lanny	2002
Funke, Rich	1997
Giambrone, Jean	1997
Jackson, Matt The longtime sports columnist for The Times Union told it like it was long before Howard Cosell. A contemporary of Cushing's, the "little giant" also was T-U's sports editor, a charter member of the Press-Radio Club and its second president. He died December 3, 1965 at 64.	1998
Koch, Bruce One of the best combination golfer-bowler athletes in Rochester’s history; Oak Hill Club Champion in 1951; won the Rochester Match Game Bowling Championship in 1951 and 53; covered both sports for the Democrat & Chronicle for 37 years; author of Once Upon A Time at Oak Hill.	2000
Koenig, Bill Among the finest all-around sportswriters ever developed in Rochester; long-time Red Wings and Amerks beat writer; awarded the Press Radio Club Sportswriter of the Year in 1983.	2000
Matthews, Bob	1997
Meath, Eddie Local radio and TV morning show host who started the Penny Fund in 1963 to help buy toys for ailing children; was a major supporter of area sports; the annual Eddie Meath All-Star Game featuring senior football stars is named in his honor.	2001
Pitoniak, Scott The award winning sports columnist joined the Democrat and Chronicle in 1985. He has earned more than 70 local and national honors.	1999
Pucko, Bill A member of RNews' original broadcast team since 1990, he spent nine years at 10NBC before that. Two-time winner of Press-Radio Club's Sportscaster of the Year Award.	2006
Roth, Leo	2005
Smith, Curt Raised in Caledonia, the SUNY Geneseo graduate was a speechwriter to former President Bush and is the author of 10 books. Among them are: America's Dizzy Dean, Our House, Of Mikes and Men and the acclaimed Voices of the Game, widely considered the ultimate authority on baseball broadcasters.	2006
Smith, Gary The Pittsford High and Syracuse University graduate has been a radio broadcaster since 1956 and has covered a variety of sports, including bowling, golf (LPGA and the men's majors), and Section V basketball. He covered the Red Wings in 1959 and has worked games for the Triple-A club in every decade since, including the Governors' Cup championship team in 1997. He has worked at WHAM (1180) since 1989.	2003
Sniders, Bruno A controversial sports columnist for the Times-Union and Democrat and Chronicle from 1969-1980, he won the Rochester Press-Radio Club's Charlie Wagner Award for sportswriting excellence in 1978 and was president of the club in 1979.	2002
Stevens, Don The voice of the Amerks since 1986, he also has covered the Rhinos since their inception in 1995. He showed his devotion in 1998 when he covered an Amerks game and a Rhinos championship game on the same day.	2003
Tanner, Hans The first Amerks beat reporter for the Democrat and Chronicle, he covered the team from its inception in 1956 until his retirement in 1976. A charter member of the Amerks Hall of Fame, he helped coach & general manager Don Cherry compile a roster of castoffs for the 1973 Amerks (an independent team) on short notice. The team went on to make the playoffs.	2003
Van Wieren, Pete The Charlotte High graduate has gone on to national success as a broadcaster with the Atlanta Braves. He will enter his 29th season with the team this spring and has earned the prestigious Georgia Sportscaster of the Year Award nine times. He worked as play-by-play man for the International League’s Tidewater Tides for two seasons before joining Atlanta’s broadcast staff in 1976.	2004
Weber, Al The late sporst writer covered almost 5,000 Red Wings games both home and away for the Times Union. Also served as the official scorer at Silver Stadium for three decades.	1999