2007 Hall of Fame Inductees

Hon. Carrol S. Walsh, Jr., JHS Class of 1938

Following his graduation from JHS, Carrol S. Walsh, Jr. continued his education at Notre Dame and St. Lawrence Universities. Serving in the United States Army from 1942 to 1945, he saw combat in the European Theater and was the recipient of five Battle Stars, a Purple Heart and a Battle Field Commission. After graduating from Albany Law School in 1946, he was a private practice attorney in Johnstown until 1968. During that time he also held positions as the Johnstown City Attorney, the Assistant City Court Judge and President of the Fulton County Bar Association.

In 1969 he began a nine-year tenure as Fulton County Court Judge and Surrogate, presiding over criminal trials, reviewing appeals from city, town and village courts and having jurisdiction over cases involving decedents. During that time Judge Walsh often served as acting Supreme Court Justice by Assignment in the counties of Schenectady, Saratoga, Clinton, Warren, Essex, Montgomery and Fulton and as County Judge by Special Assignment of the Appellate Division in the counties of Nassau, Rockland and Franklin. He was also a member of the Criminal Procedure Law Advisory Board to the State Office of Court Administration. From 1978 until his retirement in 1990, he enjoyed a career as a Supreme Court Justice in the Fourth Judicial District of New York State, hearing cases outside the jurisdiction of lower trial courts.

Judge Walsh is a former director of Community Chest, the Johnstown Public Library, the Y.M.C.A. and the State Bank of Albany, and was a coach for Little League, Babe Ruth League and C.Y.O. A lifelong resident of Johnstown, he continues to remain active in numerous fraternal and veterans organizations.

Paul Valachovic, JHS Class of 1939

Entering the service in August, 1942, Paul T. Valachovic flew 32 missions as a bombardier in a B-24 during World War II, achieving the rank of First Lieutenant with the United States Army Air Corps and earning an Air Medal with three Oak Leaf clusters, as well as the Distinguished Flying Cross. His continued membership in veterans groups is important to him and he helps to plan, and proudly marches in, many local parades to honor the men and women of the armed forces.

Upon his return from military duty, Mr. Valachovic began a career with the Upstate Telephone Company, later known as the General Telephone Company. During his 47 years of employment there, he held positions as a draftsman, plant engineer and equipment engineer.

Active in the community, he served as a member of the Greater Johnstown School District’s Board of Education from 1982-1991; was a member of the Johnstown All Volunteer Ambulance Corp. for more than 20 years; and has been a blood donor since 1972.

The JHS Class of 1988 chose to dedicate the Baronet yearbook to Mr. Valachovic. That tribute to him reads in part as follows: “he can be found at virtually every Johnstown High School activity, contest and event; (he) has missed only one Johnstown-Gloversville game in the last 50 years; (he) puts his heart, his time, and his effort into both the present and the future of Johnstown’s students; some claim he now even bleeds purple and gold.”

Mr. Valachovic’s support has been without waver throughout the years, earning him recognition as “Johnstown’s Greatest Fan.”

Peter S. Wilson, Sr. (deceased), JHS Class of 1950

After his graduation from JHS, Peter S. Wilson served in the U.S. Army from 1950-1953, achieving the rank of sergeant before receiving an honorable discharge. In 1962 he began a term as Johnstown’s Alderman-at-Large and in June of 1963 was appointed Acting Mayor of the City of Johnstown. In January of 1964 he was sworn in as Johnstown’s elected mayor, continuing to serve the community in that position until 1975. During that time, he worked with the Common Council to install water meters and wells to alleviate a water shortage; helped to acquire the vacant North Perry Street School to build the central fire station; supported the formation of J.A.V.A.C. and the Senior Citizens’ Club; and assisted in creating the Gloversville and Johnstown Wastewater and Treatment Facilities. He also helped to create the Sir William Johnson Memorial Park on West Main Street, without federal money or state aid. That project was recognized in the National Chamber of Commerce Magazine.

In recognition of his service to the community, Mr. Wilson received the Fulton County Republican Club Charles Hough award in 1977, the Senior Citizens award in 1981, the Private Industry Council award in 1986, the Fulton County Teachers’ Credit Union award in 1990, and the Liberty Bell Award in 1992.

A civic leader, Mr. Wilson served on the board of directors of Johnstown Hospital, Nathan Littauer Hospital, Fulton County Economic Development Corp., Ferndale Cemetery and the Johnstown Public Library; was President of the Fulton County Republican Club, a charter member of the Johnstown Lions’ Club and the St. Patrick’s Church Finance Committee as well as First Parish Council President.

John P. “Jack” Siedlecki, Jr., JHS Class of 1969

As a senior at JHS, Jack Siedlecki was captain of the football, basketball and baseball teams and was selected as Athlete of the Year. A 1974 graduate of Union College with a B.A. in history, he started on the varsity football team there for three seasons and earned letters playing running back and linebacker.

During the early 1970’s he coached and played for the semi-pro Glove Cities Colonials before taking a job with Ross Perot’s Electronic Data Systems in NYC and Dallas. In 1976 he began a coaching career in college football as an assistant at the University of Albany, moving on to Wagner College in 1980 and then to Lafayette College in 1981. In 1988 he was appointed head coach at Division III Worcester Polytechnic Institute and, under his guidance, the program amassed a 36-11-1 record in five years. From 1993 to 1996 Siedlecki was head coach at Division III Amherst College, compiling a 20-11-1 record. He was named the American Football Coaches Association District I Coach of the Year in 1992 and 1996.

On December 19, 1996, Jack Siedlecki was named head football coach at Yale University. In 10 seasons there, he has compiled a 55-44 record, guiding the Bulldogs to Ivy League championships in 1999 and 2006. He was named the New England Sports Writers Coach of the Year in 1999 and was at the helm in 2000 when Yale became the first college team in the country to win 800 games. The game football, with his name on it, is in the College Football Hall of Fame.

Never forgetting his roots, Siedlecki returns often to Johnstown, donating his time to promote teamwork, responsibility, commitment and community.