George E. Hyde

George E. Hyde passed away January 3, 2023. He was the son of Anthony (Doc) and Carolyn Hyde. Both deceased. He is survived by his spouse, daughters, grandchildren, great grandchildren, sisters and several nieces and nephews. George lived the majority of his life in Conyngham. Upon graduation from West Hazleton High School, he joined the United States Marine Corps.  He spent Boot Camp at Parris Island, SC. The Second Battalion, Platoon 2007. While there he received commendations for Riflemen and small arms weapons expert. He also earned the Good Conduct Medal and reached the rank of First Class. His tour of duty was spent at Marine Barracks, National Security Agency at Fort Meade Maryland. He earned the rank of Lance Corporal. When his term of service was fulfilled, he received an Honorable Discharge and returned to his hometown. 

Sports was always a part of George's life. His Dad had been a well known coach for the Conyngham Rubes Baseball team. That team was formed in 1903 and many generations kept it going until 1954. George had been one of the bat boys. Conyngham did not have a Babe Ruth baseball team; naturally, he and his Dad started one, CVCO. That entailed upgrading the old field at the park now known as Whispering Willows. George and his dad spent their time measuring bases, pitcher's mound, home plate, you know, the important things. Meanwhile the Parents; the Pecora's, Wallace's, Ricciardi's, Buchman's and Antonelli's to name a few, along with the players were cleaning out old yukky dug-outs, pulling weeds, and moving big stones and rocks from around the playing area.  Joe Larock and Valley Seeding, fixed the outfield to perfection. In 1967, the Valley team won the Babe Ruth League Championship. The Conyngham Valley Civic Organization presented George with a beautiful sculpture of a baseball field, bat, ball and glove, in appreciation for the dedication his father and he put forth in coaching their team and especially bringing home a championship on the same year CVCO was celebrating their 25th Anniversary Summer. 

The Love of George's life was and had always been Coaching, especially football.  In 1969, six men (George being one) from local towns (Beaver Banks, Drums, Freeland, McAdoo, Valley, West Hazleton) put their heads together and birthed the Valmont Suburban Midget Football League. George was president for six years. He started the Valley Chiefs Midget Football Team. His loyal sidekick was Henry George. They practiced on the baseball outfield until the tennis courts were done at the park. Then they moved up to the area on the side of the courts. The league played their games on Sundays at Harman-Geist stadium, until the school district said it was too expensive to open it for the day. All the teams, except Valley, were able to find their own fields. The VC had to play all their games away. One of the parents, Mr. James, the greatest bus driver ever, commandeered a bus and the VC arrived to their games in style. Behind the scene, Dad Busch worked on Joe Larock to donate a beautiful piece of land for a football field in Sugarloaf. Once again, the team was lined up from one side of the field to the other side, going back and forth picking up stones, big rocks and some boulders; the complaining didn't start until the second week. Any spare time he had, George was at the field, walking every inch of it. He did pick up rocks along the way. Once the field ground was ready, he chicken-fed it grass seed; the whole field. It turned out beautiful. Then, the real work started; teaching the football hopefuls how to play football. His assistant coaches included Henry, Barney Cotsack, Wallace, Schleppy, Shafer, Pedone, Carroll, Greene, Cutrufello, Harold Ochs, Fuzzy Lowery and many more. Most of the dads were asst. coaches. Many people helped in other ways, fundraising being the biggest; the Chipeleski's, Haffner's, Sally and Bill, the Gould's and many more. The whole Valley Chief Football Team, including all the coaches and all the parents worked hard and diligently to doing upgrades to the area, supplies for the players etc. Look at the field now. Coach Hyde was with the team from 1969 to 1981. They had four league championships, eight division titles and the record was 85 - 18 - 5. At some point in time, they did go with another league.

Bobby Williams, then head coach for the West Hazleton High School Football Team, hired Coach Hyde as head coach for the Junior High football team. Henry George, Joe Maylath (deceased) and Al Wolk were also hired. It was the only undefeated junior high team in school history. He was with the Junior High team from 1982 to 1984.  Coach Hyde moved up with his team to varsity as an assistant coach. He coached with WHHS from 1985 to 1989.

Then, 1990, there was Hafey. Coach Hyde was hired as a head coach of the Bishop Hafey Football Team. He was beyond elation. He picked a crack coaching staff with Mike and Ron Christina, his voices of reason; the late Great Al Graziano; the dynamic Denke and the best statistician in the world, Jim Burns, and Floyd Wiest. Over the 10 ½ yrs, some former players, Jeff Wisdo, Tom Kepping, and Joe Dougherty came to coach for a season or two. Coach Hyde was thrilled they were interested in coaching. Saying no more, these are some of the FIRSTS Coach Hyde and his faithful staff accomplished in 10 ½ seasons! At least Hafey, finally, had some firsts!

First team to win more than 3 games a year, in the first year, first team to win a game on Hafey's field, First team to win a Homecoming game, First team to make the play-offs, First team to play in a District play-off game - 1992, First team to win a District play-off title - 1995 (banner was in the gym), First team to win a Mid-Penn championship - 1996, First team to play in first round of State Tournaments - 1995 Susquehanna and 1996 Riverside, First team to have a winning season, First team to beat GAR - in any sport!,  First team to have an All-State player, First team to make State rankings, First coach to win "Coach of the Year",  First coach to start a Junior High program, First coach to coach over 100 games, First coach to have off-season weight program - 3 days a wk, January 1st to second week of August,  First coach to run a summer running program, First coach to get players in college with financial aid, First coach to have coached school's Leading Passer - Leading Receiver - Leading Rusher - Leading Defensive Player - Leading Punter - Leading X-point and Field Goal Kicker, First team to keep stats on every game ever played since Coach Hyde took over the program.

During this time, the majority of parents were absolutely awesome good people; they raised very respectful, good head on their shoulders children. 

Coach Hyde did not want a formal funeral, so we are going to give him an Informal Sports Memorabilia Memorial visit. It will be a gathering with friends you have not seen in ages, talking football, sports, or whatever. Former coaches will be there and hopefully, the coaches that could not be reached will be there as well. The managers are also asked to come. They can give us the real scoop on what the players were like on the field. The general public is welcome to attend. Everyone no longer with us, coaches, parents, players will be there in spirit and the one with the biggest grin from ear to ear with be Coach Hyde, checking on "His Boys". It is most important; the players, from ALL phases of his life come to celebrate Coach Hyde's life because each and every one of you played the biggest part in it.

See you at Harman's Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc., 669 W. Butler Drive, Drums on Wednesday evening, February 1st from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

If you can, please donate to Tunnel to Tower's, Wounded Warriors, and your local VFW. Let us get our Homeless Hero Veterans off the streets and our severely wounded Hero Veterans in homes they can live in safely, comfortably, and with dignity.  Thank You.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of George E. Hyde, please visit our floral store.