One of the area's most prominent sports officials, Pat Garramone, has died

FROM KEITH GROLLER
It is with sadness that I have just learned that Pat Garramone, one of truly iconic people in Lehigh Valley sports for more than 50 years, has died.

I learned this sad news from a family member.

Pat was 83, but had officiated area football and basketball into his 70s and still cast a strong, commanding presence on either the gridiron or court until the day he took off his striped shirt for the last time.

Suffice to say, he was as well-known in local sports as any coach or player.

A former Liberty High football coach, Garramone was respected by players, coaches, administrators and his fellow officials.

He was truly one of the unique and most distinguished officials we've had in local football and basketball, ever.

He worked too many championship games in both sports to count and was admired by the likes of Milo Sewards, Stan Sutphen, John Donmoyer and many others.

In a 1993 Morning Call story, local baseball coach and former football and basketball official Terry Stoudt said of Garramone: "He's a legend, as far as I'm concerned. He's in a class by himself. He's always had the respect of the coaches, no matter if it's football or basketball. And he always has helped the young officials. He's one of the greatest friends I've ever had."

In that same 1993 story, Sewards said: "I thought he was a terrific official.I would give him every game I possibly could give him. He was straight from the heart; he would let the kids play."

Garramone told me that he truly loved working with young people, and that was the main reason he stayed in athletics as long as he did.

Again from that 1993 story, he said: "You don't want to take the game away from the kids. You have to develop good judgement. Don't look for every little thing. You want to let the kids play, but you have to stay in control of the game."

And that summed up his approach in a nutshell.

Prior to his career in officiating, Garramone was an outstanding football player at both Hazleton High and in college at Auburn and the Scranton University.

He was also a respected teacher and a coach.

Here's just a part of his impressive resume:

1945 -- graduated from Hazleton High School; was captain of the football team; had 26 tackles in one game.

1945 -- recruited to University of Auburn (Ga.) for football; started as a freshman at age 17.

1946-48 -- served in the Navy during World War II.

1948-50 -- attended University of Scranton; graduated in 1950.

1949 -- officiated first high school basketball game.

1950 -- assistant football coach at the University of Scranton; officiated first high school football game.

1951-52 -- head football coach at Mt. Carmel High School.

1953-54 -- co-coach with Steve Van Buren of Bristol Saints, a semi-pro football team affliated with Philadelphia Eagles.

1955-57 -- head football coach at Trenton High School.

1958 -- began 34-year teaching career at Liberty High School.

1958-66 -- head football coach at Liberty.

1959 -- officiated first East Penn League high school basketball game.

1966 -- officiated first East Penn League high school football game.

1966-68 -- assistant coach of Harrisburg Caps, semi-pro football team affliated with Baltimore Colts.

1966-72 -- head swimming coach, Liberty.

1990 -- retired from teaching at Liberty.

1991 -- head swimming coach at Kings College.

1992 -- assistant fooball coach at Kings.

1992 -- inducted Luzerne County Athletic Hall of Fame.

1992-93 -- head swimming coach at Hazleton High School.


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