On March 25, 1996 in the Pitman High School library, the Pitman High School Athletic Director, Wayne Murschell, called a meeting to discuss the idea of an athletic hall of fame. It was at this meeting that the Pitman High School Sports Hall of Fame was deemed necessary. The committee consisted of Wayne Murschell, Sr., Lynne Champion, Madelyn Chiomento, Steve Crispin, Craig Daniels, Roy Harmon, Ray John, Joe Lang, Kathy Mitton, Dick Plum and Laura Beato.
The purpose of this organization is to acknowledge individuals for their contributions toward or achievements in Pitman High School athletics. The Pitman High School Sports Hall of Fame honors athletes, coaches and contributors. The full scope of attributes which render an individual to be honored with “hall-of-fame” recognition include character, citizenship along with their athletic related achievements. Individuals who meet this caliber of excellence as athletes, coaches, administrators or contributors for Pitman High School sports teams are honored at a banquet. A plaque commemorating their athletic related achievements is displayed in the high school and a duplicate plaque is provided to the inductee.
The first Pitman High School Sports Hall of Fame induction was held in November of 1997 with class inductions typically being held every two years since then. The tenth induction class was recently honored in November of 2015 bringing the number of inductees to over one hundred men and women in total. On occasion, the committee permits the use of an odd year induction class interval when it may be necessary to align the official banquet ceremony with a year and month of significant Pitman High School traditional events. The half-time festivities at a homecoming football game versus Clayton provides a special venue for introducing a new class of inductees among a larger forum. Half-time at a basketball game, a pre-game “opening day” ceremony of fall/spring sport events, or the celebration of a special anniversary of Pitman High School offer are other venue opportunities the committee may consider for introducing inductees to the community and alumni in the future.
The PHS Sports Hall of Fame provides scholarships to graduating seniors every spring and has provided assistance to all the teams at PHS donating to booster clubs, events and has also helped with the purchase of equipment. The PHS Sports Hall of Fame has increasingly evolved its charter and function into the community by providing sport camps for children in Pitman at no cost for the campers, and has made periodic contributions to Kids Who Need a Break. PHS Sports Hall of Fame also supported the 2005 Centennial Celebration of Pitman, NJ. We are passionate about the historic preservation of athletic records and athletic paraphernalia at Pitman High School since the first athletic team enter competition back in 1924. We are committed to researching the significant athletic accomplishment of individuals and teams from Pitman High School in the past and the safekeeping of records that honor individuals and athletic teams from Pitman High School. The Committee welcomes new members to support our cause and values the passion for teamwork in preserving “Panther Pride” for many years to come.