Oct 6, 2002 By Joyce Koballa 6 min read

PERRYOPOLIS – Frazier High School’s homecoming ceremonies on Friday were not only traditional but also inaugural, as the first inductees into the district’s Hall of Fame took their permanent places in the school’s history. The late Dr. Bruno L. Bonucci, Lt. Col. (retired) James G. Richards and Dr. Harry Sampey were recognized during the halftime program for their professional, civic and personal achievements as well as their outstanding contributions to their community.

“It’s a great night for me. I’m back in school,” Sampey said, chuckling.

The three inductees were selected from a field of eight applicants submitted to the district’s Hall of Fame Committee. The 12-member committee is composed of three students, three alumni, three faculty, two administrators and one school board member.

It was established this spring to recognize those alumni who have distinguished themselves through outstanding achievements in their professional career or contributions to their community or society.

The committee votes on the inductees by secret ballot, and a nominee has to receive a two-thirds vote in order to qualify.

“All applicants were fine, upstanding individuals who have contributed to their profession or community,” said Bernard Kubitza, high school principal and committee member.

Before the football game, the inductees attended a reception in their honor at the high school library, where Kubitza unveiled portraits of the three men that will adorn a wall outside the high school library.

Kubitza said the portraits will be on permanent display at the library, as will a book containing the biographies of each inductee.

“I hope this will expand over a period of years,” he added.

Accepting the award on Bonucci’s behalf was his wife, Gloria, and grandson, Jacob Rabatin, who nominated his grandfather.

“This would have made him very happy,” said Gloria Bonucci.

Bonucci, who died in November 1999, was born in Star Junction and attended Star Junction Elementary School and Perry Township High School. He graduated in 1935 during the height of the Depression.

Bonucci is a 1939 graduate of the Pennsylvania State College, where he received a bachelor of science degree in pre-medicine and a 1943 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a Doctorate in Medicine. He completed his internship at Western Pennsylvania Hospital in Pittsburgh.

Beginning in 1945, Bonucci served in the U.S. Army for 30 months and attained the rank of captain in the medical corps, where he delivered his first set of triplets. One of the babies was even named “Bruno” in his honor.

In 1947, Bonucci returned home to practice medicine as a family doctor, and he retired in 1990 at age 73.

Bonucci was elected a “charter fellow” of the American Academy of Family Physicians in 1972 and served as a diplomat on the American Board of Family Practice from 1973 to 1980. He received the American Academy of Family Physicians Medical Service Award in 1985 and the Sons of Italy’s Distinction Award for Professional and Community Service in 1990.

Bonucci also served as a Frazier school board member and was involved with various community organizations.

Richards emphasized how he is a strong believer in the community. Although he now resides in Atlanta, Ga., Richards was born and raised in Grindstone.

He attended Grindstone Elementary School and Frazier High School, graduating in 1965 after being a military officer. Richards earned a bachelor of science degree in education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1969. In 1982, he earned a master of science degree in systems management at the University of Southern California.

In addition, Richards serves as a career officer in the U.S. Army and graduated with honor from the Army Helicopter Flight Training School in 1970. Subsequently, he was sent with the 101st Airborne Division to Vietnam, where he “fought and risked his life.”

While serving there, Richards received 23 air medals for flying 25 combat missions. Two of the medals were awarded with notations of extreme heroism and valor.

Richards’ last mission was March 29, 1972, when he was shot in both legs and his helicopter crashed. He recalled that day, saying he drew upon his roots by asking himself what his father would do in his situation as well as what his high school coaches, close friends and God would want Richards to do.

As a result of that mission, Richards was awarded the Purple Heart. Richards recovered and he chose to remain in the Army as a senior mentor, which included being a flight instructor and commander.

From 1983 to 1989, he served as an Army aviation staff officer at the Pentagon, where he worked on developing and flying a “Kiowa” helicopter. He also served there as chief instructor/evaluator for Army Reserve and National Guard aviation units.

For Sampey, standing in the library once again rekindled memories of his elementary and high school years at Frazier.

Sampey was born in Perryopolis, where, he said, he spent the happiest days of his life.

“There was no crime, no drugs and no alcohol…you could go out and explore the unknown,” said Sampey.

He enlisted in the Air Force in 1947 and received formal training in electronics and communications. “Electronics has always been my career,” said Sampey.

He left active military duty in 1953 after the Korean War and served in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard for three years.

After returning home, Sampey operated a television service business and developed his first invention, a “television translator,” that provided reception for mountain communities. In 1956, Sampey accepted a position with the Martin Company and transferred shortly after to Florida as a launch team engineer on the Vanguard Space Project, where he spent 10 years.

Sampey then joined the Geortz Optical Co., where he served as program manager of NASA’s lunar geophysics project.

In 1970, Sampey accepted a position as director of research and development with Pentron Corporation, but left to found Nu-Metrics, a division of Sampey Scientific. He sold his interest of the company in 1988 and retained Sampey Scientific as a research organization.

During his career, Sampey furthered his education in math and physics at Johns Hopkins University and also studied electronic engineering at the Cleveland Institute of Electronics. He received a doctorate of electronic engineering from Kensington University.

Sampey is the co-inventor of the lunar camera and the author of 32 technical papers, and he holds 46 patents. He is a recipient of NASA’s “Space Science Award.”

Aside from being a member of the Institute of Transportation Engineers, Sampey has held committee positions with Penn State University and California University of Pennsylvania.

“The more we can find out, the more educated we become and the more we can do,” said Sampey.