Frazier Hall of Fame inductee named
Henry DiVirgilio, longtime Frazier School District teacher, coach and administrator, officially will become the eighth inductee into the Frazier Hall of Fame as part of homecoming festivities today. The ceremony will take place during the pre-game of the Frazier/Beth Center football game at the Frazier High School Stadium.
DiVirgilio graduated from Perry Township High School in 1941 and, following four years of service in the United States Navy during World War II, graduated from Waynesburg College with a teaching degree.
He began his professional career in 1951 as a math and science teacher at Perry Township until he was named assistant high school principal in 1959.
In 1961, DiVirgilio became junior high principal, and, after holding that position for eight years, he was named junior/senior high school principal in 1969. He held this position until his retirement in 1985.
He began his basketball coaching career at the former Perry Township High School. He became head coach in 1953 and held that position for 30 years, sitting out only the 1978-79 season, which was the year the school board asked him to serve as interim superintendent until a replacement was found.
Always placing academics first, DiVirgilio stepped down as head coach to concentrate on his duties as superintendent and returned to his coaching career the next season. He officially retired as both a coach and administrator in 1984.
His coaching accomplishments consist of 457 victories, 11 section championships, one WPIAL Championship in 1969, WPIAL Runner-up in 1975 and PIAA State Runner-up in 1969.
DiVirgilio follows these individuals as inductees in the Frazier Hall of Fame: Dr. Henry Sampey, Dr. Bruno Bonucci, Lt. Col. James Richards, Eldo DiVirgilio, Dr. Candace Gearing-Berardinelli, Dr. Laura Greene-Orndorff and Thomas Kalman.