SPORTS HALL of FAME ATHLETE
Gerald 'Jerry' Curtis '59'

Tough... gritty ... intense ... demanding... All of these adjectives were used to describe Jerry Curtis when he was wearing the maroon and white uniform representing Sidney High School.

His never quit persona and will-to-win focus has always been carried forward, from his early days at the Rec Center, throughout high school, to his Marine Corps service, into his coaching of youth sports, and throughout his life as a hardworking family man.

Jerry Curtis was born in Comwall-on-Hudson in December of 1937 then moved to Sidney with his family at the age of 4. Sports played an important role not only in his life but in the lives of his siblings Barbara, Milt, Phyllis and Sandy as well.

A boxing trophy from the Recreation Center was earned in 1952, followed by a basketball championship playing for the "Nationals" in the Rec Center's Teen League. He played neither sport in high school yet he was already showing those traits listed above. The sports he DID play were:.

Wrestling. Though not yet a full-fledged sport at Sidney, Jerry made the most if his limited mat time, pinning three of his opponents in the first period. His coach Fran Redmond observed that Jerry's skills on display during a summer wrestling camp at Lehigh University were "as good as anyone's".

Baseball. Jerry played mostly third base and catcher. He was a Susquenango League All-Star during his senior season, batting a nifty .353. Jerry lists Hall of Fame coach Al Drake ('07) in baseball as well as Coach Redmond (HOF '03) in football and wrestling as two of his biggest influences.

Football. That was the sport that turned the heads of spectators under Coach Redmond. As a two-way end and captain on the 1956 undefeated team, Curtis was a ferocious blocker and tenacious tackler. During the unbeaten season of 1956, he took a reverse from teammate Fred Collins on the opening kickoff versus Walton and raced 75 yards for a touchdown run. At the time, it was the third longest return in school history. While no other statistics are available, it was clear that the Warriors were a running team, with plenty of runs to the outside sprung via blocks from #68 - Jerry Curtis.

After playing a fourth season in 1957, Jerry was honored (along with teammate Bill Burdick) with his selection to represent Sidney on the East squad in the very first Section IV All-Star Football game, sponsored by the Endicott Optimist Club. What an honor!

The game was played on August 23, 1958 and was the precursor to the present-day Ernie Davis Classic. This game, however, actually included Ernie Davis, who would enter Syracuse University shortly after the game and be just one year from leading the Orangemen gridders to an undefeated record and a National Championship. Jerry's highlight of that game was making a tackle on the opponent who would later win a Heisman Trophy as the top football player in the United States.

Following his 1959 graduation, Jerry enlisted in the Marine Corps, where he also excelled as part of a team. He was a member of the "8th and I" which is the oldest active post in the Corps, known for its support in both ceremonial and security in our Nation's Capitol, according to its website. As a member of this prestigious unit, Jerry served on the Silent Drill Team and the President's Honor Guard.

With an honorable discharge from the service in 1963, Jerry and Bonnie dug their roots firmly back in Sidney, where Jerry entered the apprenticeship program at Scintilla. While raising their family, Jerry worked tirelessly, often holding down two jobs, and spent many hours as a volunteer fire fighter.

Jerry still keeps an intense watch over his grandchildren's athletic pursuits in Sidney and Holland-Patent school districts. As a "bonus:, his son-in-law is Mike Brazee, Sidney's all-time winningest boys basketball coach while his daughter-in-law Liz Voltz Curtis has led the competitive H-P field hockey team for a number of years.

Tough and gritty perhaps, but those closest to him will also let it be known he has a "heart of gold". So congratulations Jerry, on this very special induction into the Sidney Alumni Sports Hall of Fame.