Two HHH Scholar-Athletes Honored By Town Of Huntington

Half Hollow Hills High School scholar-athletes Raymond J. Enners and James C. Metzger were among 30 Town of Huntington sports stars who were honored this past Thursday when a permanent exhibit at town hall was dedicated to the community’s amateur and professional athletes. The exhibit on the first floor of the west wing at Huntington Town Hall (100 Main Street in Huntington) pays tribute to the inductees of the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame who have a connection to the town.

"These exceptional players, coaches and residents…have made substantial contributions in the fields of professional and amateur sports and serve as an inspiration to Huntington's young aspiring athletes," said Huntington Town Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci.

Enners starred in lacrosse at Half Hollow Hills and then at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point during the 1960s. Lt. Enners was killed in action fighting with Company A, 1st Battalion, 20th and 11th Infantry Brigade in Vietnam on September 18, 1968.

In his memory, the Lt. Ray Enners Award has been presented annually since 1970 to one lacrosse player in Suffolk County by the Suffolk County Boys Lacrosse Coaches Association. The recipient must be an All-County player and an athlete who best exemplifies courage, teamwork, skill and leadership.

Metzger received this prestigious honor during 1977. Besides lacrosse, Metzger also starred in football and basketball at Half Hollow Hills. He was an All-American lacrosse player at Hofstra University.

Today, Metzger is the founder, chairman and CEO of The Whitmore Group, a Garden City insurance brokerage firm. He and his company are benefactors for sports, education and other programs at his high school and college alma maters, St. Anthony’s High School, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island and countless other organizations.

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Photo: James C. Metzger thanked the town and the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame during the exhibit dedication at Huntington Town Hall. Nearby is the photograph of Lt. Raymond J. Enners. M. Virgintino

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Third HOF Satellite Exhibit

The new exhibit also features a collage honoring Metzger's life along with his athletic and business careers, and his philanthropic contributions to the Long Island community. Metzger was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame during 2014.

The Huntington exhibit is the third satellite display established by the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame. The others are located at Long Island MacArthur Airport and at Bethpage Ballpark (home of the Long Island Ducks).

"The Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame continues to grow and spread its legacy across our great county," said Chris R. Vaccaro, executive director, Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame. "We're so proud to partner with the Town of Huntington and bring this exhibit to life, honoring these legendary men and women on an intimate level with their hometown and region.”

Among the celebrated professional athletes featured in the Huntington exhibit are football's Emerson Boozer and Wesley Walker, boxing's Gerry Cooney, hockey's Clark Gillies, basketball's Tom Gugliotta and soccer's Sara Whalen. Additional Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame inductees featured in the town exhibit are Stephen Bowen, Charles Boccia, Don Buckley, Jill Byers, Fred Cambria, Rich Castellano, Tony Cerullo, Bob Chipman, Tom Combs, Bill Edwards, Melvin Fowler, Fred Fusaro, Lou Giani, Frank Gugliotta, Kim Gwydir, Bob Herzog, Bill Ketcham, John Nitti, Ed Norton, Carol Rose, Cathy Vayianos and Ann Marie Wyckoff-Bagshaw.

The Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame is a non-profit established during 1990 to honor outstanding people, living or deceased, who have gained prominence and made substantial contributions on behalf of themselves and Suffolk County, in the fields of professional and amateur sports. More than 300 people have been inducted over the past 29 years. The organization will celebrate its 2019 induction on May 16, 2019.