Clarkstown North Grad Joins Rockland Sports Hall Of Fame

Barbara (Mellen) Speerin, a graduate of Clarkstown High School North, was inducted Saturday night into the Rockland County Sports Hall of Fame.

A graduate of the Class of 1976, she played volleyball, basketball, soccer and softball

The Rockland County Sports Hall of Fame was founded by Joseph Holland, the former Rockland County Clerk, former New York State Senator and former head of the Rockland Department of Social Services. The hall was founded to honor outstanding professional and amateur sportsmen and women, living and deceased, who have gained prominence while living in Rockland County, or who have brought fame and recognition to Rockland because of their athletic stature.

The annual induction ceremony began as a dinner-dance in 1974. The first ceremony was held March 23, 1974, at Singer's Hotel in Spring Valley. Singer's remained the host location in 1975. From 1976 to 1987, the event was held at the Nanuet Holiday Inn. In 1987, the format changed from a dinner-dance to strictly a dinner. In 1988 the dinner was held at the Nanuet Days Inn (site of the former Holiday Inn), and then switched for a two-year run at the Pearl River Elks Club in Nanuet. From 1991 to 1997, the dinner was held at the Italian American Social Club in West Haverstraw, before returning in 1998 to the Pearl River Elks Club. The event went back to the Italian American club for two years, 1999-2000, then returned in 2001 to the Elks Club, where it has been held since.

The Hall of Fame is proud to recognize the achievements of its outstanding athletic personages. Our county has been home to champions in all walks of sporting endeavor, and through this organization those individuals' athletic legacies will be enshrined permanently.

The Hall of Fame last night also inducted:

Joseph Conace - Nyack
T.J. Ford – Nanuet
Sol "Spike" Israel – Spring Valley
Margie Sahlstrom – Nanuet
Mike Sparago – Suffern
Robbie Woods – Nyack