Joe “Ganze” Falatko

Category
2001
About This Inductee
Joseph Falatko Sr., more commonly known as Joe or “Ganze”, attended Foster Township High School, he lettered in both basketball and baseball for four years, earning a total of eight letters. Falatko not only served his country with the Army Air Corps during WWII but he was also recalled to active duty during the Korean War which totaled to an 11 and 1/2 year service.  He played basketball and baseball for a number of camp baseball teams, including a team at Millville Army Air Field.  Falatko was a private first class.  Falatko pitched for an managed the Eckley Reds and Jeddo Stars baseball teams for over 30 years.  Charter secretary for Freeland Little League, he had served the organization for 35 years.  He is a director and former team manager in Freeland Babe Ruth Baseball and organization and served as president of the Freeland Biddy Basketball program.  In the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) basketball program, he has served as a coach and commissioner.  Falatko is a PIAA baseball and softball and Amateur Sofball Association (ASA) umpire.  He Also refereed Biddy Basketball in 1983, Falatko was named ASA Sportswriter of the Year.
He organized the first boy scouts troop in Eckley and served as Boy Scout commissioner and merit badge counselor in Freeland.  He is active in St. John’s Nepomucene Church as an usher and is past president of the Holy Name Society and a former choir member.  He is charter member of the Eckley Sports and Social Club.  Falatko began his career as a news reporter for The Plain Speaker and Standard-Sentinel Nov. 26th, 1947.  He has served continuously since then with the execption of the years he served during the Korean war.
His Awards include Freeland Elks Man of the Year, 1965; Slovak of the Year, 1974; North Side Dart League award, 1977; VFW award, 1980; Citizens Hose co., Fourth Ward Fire Co., Freeland Lions, Jaycees and CYO awards, 1981; ASA Sportswriter of the Year, 1983; F.A.S.T. service award, 1989; Freeland Lion Public Service, American Legion, YMCA Biddy Basketball, CYO and Freeland Church award, 1995; VFW’s 50th anniversary and Northside Softball appreciation awards, 1995; VFW community service award, 1996; Freeland American Legion Outstanding Citizen 50-year service award; and Eckley Social and Sports Club 50-year award, 1997.
Joe and his wife and partner of 50 plus years, the former Agnes Olenik, have six children and 13 grandchildren.