Thomas E. Hefferan

Category
1988
About This Inductee

Wilkes-Barre, PA

Former owner and publisher of the Sunday Independent, Hefferan started the Sunday Independent All-Scholastic Football Team in 1922, the oldest honorary high school team in the United States. He was considered a pioneer in the idea of publicizing high school sports. He was also an early supporter of high school wrestling. He played one year of football at Lehigh University after World War I before transferring to Penn State for a year. During his year at Penn State, Hefferan was a middleweight varsity boxer. As a member of the 109th National Guard, he was a member of its polo team. He maintained a strong interest in horses until he passed away in 1970.