5 inducted into 2024 Interboro Hall of Fame

TINICUM — “Never forget where you came from” seemed to be the theme of the day, echoed over and over again, at the 2024 Interboro School District Hall of Fame Induction event on Oct. 2.

This year’s Hall of Fame inductees include alumni Edward Campbell, Interboro High Class of 1993; Lois Sauer (Wolfe), Interboro High Class of 1972; and the late David Showell, Prospect Park High School Class of 1943, as well as former Interboro faculty members Lois Snyder and Peggy Wanger.

The Interboro Hall of Fame, established in May of 2000, recognizes alumni, staff and community members who have distinguished themselves by their significant contributions in their field of work or study or the enhancement of the Interboro School District, and who have brought outstanding recognition to the district.

The hall of fame was conceived as a joint effort on behalf of Glen-Nor, Prospect Park and Interboro high schools.

By honoring these role models each year, the hall of fame committee hopes to inspire and encourage current students in their areas of studies as well as in their extra-curricular opportunities and community service.

The Hall of Fame event began in the Interboro High School auditorium, where the honorees gathered on stage at an assembly attended by the senior class.

After a warm welcome by high school Principal Brian Lytz, each inductee was introduced by hall of fame board president Dan Van Wyk and given time to make a three -to-five minute speech to the Class of 2025, where the speakers stressed the importance of remembering their educational roots.

“Someday you will come to realize,” inductee Ed Campbell told the students. “that you are the sum of everyone who crosses your path in life. Do not ever forget where you came from.”

The inductees moved on to a celebratory luncheon at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Essington, where food and fellowship awaited them.

The honorees were given the opportunity to speak again, but this time it was to their adult peers, friends, co-workers and family, numbering close to 100 in attendance. At one point during the luncheon, all past inductees there were asked to stand and be acknowledged.

Speaker Vince Papale

Interboro High School Class of 1964 alumnus Vince Papale, whose story was made famous by the 2006 film “Invincible,” was the keynote speaker.

He attended the induction luncheon with his wife, Janet.

“Invincible” tells the true story of lifelong football fan Vince Papale, played by Mark Wahlberg in the film, who sees his wildest dreams come true when he becomes a member of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1976.

While teaching at Interboro, his high school alma mater, Papale gets a chance to try out for his favorite team and becomes the oldest rookie in NFL history.

Papale talked about the importance of mentorship. He memorialized the late George Corner, his coach while growing up in Glenolden, who passed away in July.

“Has anyone here ever heard of the movie ‘Invincible?’ ” the famous Interboro alumnus asked the luncheon crowd, who laughed and clapped at the question. “Well, I’m here to tell you that without Coach George Corner, there would never have been an ‘Invincible.’ ”

Papale said the late coach gave him the courage to try out for the football team in high school, despite Papale’s only 4-foot, 10-inch height in his youth, and again encouraged him at age 30 to try out for the Philadelphia Eagles.

“When I told Coach Corner that I always had a dream to play with the Eagles, but I was unsure because of my age, here’s what he told me,” Papale shared. “He said ‘Happy are those who dream dreams and are willing to pay the price to follow those dreams.’ ”

Papale spoke about his difficult family life while growing up in Glenolden, and how Corner mentored and guided him to reach his potential.

“It’s never too late to get into the game,” Papale said, speaking figuratively. “Everyone has the potential to be great.”

Papale closed by saying that everyone should be so lucky as to have a Coach George Corner in their lives.

Inductee David Showell

Before each honoree spoke, they were introduced by their nominators them.

The late David Showell was honored and inducted posthumously. His awards were accepted by his proud nieces Catherine Showell, Interboro Class of 1973, and Donna Showell, Interboro Class of 1975.

When accepting the award for her uncle, Catherine Showell said it was a full-circle moment attending the luncheon at the Corinthian Yacht Club.

“This is where we lived while we attended Interboro,” Catherine said sentimentally. “My grandfather ran the Corinthian Yacht Club for years. This was our home.”

David Showell exceled at Prospect Park High School as an all-around athlete.

Playing numerous positions, including quarterback and running back, he led Prospect Park to one of the most successful football seasons in the history of the school.

David was the top scorer in Delaware County with 135 points while earning All-Delco, All-Scholastic and All-Suburban honors.

In 1942, Prospect Park High School captured three championships, the suburban Class A and B and the Chester Pike Conference. It was the first time that any school had been awarded both Suburban titles simultaneously and the first time Prospect Park had won the Chester Pike Conference Trophy.

At the Ridley Township football banquet, Showell was awarded a cup for being the outstanding opponent during his senior season. He also was presented with the Victory Corps Award for leading his fellow students to do their part in the war effort.

After graduation, Showell enlisted in the Army, joining the U.S. Army Air Corps, and becoming a member of the renowned Tuskegee Airmen, who distinguished themselves during World War II.

His 332nd fighter group had the distinction of never losing any of the bombers they escorted to enemy fighters. Several of his fellow Tuskegee Airmen were in attendance at the induction banquet to see him honored.

Two years after Showell’s discharge in 1945, David began his freshman year at Lafayette College, where he earned a business administration degree, and played football.

Lafayette was invited to play in the Sun Bowl on Jan. 1, 1949. However, the Sun Bowl Committee in El Paso, Texas, stipulated that to play in the Sun Bowl, Lafayette was required to exclude Showell.

He agreed to sit out the Sun Bowl, but his teammates declared they would not play without him.

Lafayette’s president, Ralph Cooper Hutchinson, challenged the accepted practice of the day and made a vow: if David couldn’t play, Lafayette wouldn’t play.

Rather than turn their rage toward the college president for declining what would have been the school’s first major bowl game, Lafayette’s students instead protested in support of their African American classmate.

Showell graduated from Lafayette in 1951 and later enrolled at the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Tragically, Showell suffered critical injuries while driving a coal truck during his Christmas break on Dec. 23, 1955.

These injuries led to his untimely demise hours later, when he was pronounced dead at Taylor Hospital at the age of 31.

David Showell’s valor while flying combat missions during World War II, his athletic prowess, sportsmanship, and dedication to continuing education makes him an ideal candidate for induction to the Interboro High School Hall of Fame.

“I am just so happy that members of the Showell family could be here in David’s honor,” said an emotional hall of fame board member Ken Mobley, who was one of the people who researched and nominated David Showell for the award. “I wanted the kids in this district to know David Showell and realize what a fine man he was. I wanted him to get the honor he deserves.”

Inductee Edward Campbell

Edward Campbell, Interboro Class of 1993, was another of the inductees who distinguished himself during his high school years on both the football and wrestling teams and after graduation. Campbell attended the Masonry program at Thaddeus Stevens Trade School. He also went to Delaware County Community College to learn the oil service business.

In 1996, Campbell purchased a local oil company and then sold it after successfully expanding the business.

In 2006, he founded East Coast Advisory Inc., which advises unions on financial stability, thereby ensuring secure retirement funds for their members.

Campbell has been named to Philadelphia Business Journals 40 under 40 and in 2018 he was one of 35 applicants selected to attend Harvard Business School of Executive Education.

Campbell earned his accredited investment fiduciary designation at the Center for Fiduciary Studies in 2015. In 2019 he was recognized at the Securian Financial leaders conference held in Montreux Switzerland.

Campbell plays bass, is a second degree black belt and currently boxes for fun. He is a champion of many charitable causes, most notably, The Pink Elephant Foundation, which supports children who have lost a parent to opioid addiction.

Campbell sponsors an annual scholarship to his alma mater, Thaddeus Stevens Trade School. The honoree has been married to his wife Lauren for 25 years. They have two children, Sierra and Eddie.

Inductee Lois Sauer

Community volunteer Lois (Wolfe) Sauer, Interboro Class of 1972, was also honored and lauded for a long and impressive list of achievements.

“Whenever you go to Lois and her husband, Ken, for anything, they jump right in,” expressed Interboro community member and Prospect Park Board President Pat Quinn, who nominated Sauer. “Thank you for giving back so much and so often to our community.”

Sauer was an active member of the Prospect Park Youth club, 2000 to 2005, where she was secretary for two years. She designed the PPYC Logo and two award-winning Fourth of July floats, one of which was replicated for the unity parade held after Sept. 11.

Sauer served with the Prospect Park 4th of July Association for seven years, organizing and designing ads for its sponsor book and prepared it for printing. She also was an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Chester Pike, assisting with their program sponsorship for eight years and organized and designed ads for their sponsor book and prepared it for printing.

Her volunteerism included Interboro High School Basketball Boosters (2009 -2010), Rosemont College Soccer Boosters (2010-2013), and Prospect Park Library fundraising efforts.

She was an active member of Olivet Presbyterian Church in Prospect Park for 49 years until it closed in 2019. While there, she was an administrative assistant, ordained elder, Vacation Bible School teacher for 24 years, Beacon of Hope Clothes Closet co-director.

She was also a Friday Night Out Volunteer (2010 – 2015) and the active volunteer recruits vendors for and hosts the annual Quarter Mania Auction fundraiser that benefits the Interboro High School After Prom event.

Sauer was assistant program director to Prospect Park Town Watch directors Joe and Debbie Daniels, helping them with their annual toy drive during the holidays. When the couple moved out of the area, Sauer and her husband, Ken, took over as leaders of the still-thriving program.

The Sauers are key members of the Prospect Park Beautification Committee and they both fundraise for the Interboro Hometown Heroes program which honors local Veterans and First Responders.

In December, Sauer volunteered to assist Pastor Chris Heisey-Terrell of the Prospect Baptist Hill Church with the Wreaths Across America program.

The hall of fame committee wrote in the program book that Sauer’s dedication and service to Interboro and her community made her an ideal candidate as Interboro HOF inductee.

“If people who volunteer live longer, I am going to live forever,” Sauer joked, as she thanked the audience.

Inductee Peggy Wanger

Inductee Peggy Wanger was a teacher at Interboro high school for 36 years. Initially teaching stenography and typing, she had to educate herself in the field of computer science beginning in the mid-1980s. Wanger was the Department chair and led her department through its transition to a computer-based curriculum. She also taught courses at Temple University.

Wanger was president of the local association of business teachers and was named Pennsylvania Business Teacher of the Year. She started the local chapter of the Future Business leaders of America Program, which was wildly successful, and enabled many students to compete at the local, state, and national level. This program produced numerous highly successful businessmen and businesswomen.

Wanger initiated a relationship with the Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union and opened the first student-run branch at Interboro High School. Using Wanger’s program as a model, FMFCU installed bank branches in many high schools in Delaware County.

She also established the Junior Career Initiative. This landmark program enabled every junior student to explore career choices at Neumann College and listen to speakers discuss career related topics. Always seeking new challenges, Financial Fitness in the 2000s was her favorite course and one that had an impact on her students, and some parents.

“Peggy is a professional of the highest caliber who has had a positive and lasting impact on her students and the Interboro community,” the hall of fame committee wrote in explaining her selection.

Inductee Lois Snyder

Another inductee with a profound impact on the education of students in the Interboro School District is Lois Snyder, who attended the luncheon with her three adult children and four of her seven grandchildren.

Before retiring from the district in 2009, Snyder was principal of Norwood School (1993-1998); director of curriculum and instruction, Grades K-8; principal of Kindergarten Academy (1999-2004); and superintendent of Interboro School District (2004-09). Before joining the district, Snyder was an elementary school teacher, guidance counselor, and assistant principal in the Upper Darby School District.

At Interboro, Snyder developed the full-day kindergarten program, which was recognized as a model program for early childhood education across Pennsylvania.

“I’m in great company here in the Interboro School District, from one end to the other,” Snyder told the attendees. “Accomplishments and personal successes do not happen in a vacuum. I must give credit to everyone who helped me along the way.”

Snyder earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and Pennsylvania Certification in Elementary Education; Master of Arts in elementary school guidance, Villanova University; Master of Arts in secondary school guidance counseling, West Chester University; Pennsylvania Certification in Curriculum and Instruction; Pennsylvania Certification in Administration; Doctorate in educational leadership; Letter of Eligibility, Superintendent of Schools; eligible to hold all positions in K-12 public school education in Pennsylvania.

Following her retirement, she has been dedicated to nonprofit work.

She is passionate when volunteering and very generous with her time in the following roles: board member, Interboro Education Foundation; president, The Edward Joseph Snyder Family Support Center/Organized Giving; board member, Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union Education Foundation; board member, Delaware County Literacy Council; president, board of directors of Family and Community Services of Delaware County; member of DKG, an international society of educators supporting women in education.

Committee’s comments

This year, the committee of six members received 14 nominations that they had to whittle down to five by voting.

“Everyone who is honored here today is a source of pride and inspiration to the entire Interboro School District,” remarked Dr. Michael Pladus, a 2009 hall of fame inductee who served as principal of Interboro High School for seven years and superintendent of the district for two years. “I always enjoy coming to this event, celebrating the accomplishments and service of alumni and community members.”

“Kudos to the hall of fame committee for keeping this tradition active,” commented Bernadette Reiley, who has been district superintendent since 2013. “The HOF has a very positive impact, giving students the message that they can make a difference as they graduate and move on with their lives.”

Nominations for the 2025 Interboro Hall of Fame will be accepted from January to March. To be eligible for consideration, individuals must be graduates of Interboro High School or have served with distinction in any of the Interboro schools.

Individuals who have not attended or worked in these schools, but have provided meritorious service to the Interboro School community are also eligible.

The Interboro Hall of Fame is a program of The Community’s Foundation. Interboro alumni may be considered for inclusion five years after their graduation. Staff members may be considered for inclusion five years after their retirement or separation from employment. Individuals under consideration for outstanding service to the school community may be nominated at any time.

The committee oversees the recruitment, selection and recognition of all individuals inducted into the hall. Current members of the committee are David Hine, Robin Hiddemen, Brian Hassel, Daniel Van Wyk, Ken Mobley and Andy Costanzo.

All honorees were given a commemorative poster-sized plaque to take home with them. Another plaque, showcasing their photo and bio, hangs inside Interboro High School to serve as an inspiration for all students, staff and members of the community.

For more information on submitting nominations, or to see a list of past inductees, go to www.interboroalumni.org.