Rams Brian Knell and Lions Ian Harter win Stiles Memorial Award
Monday, December 08, 2008
GLOUCESTER CITY NJ-The seventh annual “Joe Stiles Memorial War” was presented to
Gloucester Catholic’s Brian Knell and Gloucester City High’s Ian Harter before
the kickoff of the City Series Thanksgiving football game held at Gloucester
High School.
Presenting the awards were Karen and Michaelene Stiles. .
The Stiles Award is given to a senior football player from
both schools who are nominated by a vote of the student’s peers – in this case,
other members of the respective football teams. The names are then submitted to
a committee that consists of friends of Stiles who make the final selection.
Committee members include: Bob Bevan, Bill Cleary, Bob Fritz, Sam Gager, Jim
Goldschmidt and Bill Rettig.
Stiles played the position of offensive guard
and linebacker for the Lions during his four years on the school’s football
team from 1959-1962. Growing up as a youth he played on the Carmen Palmiero
Midget football team. He also played semi-pro
football with the Cramer Hill Wildcats. He lost his battle to cancer at the age of 57 in 1999.
Stiles stood about 5 foot 6 inches. But when he played football,
his size was not a deterrent. He was so quick and strong his teammates gave him
the nickname "The Jet".
Stiles was the recipient of the Brook’s Irvin Club Lineman of
the Week award, the Andy Kowalski Award and named to the Tri-County Second
Team, Group II Honorable Mention.
He was a coach for the Carmen Palmiero Basketball League, the
Carmen Palmiero Football League and St. Mary’s CYO Basketball League.
Photo: from left, Karen Stiles, Fritz, Goldschmidt, Cleary, Lions Ian Harter, Gager, Rams Brian Knell, Michaelene Stiles, his wife Ann Stiles and Bevan. Missing Bill Rettig.
~BILL CLEARY
