Gerald Berkman

Gerald Berkman

Jerry came to Bennett in 1964 replacing a legend, Elmer Rosenthal. Jerry taught physical education and health, and kept busy coaching three sports a year. In the fall season, Jerry coached cross country, was an assistant football coach and head football coach from 1971 until his retirement.

In the winter season, Jerry coached either boys basketball, girls basketball, swimming or bowling. The spring season saw Jerry coach track and field or baseball. Jerry experienced championship teams in football(1 ), track and field(3), but his biggest success came in baseball. Jerry guided Tiger teams to Cornell Cups in ’74,’76,’81,’82 and ’85, not a big surprise since Jerry himself signed a pro baseball contract with the Philadelphia Phillies right out of Burgard HS. Jerry’s career was defined with the high moral and ethical standards he set for his athletes, and the sense of humor he brought to work everyday.

Best wishes for a long happy retirement in Leesburg, Florida, where Jerry still plays softball today.

Gerald Schweibel

Gerald Schweibel

Jerry Schweibel starred for Bennett in three sports in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. On the Bennett track team, Schweibel lettered all 4 years at Bennett, running the 100 yard dash and the sprint relays. He finished first or second each year for Bennett in the 1 00, and as a senior, made first team All-High on the 880 yard relay team.


As a football player, Schweibel started from his sophomore year through his senior year at running back and in the defensive backfield. He played in the most famous football game in Bennett history, the 1948 game against Kensington, played before 50,988 fans at Civic Stadium.


A 3 year letterman in basketball, Schweibel led the way as Bennett upset the famous Emerson team that featured college standouts, Jim Home of UB, and Harvey Austin of Purdue, as well as Nazeer Aljuanni. They had won 31 consecutive Yale Cup games until Bennett pulled off the shocking upset. During his outstanding athletic Career, Schweibel also played Classic League softball against such famous teams as Fort Wayne Zollners, Bell Aircraft, as well as the “King and His Court,” starring the legendary Eddie Feigner. Schweibel also ran track for the Downtown “Y” in several international meets.


Jerry is retired, and currently resides with his wife in Williamsville.

Jack Scherer

Jack Scherer

Jack Scherer was a member if the class of 1948 at Bennett, and spent an additional year as a post graduate in 1949, a common practice during that era. During his athletic career at Bennett in the late 1940’s, Scherer was a 3 sport standout in track, football and basketball. He was a first team All-High twice in track, when he anchored the championship Tiger 880 yard relay teams in 1 948 and 1949. As anchor of this speedy group, Scherer was outstanding. He was also a force in the 220 yard dash, finishing second in the All-High meet three consecutive years. Jack was a major point score for the Tiger track team throughout his career on the cinders.

On the football field in 1948, Jack showed his triple threat versatility, as he ran, threw and punted for the Tigers. He was the swiftest halfback for Coach Fred Braun’s successful gridiron teams of the late 1 940’s. Jack played in the famous Bennett-Kensington football game at Civic Stadium that had a record crowd of 50,988 on October 21, 1948. During the 1948 football season, Scherer’s strength and breakaway speed were valuable assets for the Tigers, as he piled up big yardage from his halfback position. Jack also starred in basketball for Bennett, and was one of the leading scorers on the hardwood for many of the Tigers’ conquests during his junior and senior years.


After his career at Bennett, Jack was drafted into the United States Army. Upon completion of his military services he enrolled at Syracuse University, where he spent 3 years. He transferred to UB and received his B.S. in Accounting, and then completed a Master’s Degree in Library Science from Geneseo State.

He currently resides in Lancaster with his wife, Joyce.

Jennie Brummer

Jennie Brummer

Jennie was selected for our 2nd Annual “Earle Y. Hannel Memorial Award” for two reasons. Jennie spent a long teaching career at Bennett and exhibited high-spirited support for all our athletic teams and athletes. We could always count on Jennie being at a game, especially football, basketball and baseball, lending her ever present vocal support to the Tigers. Jennie also helped the coaches by driving athletes to games, arranging special event celebrations and coming to out of town contests. Jennie also helped the athletic programs by collecting and “talking” to athletes who sometimes veered off course a little.

Also, it was Jennie’s vision of a Bennett Sports Hall of Fame that has brought us all together these past five years. After attending a similar function at Canisius HS, Jennie thought “why not Bennett”. She met with a few prominent alumni at school, Earle Hannel one of them, and the rest as they say, is history.

Coaches especially thank Jennie for all she did for the athletes and athletic programs at Bennett HS over the years.

Myron Hunt

Myron Hunt

Myron Hunt was on the finest all-round Bennett athletes of his time. He played baseball, basketball and football.

He was on the baseball team for four years and was on the undisputed first Cornell Cup Championship team in 1943. Myron was the Co-captain of the 1944 team and was on the All-High team as an outfielder. He had a batting average of .450 that year and played in the longest high school game on record, beating Kensington High School in 17 innings. Myron was on the basketball team for four years and was a member of the first Yale Cup Championship team in 1944. That year, the Bennett High School team was selected as the second All-High Team. That was the first time that this has ever occurred. He was on he football team for two years and played center and linebacker. In 1943, his team played the consolation game on Thanksgiving and had a record of six wins and one loss.

He was the class Historian for his senior class and appeared in the Spotlight section of the Bennett Beacon as one of the outstanding graduates of this class. After graduation in 1944, he was inducted into the US Army for 2 years. After the war, he spent one year at Nichols School and played football, basketball and baseball. They had an undefeated football team and were the Interstate League Champions. Myron played center and linebacker. From Nichols, he went to Middlebury College in Vermont. He played football and baseball and was chosen All State in Vermont in baseball. He was a member of the Blue Key Honor Society.

For the past 45 plus years, Myron has been president of Myron M. Hunt, Inc., a real estate development company.