Jack Hemmig

A graduate of Shillington High School and West Chester State College, Hemmig had a long and storied background in sports dating to the early days of the 20th century. He earned four varsity sports letters in baseball, basketball, track and gymnastics in one season. He was captain of his baseball and basketball teams and in track, ran the 440 yard dash in 50.4 seconds. Jack was a coach of high school sports for 20 years and officiated many college and high school track meets. Hemmig organized and served as the first president of the Berks County High School Basketball League (1923). His first team at Shillington won the county title with a perfect record (1924). Jack introduced a county football program (1930) and is considered the father of scholastic football in Berks County. He also played and coached semi-pro baseball for 19 years and semi-pro basketball for 15 years. Hemmig organized and coached the first American Legion baseball team in Shillington (1945). He was the long-time head of the Berks League. Jack helped in the founding of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, in conjunction with George Bellis (1963). For his efforts in sports, Hemmig was often cited and honored. He was also a former winner of the Berks County Hall of Fame Sportsman’s Award (1977).

Deceased