WHEELING — Family.

That was the theme resonating throughout a jam-packed Wheeling Jesuit University cafeteria Saturday morning.

The common refrain was delivered by many — if not all — of the 14 inductees into the Wheeling Central Hall of Fame. Be it Peggy Dailer, the Duffy brothers (Mickey and Tom), Roberta Robinson Olejasz, Darrah Metz or many others, family was at the forefront of their acceptance speeches.

It was the third class to be enshrined into the Maroon Knight HOF. The new honorees join 36 previous inductees.

The aforementioned five were joined in enshrinement by Joe Doerr, Tom Hogan, Stan Kaniecki, Ted Mattern, Eric McGhee, Tommy Thomas, Dr. Heather O’Shea Wayt, Mike Young and Dr. Robert Zaleski.

What is amazing about the latest class of inductees is that it took them three years to gain entrance to the Maroon shrine. These 14 boasts exceptional credentials which speaks volumes for the high level of success exhibited by the first 36 honorees.

Bo McConnaughy — a member of the second Central HOF class — and Young are the co-emcees for the event. You couldn’t ask for two better ambassadors for the East Wheeling school.

McConnaughy tagged Young “as the face of the school” while introducing him for induction into the HOF. He was right on.

Young has led his alma mater to six state grid championships. His Knights appear poised for another this fall.

Young is also a member of the CCHS Hall of Fame selection committee. He takes take pride in what the panel has achieved.

“Our Hall of Fame is a great challenge for Bo, Nick (Bedway), myself and a group of other committee members. In three years, we have recognized 50 graduates, coaches and athletic director, spanning 65-70 years,” Young said. “They are great people who have made a great positive impact on our CCHS Nation. They have delivered a legacy of Pride, Faith and Tradition on and off the field.

“We still have a large number to be inducted and hope we can continue to build on the program. It is an honor to show respect to so many gifted and talented individuals.”

Bedway, an OVAC Hall of Famer for his tremendous writing tenure at the Wheeling News-Register, drew praise from the majority of the honorees for his passionate and incisive coverage of their respective careers.

Young is spot-on when he says a large number of worthy candidates still are in line for induction. In fact, with Central’s glorious athletic tradition, there is no end in sight for future Maroon Hall of Famers.

The inaugural class featured: Bill Gompers, Suzie Dailer, Jim Foti, Neil Habig, Jackie Ernest-Reinbeau, John “Butch” Erb, Skip Prosser, Lenny Pavlic, Earl Haberfield Dick Miller, Rick Nau and Jim Thomas. Quite an impressive group.

Year 2’s contingent was also outstanding: Raquel Burns-Davis, Rebecca Kostival-Muehlfeld, George “Bunny” Naum, Richie Nau, Andy Urbanic, Bo McConnaughy, Doug Wojcik, James Dailer, Paul Renowicz, Joe Blaha, Steve Wojcik, Nick Mansuetto along with the 23-0 boys’ basketball team.

Haberfield coached that Maroon hoop juggernaut — the only unbeaten hoop squad in school annals. Team members were Doerr, Kaniecki, Erb, Larry Romine, Ray Flanagan, Chuck Lovinski, Tom Abraham, Paul Klenowski, Jay Duffy, George Altmeyer, Dennis Deegan and Al Salvadori.

Saturday’s festivities included one special guest from the nation’s capital. Gayle Manchin, wife of U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, who also previously served as the state’s first lady, was in attendance to present a special U.S. Senate proclamation to Mattern.

Mattern was a Maroon Knights hoop great. He also scripted an impressive career in the academic world after graduation. He served as assistant principal and principal in several West Virginia counties before Gov. Manchin appointed him to the West Virginia Board of Governors. Mattern also served as the State Superintendent of Schools.

While family was the paramount message delivered by the inductees, most also delivered a closing remark: Beat Linsly.

Request fulfilled.

Bubba Kapral can be reached at bkapral@timesleaderonline.com