Fran Hassel
Fran Hassel was an outstanding high school football player who later greatly contributed in many ways to help young athletes in the Mercer County area.
He was at two-year letterman in football at Grove City High School and the starting quarterback on the undefeated Eagles squad in 1961. He helped lead the team to Mercer County and District 10 championships.
He went on to play freshman football at Springfield College (Massachusetts) before transferring to Slippery Rock State College.
He was also a two-year starter in basketball at GCHS.
He played Little League, Pony League and Prep League baseball in Grove City and was named to all-star teams at all levels.
Fran began coaching and umpiring youth baseball in 1963 and coached the Grove City Pony League for two years and Grove City American Legion team for a couple of years.
He served as an assistant coach for Grove City midget football and later was Grove City High football varsity assistant and then head coach.
He umpired baseball and softball and served as commissioner of Grove City Men’s Softball League. From 1986-95 he was a member of the Mercer County Basketball Officials Association and worked games in several counties.
From 1984-89 he served as boxing matchmaker for Mike Palumbo Boxing Shows and was inducted into the Mercer County Veteran Boxers Association Ring #5 Hall of Fame in 1988.
Fran was a sports writer and then sports editor for Allied News, Grove City, for several years. He was a member of the Mercer County Hall of Fame board of directors from 1991-95 and is a director emeritus.
Now living in Fort Myers, Fla., he is a clock operator for boys and girls basketball games.