Dunkirk Observer

Dale Till

Dale Till of Howard Avenue in Fredonia graduated from Fredonia High in 1954. In three years of football, his teams won two Southwestern Conference titles. He played four years of baseball ('54 sectional champs) and two years of varsity basketball.He earned a BS and Masters in Education from Fredonia State where he played four years of baseball and still holds three records: 3 HRs in a game; 12 total bases in a game; 20 RBI in a short season.

He retired from teaching social studies at Cassadaga Valley in 1993 after 26 years. He also taught at Jamestown, Brocton and Lockport.

He was varsity basketball coach at Brocton (1959-64) and CVCS (1966-71). His teams played in the sectionals five times. He started the first holiday basketball tournament in the county at Brocton in 1961.

He was assistant football coach at BCS (1959-64) and CVCS (1966-71), winning nine league titles working under Gene Masters at BCS and Joe Annarella at CVCS.

He was also JV baseball coach and track (7-2) coach at BCS in 1964 helping construct the first track.

He began coaching baseball at Fredonia State as an assistant in 1974, and was the varsity coach for the 1974-75 season. He was named varsity coach in 1980. In sixteen seasons, he has won 333 games, an ECAC title in 1982, two Western Division SUNYAC titles (1990, 1991), and a SUNYAC title (1990). He was the SUNYAC Coach of the Years in 1990 and is the winningest coach in Fredonia State history. His best mark was 31-11-1 in 1982.

Three of his players were drafted by pro teams: Jeff Shaver for Oakland and Chan Galbato for Montreal in 1985 and Steve Strauber for Detroit in 1986.

He played 25 tears of semi-pro baseball in the Buffalo Evening News, Chautauqua County, Grape Belt and Jamestown City leagues and for Chautauqua Institution. He played with Stockton Hotel, Cassadaga Bombers, Brocton, Jamestown Moose and Koch's.

He was inducted into the Fredonia State Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Western New York Softball Hall of Fame in 1992.

In 23 years of fast-pitch softball, Till played on 26 local title teams.. A slugging first baseman/manager, he played with Aldrich Dairy, Chautauqua Truck, Acquavia Post, 3-D and BFI, The Castle in the Brocton League and First Ward Falcons in the Gowanda League. A perennial .300 hitter, he was named Dunkirk A League MVP in 1970 and Fredonia MVP in 1969 when he hit a career best .490.

Twice a winner in bouts with cancer, Till does volunteer work for Roswell Park and the American Cancer Society.

He is married to the former Ann Binko, a graduate of the school of nursing at the University of Buffalo. Ann is employed as a public health nurse with the Chautauqua County Health Department. This past June, their children held a surprise 30th anniversary party for their parents.

Michelle Till Pasyanos graduated from Fredonia High in 1984. She was on the swimming and tennis (MVP 1984) teams. She graduated from Cornell University in 1988 with a degree in statistics. She lives in NYC and is employed by New York Life Insurance Company as a senior actuary. Michelle and her husband, Nicholas, are the parents of Jarred Emmanuel, born last November.

Edward Till graduated from FHS in 1987 and J.C.C. in 1989. He was awarded an associate degree in police science. He is a grad of the Chautauqua County Police Academy. In 1991, he joined the Wyoming County Sheriff's Department and in 1992 was named Deputy Sheriff of the Year by his peers. He has played on several fast and slow-pitch softball teams in Dunkirk and lives in Arcade.

Jay Till graduated from FHS in 1988. He played soccer and tennis (MVP in 1987, 1988). He graduated with honors from U.B. in 1992 and was a teaching assistant in the school of economics. He lives in Hermosa Beach, CA and is a sales rep for the Honda Corporation.


The additional financial assistance of the community is critical to the success of the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame.
We gratefully acknowledge these individuals and organizations for their generous support.