Greg Peterson

But some of his best "work" was helping to bring minor league baseball back to Jamestown in the early 1970s when the then-Jamestown Expos took over College Stadium (now Russell E. Diethrick Park). He also played a big role in convincing Bob and Mindy Rich of the Buffalo Bisons organization to keep baseball in Jamestown by re-locating the Niagara Falls team to the city in 1994 and the Jamestown Jammers were born and remain the occupants of the big ballpark on Falconer Street to this day.Peterson was also a key factor in the growth and development of the Babe Ruth World Series, beginning in the 1980s. Thanks to his hard work, the series has remained a fixture in Jamestown for more than 30 years.

He also was the driving force behind the 1998 book Across The Seams, which chronicled the history of professional baseball in Jamestown and had collaborated on the production of two documentary films on the history of auto racing in our country: "Roll-O-Bowl" and "Stateline Speedway - The First Ten Years."

It's appropriate for Peterson to be inducted in the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame, since he's played an important role in its growth as a board member. He's also donated office equipment, participated in numerous events and shared his expertise, memorabilia knowledge and ideas.

Peterson's passion for sports began in childhood: he played little league baseball and played for the Joe Albano Southside Blue Devils football team for three years, lettered in football, baseball, volleyball and track at Jefferson Junior High School and in jayvee football and basketball in Jamestown High School.

He also lettered four years at Allegheny College as an offensive guard and center, was selected as a co-captain in his senior year and was received a national All Phi Delta Athlete award and was the winner of the Myford Award for outstanding athletics and academics.

Peterson also pitched for the Westburgh Electric Slo-Pitch Softball League team, winning a pair of city championships.

Peterson has also served as the president of the Robert H. Jackson Center, which he helped to form. He's served on the board for the Resource Center and the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce, as well as the SUNY Fredonia Foundation and was president of the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation for five years and was a director for 10 years.