I received the picture above with the following note on August 26, 2012: Dear Sir, I am a niece of Walter Petruczenko, class of 48 of Holy Trinity High School and when cleaning thru some old photos found this picture of the '47-48 Holy Trinity football team. I don't recognize him in this picture and not sure if he ever played football at all. Unfortunately, his mind is not allowing him to remember these events at this time. He is currently residing in a nursing home in Lisle, Il. The photo has some of the team's signature on the back side. (see attached) I thought you would like it as when I was researching some of the signatures on the back of the photo, I found them inducted in the hall of fame that you posted online. Sincerely, Diane Dorner

Reflections on Holy Trinity High School Thomas V. Bednar, President Tom Bednar Bio The fourth of 10 children, Tom was born in St. Joseph, Michigan to the late Joseph P. Bednar Sr. and Dorothy Bednar. After attending St. Peter's grade school, Tom earned a scholarship to Pembroke Country Day School (the alma mater of golf great Tom Watson) in Kansas City, Missouri. Fond of sports, he participated in football, baseball and track and had summer jobs that included caddying and working as an assistant to the equipment manager for the Kansas City Chiefs. Tom was a football walk-on his freshman year at the University of Missouri where he helped future all pro tight end Kellen Winslow develop the skills he would need for success in the NFL. He later entered the seminary for the Congregation of Holy Cross and obtained his B.A. in Economics and Master's in Divinity degrees from the University of Notre Dame. Tom taught at Notre Dame High School in Niles, Illinois for three years before moving on to Nuestra Senora de Andacollo School in Santiago, Chile where he worked for 13 years. He then worked 3 years at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. Tom served as a priest from 1985 until 2003. He came to Holy Trinity School as president in 2003. Tom resides in Villa Park with his wife Lucy and their sons, Stephen and Neal. Tom is leaving Holy Trinity, at his own request, to begin a new career as a financial advisor. Qiana Young Basketball, Volleyball and Softball, Class of 1998   Presenter: Jorge Arreguin. Qiana was a three sport athlete excelling in basketball, volleyball and softball. A four year letter winner for basketball and softball and a three year letter winner for volleyball, she was selected to the Chicago Tribune All-Academic Team (the only HTHS athlete ever selected). The Holy Trinity’s all-time leader for women’s basketball in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots, All-State Honorable Mention in her junior year, All-State third team in her senior year and All-Conference for 3 years, she was All-Conference in volleyball for 3 years and in softball for 2 years. Additionally, she holds the record for highest scoring (35 points) and rebounding (31) in a single game.   Qiana received an academic scholarship to MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois. She played basketball and volleyball and was a two year letter winner in both sports. In volleyball she was rookie of the year in her freshman year and All-Conference first team in both her freshman and sophomore years. In basketball, she was a starting center in both her freshman and sophomore years, and All-Conference first team as a sophomore. She is in the MacMurray College record books with numerous records: Number of games played in a single season (27) in her freshman year Second highest field goal percentage in both her freshman year (57.5%) and sophomore year (58%) Fourth highest number of rebounds (225) in her freshman year, seventh highest number of rebounds (204) in her sophomore year Third highest number of blocked shots (37) in her freshman year and fifth highest number of blocked shots (32) in her sophomore year She left MacMurray College after two years and transferred to Hampton University in Virginia. She played volleyball in her senior year, was a starter and letter winner, received a full scholarship in her senior year and graduated with a B.S. in Biology.   After college, Qiana was a substitute teacher at Holy Trinity and is currently attending the University of Chicago studying for a Master’s degree in Neuro Science and is in her second year. After obtaining her master’s degree, Qiana expects to go to medical school. She is currently the coach of the Holy Trinity girls JV basketball team (past 4 years), girls JV volleyball team (past two years) and boys JV volleyball team (past year).   Qiana is single and lives in Chicago.   1948 – 49 Junior Basketball Team (1949 Graduation Year)   Presenters: Dan Brandt (Coach Henry Brandt), Ron Mack (Len Karwowski and Gus Pasquini), Patrick Lynn Jr. (Patrick Lynn), Don Kerstin (Ray Pilszak), Chet Lis (Overall) The year that made the Holy Trinity Junior Basketball Team Champs. The team won the first basketball championship since Holy Trinity joined the Catholic League in 1945. Winning four straight games by beating St. Ignatius in the first round, Weber in the second round, DePaul in the third round and Leo in the championship game, they won the prestigious annual Fenwick Junior Basketball tournament. The team had a season record (all games except playoffs) of 19 Wins and 6 Loses. Eugene Krajewski ‘49 –Team captain Edwin Czarnecki ‘50 Bob Sierakowski ‘49- All-Tournament Medal Willard Goyke ‘50 Frank Mytnik ‘ 49 Len Karwowski ‘51 Ray Pilszak ‘49 Pat Lynn ‘50 Rudy Wagner ’49 Matt Mentzen ‘49 Joe Ozga ‘51 Gus Pasquini ‘51   Manager Richard Seagroves ‘49 Coach Henry Brandt ‘27   Here is what the special addition of the Holy Trinity Gold and Blue newspaper said about the starting five players: Eugene “Butch” Krajewski, Captain and Center: An able leader and a more able center, Butch has led the team to many a victory. His best shot is from anywhere under the basket. If he isn’t getting the ball in, then he’s getting it from the backboards. An asset to any team and a pain in the neck to any opponent. That’s the best way to describe him. Bob Sierakowski, Left Forward: Regarded as the fastest man on the team, Bob has commanded respect from everyone for his fleetness and his deadly eye. His sixteen points in the Leo game have proved that. Regarded by some sportswriters as the best forward in the Junior Catholic circuit, he was chosen on the All-Tournament team. Frank Mytnik, Right Guard: The sparkplug of the team. Frank’s spirit has kept the team going when everything seemed lost. His floor play is something short of sensational and some of his shots are really out of this world. About that, there is no doubt. An ace dribbler and a hard driver are the two things that make him shine on his floor attack. He’s got a funny way of thinking; he figures that the other team has no right to the ball. That’s why he grabs it away from them so often. On the whole, he is a man with whom a team could not get along with, unless he was playing for them. Ray Pilszak, Right Forward: Although not a high scorer, he shines out best for his defensive playing, as was proved in the Leo game. He may have scored only four points in that particular game, but they were as big as any of the other points needed for the victory. Ray has proved himself a surprise to everyone by making the first team. One of his greatest assets is his uncanny way of stealing the ball away from the opponents. Rudy Wagner, Left Guard: Built like an ox, fast as a deer. He answers to the name “Roach”-why, nobody seems to know. A good dribbler, but better qualified under the backboards. As good a defensive ballplayer as you can try to find. When he plays, he plays hard. Once he’s in the game, it’s hard to stop him. It was he who scored the winning basket in the Leo game. Where do the team members live? Coach Henry Brandt ‘27 (Died) - Son Daniel ‘65 and two daughters live in the Chicago area and one daughter lives in South Carolina. Edwin R. Czarnecki ‘50 (Died 3/19/04) - Edwin’s 2nd wife Bobbie Czarnecki lives in Kansas. Ed’s Brother Len Czarnecki ‘48 (Holy Trinity Hall of Fame Inductee in 2000) lives in Las Vegas. Ed’s sister Barbara Fothergill lives in Daland, Florida Willard Goyke - Scherverville, Indiana Leonard (Len) L. Karwowski (Died 2005) Wife Eugenia lives in Chicago and daughters Kathy and Nancy live in Vernon Hills, Illinois Eugene E. Krajewski ’49 (Died 2004) Wife Dolores lives in Chicago Pat Lynn - Elgin, Illinois Matt R. Mentzen - Could not be located Frank J. Mytnik 49' (Died 1999) - Sister Dodie Wittman lives in Sarasota, Florida Joseph (Joe) G. Ozga - Briggsville, Wisconsin August (Gus) R. Pasquini - Kingwood, Texas (Holy Trinity Hall of Fame Inductee in 2000) Ray A. Pilszak - Nashville, Tennesse Manager Richard W. Seagroves - Rev. Richard Seagroves lives in New York City Robert (Bob) Sierakowski - Medford, Oregon Rudolph (Rudy) J. Wagner 49 – Could not be located   Comments received from the inductees or family members of the deceased inductees: Coach Henry Brandt ’27 (Deceased) - Son Daniel ’65: Coach Henry Brandt is a current member of the Holy Trinity High School Athletic Hall of Fame (inducted in 1999). The Early Years Born June 2, 1908 in the family home a few blocks from H.T. at 1424 Lucy Street (now part of Kennedy Expressway) to Peter and Mary Brandt Seventh of eight sons in family of 15 children Father died when Mr. Brandt was 12 years old and mother died when he was 16 Attended St. Stanislaw grammar school. Captained the eighth grade basketball team, winning the local grammar school championship, and graduated in 1922. Left Lane Tech in 1923 after freshman year In approximately 1925, was invited to become player/coach/student at H.T. and served as coach/captain of basketball and baseball teams Graduated 1927 in last graduating class before demolition of old school building The Middle Years After graduation invited to be first baseball and basketball coach at new H.T.H.S. Purchased equipment, bleachers and supervised finishing of rough gym floor Coached baseball and basketball while attending college Passed bar in 1934 and remained active in H.T. athletics as assistant coach Resumed as head baseball and basketball coach about 1937 H.T. joined Catholic League in early 1940’s and became head coach of new football team while remaining head baseball & basketball coach President of Catholic League Coaches Association Co-coach of Catholic/Public League All-stars in game against Suburban All-stars at Wrigley Field Alumnus of the Year Late 20s and early 30s played professional basketball The Latter Years Retired from coaching 1952 Successful attorney & banker In first group of inductees of Chicago Catholic League Coaches Hall of Fame (1963) In first group of inductees of Holy Trinity High School Athletic Hall of Fame (1999) Happiness Leonard Karwowski ‘51 (Deceased 2005) – Wife Eugenia: Len and Eugenia had two daughters, Kathy and Nancy and three grandchildren (2 boys and 1 girl). Len attended St Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana and was in the army for two years. Len was active in the Holy Trinity High School Alumni Association and was a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame Committee. Eugene E. Krajewski ‘49 (Deceased 2004) - Wife Dolores: Eugene was drafted by the army in January of 1952. He married Dolores Czech in July of 1952 and was sent to Korea a week later. Eugene served as a medic and was wounded on June 10, 1953. He was awarded the Silver Star, for bravery above and beyond the call of duty, the Purple Heart and the Korean Medal for Bravery and was promoted to Sergeant. Eugene and Dolores raised four children and were blessed with ten grandchildren. He worked for McCormick Stange Co. for 35 years as a warehouse supervisor. Eugene suffered a heart attack in 1990 and battled congestive heart failure until his death in 2004. Eugene lived his life by the same principles he brought to the basketball court. He was a team player, more comfortable on the sidelines than in the limelight. No matter what the job, he did it to the best of his ability. He was kind, gentle and dependable. The ultimate go-to-man both on the court and in life. We all miss him very much. Patrick Lynn ‘50   Patrick is married to Diana. Patrick and Diana had six children - 4 boys (1 boy deceased) and 2 girls. They have nine grandchildren, 5 boys and 4 girls. Patrick is retired from his job as a carpenter/estimator/project manager for A.S. Maggio Construction Co., Mount Prospect, Illinois. Patrick coached baseball, basketball, and football at the Franklin Park Park District and Elk Grove Park District.   His three eldest sons played football at Leyden East High School, Franklin Park, Illinois. His youngest daughter is head coach of girl’s baseball at Hersey High School, Arlington Heights, Illinois; she played basketball and baseball at Marion College, Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin. His oldest daughter played basketball, baseball and soccer at Elk Grove High School, Elk Grove, Illinois. His youngest son played soccer at Elk Grove High School, Elk Grove. Wife, Diana, graduated from Trinity High School, River Forest, Illinois.   Frank Mytnik ‘49   Frank died in 1999. He had two children, Chris and David (deceased). He was owner and president of Oni-Vue & Chemisphere Corporations and a past president of the Society of Die Casting Engineers.   August (Gus) Pasquini ‘51   Gus is a current member of the Holy Trinity High School Athletic Hall of Fame (inducted in 2000) and a member of the Chicago Catholic League Hall of Fame (inducted in 1991). He is married to Rose Marie. Gus and Rose Marie have one daughter, one son and four grandchildren (2 boys and 2 girls).   Gus retired from his successful teaching, coaching and high school administration career. He was a teacher and coach at various high schools; a basketball, baseball and football coach at St. Procopius College and principal at Lake Park High School, Roselle, Illinois.   Ray A. Pilszak ‘49   Ray is married to Georgia. Ray and Georgia have one daughter and one granddaughter. He is semi-retired from the amusement business.   He spent eight years in the Marine Corps in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Kansas City and Chicago before employment at Billboard Publications that began in July 1960 as a production assistant in the Chicago office. He was the Director of Sales for over 20 years and was the recipient of the Maynard Reuter Award.   Ray served several years on the Board of Directors of the Academy of Country Music and was presented the Mae Boren Axton Award at the Country Radio Seminar in Nashville.   Robert Sierakowski ‘49   Robert is married to Dorothy. Robert and Dorothy have two sons and three daughters. They have seven grandchildren. Robert wrote the following response: I am writing a short response for the honor you are bestowing on me and my fellow teammates. The reason for me not attending the ceremony is because of health reasons. Due to the concerns of the doctors, I am unable to fly back to Chicago. I just want to thank everyone and also all my teammates. Please tell them hello for me. I honestly think about them a lot. I have a few action pictures from Fenwick Holiday Tournament. Again thank you very much. Go with God, Robert.