The Hall of Fame class. Photo by Steve Harrison.
By JOHN ANDERSON
In an emotional and first-class ceremony, the first four members were inducted to the Canisteo-Greenwood Football Hall of Fame on Friday night.
During halftime of C-G’s 40-0 win over Wellsville, three of the greatest players to wear a uniform went in the hall and the winningest coach in program history.
The Canisteo Youth Football players delivered a varsity football helmet to the families during the ceremony. Three of the four members, Robet Peisher, Nick Clark and Coach Bill Hall are deceased.
Here are the Hall of Famers:
Robert Peisher (His son, John, accepted his helmet)
Bob was a 1953 graduate and star football player for the Redskins at right tackle and was selected as a member of the Stueben-Allegany-Cattaraugus League All-Star Team.
After high school, he went on to play two seasons of Division I college football at Syracuse University as a teammate of the great Jim Brown before being injured during spring practice in 1955.
After graduating from Syracuse, Bob went on to a long and distinguished career as a military pilot before returning to Canisteo upon retirement from the Air Force in 1978.
In addition to his impressive athletic and military achievements Bob was actively involved in many area civic and charitable organizations.
Coach Bill Hall
(His sons Mark and Steve accepted his helmet)
Coach Hall led the Canisteo Football team from 1964 through 1979, a program record 16 seasons.
He is both the longest tenured and the winningest coach in Redskins team history, amassing over 50 wins and 2 league titles in 1975 and 1976.
In addition to his impressive achievements as a coach, he also played four seasons of college football at Alfred University under legendary coach Alex Yunevich.
Coach Hall was a leader of and mentor to hundreds of former players who decades after graduation would still call him “Coach.”
Dean Hackemer
Dean earned a letter in six sports at Canisteo and played four years of Division I football at Virginia.
A 1983 graduate, he was a varsity starter as a sophomore and a two-way starter on both offense and defense his junior and senior years.
Dean was named All Livingston County, All Greater Rochester and was a third-team All State selection. In addition he was chosen for and played in the Kodak All Star Game.
He earned a full scholarship to play Division I college football at the University of Virginia where he played for 4 seasons.
In addition to football he was an all around athlete lettering in wrestling, swimming, tennis, golf and track.
Nicholas Clark
(His brother Nate accepted his helmet)
Nick was first well-known for his incredible football talent in Canisteo, and is now one of the most remembered and respected members of the New York State Police.
Nick was killed in the line of duty in 2016.
Nick was a 2006 graduate a standout at both running back and linebacker.
His senior year, the Redskins advanced to the Section V Championship Game and he was Livingston County All League 1st team (RB and LB), twice the Ontario Honda Player of the Week, and Section V Class D Defensive Player of the Year.
Nick went on to play at Alfred University, starting all four years. Nick played iron man football as both linebacker and runningback and was a two-time NCAA All American, two-time All-Conference, two-time Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year and finished as AU’s all-time leading tackler, quite an accomplishment for a storied football program. Nick was known for his defense, but he still scored 26 touchdowns.
In 2012 he was granted an NFL tryout with the Buffalo Bills where he impressed former NFL head coach and then-Bills defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt.
Tonight, there will be a banquet and ceremony to honor the Hall of Fame class.
