SHAMOKIN - Sunday morning's death of legendary Penn State football coach Joe Paterno sent shock waves around the country, including the Shamokin-Mount Carmel area, where he had countless fans.
People in the coal region not only admired JoePa's coaching success, but also respected his loyalty, generous monetary donations to Penn State University and his incomparable graduation rate attained by his players.
The 85-year-old Paterno was the all-time winningest coach in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 409 victories. He was the head coach at Penn State for 46 years and an assistant coach for 15 years. His teams captured two national championships, 24 bowl wins and finished undefeated five times.
Local residents, including two retired outstanding high school football coaches, a former Nittany Lion player and Northumberland County's top law enforcement official with ties to Penn State offered their reactions to Paterno's death.
Edward "Beaners" Binkoski of Coal Township, who coached several great teams at Coal Township and Shamokin Area high schools and played football at the University of Pennsylvania, said his relationship with Paterno dates back to 1961 when the then assistant Penn State coach was recruiting Coal Township great Ron Nalewak, who went on to play at the University of Maryland and Baltimore Colts.
"Today is an extraordinary sad day," Binkoski said. "His death really saddens me. I have the utmost respect for Coach Paterno for not only his great coaching record, but for what he did educationally. He was very concerned about his players graduating and he and his wife, Sue, donated a lot of money to the university. The whole campus fell in love with him over the years."
"I got to know Joe when he recruited here in the coal region when Rip Engle was the coach at Penn State," Binkoski said. "My first impression of him was who is this guy with the Brooklyn accent. Our paths have crossed on a number of occasions over the years and he always gave you time. He was very congenial and interested in what you had to say and he always remembered your name."
The 80-year-old Binkoski, whose daughter, Amy, earned a PhD from Penn State, recalled interviewing Paterno on Bernie Romanoski's radio show on the eve of Penn State joining the Big 10 in the early 1990s.
"He was very candid and answered all our questions," Binkoski said. "The bottom line is that he did a great deal for college football and particularly for Penn State University. He will be greatly missed. He was admired by so many people."
Joe "Jazz" Diminick of Mount Carmel, who coached many championship teams at Mount Carmel and Mount Carmel Area high schools and helped make the Red Tornadoes the winningest high school football team in the state before retiring in 1992, first met Paterno in 1949.
"We were good friends who go back to our college days," Diminick said. "When I was playing at Boston College, we scrimmaged Brown, where Joe was the quarterback. He was a great guy. His record speaks for itself and I doubt anyone will ever duplicate his accomplishments in education and football."
The 84-year-old Diminick, whose son, Joe Jr., played defensive back for Paterno in the late 1970s, added, "Joe was straight forward about everything. He never worried about himself. It was always about the team. We stayed in touch over the years and would meet at various banquets. He would always ask about my family and Mount Carmel football. He was Penn State."
State Rep. Kurt Masser (R-107), owner-operator of Masser's Wayside Inn where many Penn State fans have gathered over the years to cheer on the Nittany Lions, stated, "I was certainly saddened by his death. He meant a lot to Penn State and everyone will miss him."
Masser, a longtime Penn State fan, said he never met Paterno, but always admired him for everything he did for the university.
Brian Snyder of Coal Township, another longtime Penn State football fan, called Paterno's death a "big loss to the university."
"Penn State was Joe Paterno just like Alabama was Bear Bryant," he said. "Penn State not only lost a great football coach, but a big part of the university. I think everyone will remember him for what he did throughout his career instead of the stuff that has happened during the past two months."
Snyder, who attended the Penn State-Iowa wrestling match Sunday afternoon at Rec Hall at University Park, stated, "It was a sad and somber atmosphere at Penn State. There was a moment of silence for Coach Paterno and pictures of him were shown prior to the match. It was a very sad day in Happy Valley."
He concluded, "With Joe, it wasn't just about coaching football. He gave everything back to the university."
Northumberland County District Attorney Tony Rosini, a Penn State alum and former president of the Anthracite Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association, said, "Today (Sunday) is a sad day for all Penn Staters. Joe did so much for the university and his players. He had great teams. But he and his wife also tutored players to make sure they graduated. His teams had the highest graduation rate consistently among all the BCS (Bowl Championship Series) teams. His motto was success with honor and he should always be remembered for living by that motto."
Tom "Tucker" Wells, 74, of Shamokin, whose daughter, Crystal, and son, Tom, graduated from Penn State, said, "I've been a Penn State fan for a long time. I can't believe he didn't receive the dignity from university officials that he deserved. He built that school. He made sure his players got a great education. He did so much for so many people for a long time and football was certainly a big part of his life, but not his entire life. He inspired so many people. He was a totally awesome person."
Wells, who never met Paterno, added, "It's hard for me to realize he's gone. He was the best thing to ever happen to Pennsylvania, let alone Penn State."
David Sage of Coal Township, who has been a Penn State football season ticket holder for more than 30 years, stated, "JoePa's memory and legend will always be here even though he is no longer with us. He was more concerned about the university and the players who played for him than himself. The wins were important, but preparing kids for life was more important to him. He taught his players how to face adversity and overcome it."
Sage, who has been cheering for Penn State since 1958, added, "We have to thank the good Lord that we had him with us for all these years. I met him several times and he always took time out to talk to you. He was second to none as far as coaching. There will never be another coach like him. A lot of coaches are compared to Joe Paterno, but Joe Paterno was compared to no one. He practiced what he preached. He took no shortcuts in life. He did things the right way."
Sam Scicchitano of Mount Carmel Township, who played for Paterno in the early 1980s after a brilliant career at Mount Carmel Area High School, stated, "Coming out of Mount Carmel having played for Jazz Diminick, I don't think I revered Joe Paterno as much as other players during my time at Penn State. But he was Penn State football and I learned firsthand as a brash 20-year-old that you don't confront him."
He said, "The lessons I learned from my experience under him were mainly simple things about life that he would always stress. A couple of years ago, after I sent him a note, he called our home and had a nice conversation with my son, Jake, who is now near completion of his Penn State degree. That was special. He had great respect and admiration for Jazz Diminick, and a great friendship with the late Dr. Joe Greco of Mount Carmel."