"Famous People from Olean":

[William Wilson]

"Famous People from Olean":

 

I was recently visiting the on line encyclopedia Wikipedia and reading their article about Olean, New york.

What struck me was the (in)complete list of "Famous People from Olean":

Jeff Fahey, actor.
Peter Tomarken, game show host.
Louis Zamperini, Olympian.

I am sure that you can think of others that should be added to the list. Robert Lax, the famous poet imediately came to mind and I added to the list. Can you send me more? If we don't write our own history who will?

Email me at mi...@blumenthals.com to suggest others from Olean that belong on the list.

To read the names submitted so far read on.........(Updated 9/12) with some good names

wrote:
John Elmore, Esq/Author
______
marcia wrote:
Our first list of names of "Famous Olean People" have come in...but there has to be more:

Stephen Wehmeyer, has an irish band called "Gaelic Storm"....... that played in "Titanic" and now plays around the world

Bill Easley, the jazz saxaphonist ... plays with Jazz @ Lincoln Center among other great bands

Bill Marcus, actor on Law & Order and other tv shows, plus many movies

Jack Murphy, became president of Dresser Indsutries
____
Wasn't Craig Senfields (Bradners Gallery) daughter on an Olympic stamp? Does that count?

Amy L. Henzel
The Muse Magazine
www.themusemagazine.com
____
Edward Gabriel, United States Ambassador to Morroco for three years
during President William Clinton's term.

Tricia
-----
I just hought of another:
Govenor Frank Higgins

Mike B

----
From kenwri:

John Elmore, Esq/Author
_____
U.S. Navy............Command Master Chief Philip L. Balcerzak was born and raised in Olean. He attended St. Johns Parochial school and then graduated from Archbishop Walsh, Class of 65'. He enlisted in the Navy and served for 31 yrs.
At one time during his career he was was the second highest enlisted man in the U.S.N.. He served as the Command Master Chief of the Largest Naval Base in the World, Norfolk Naval Base. He finished his career aboard the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt and then the U.S.S. Enterprise serving as Command Master Chief aboard both Aircraft Carriers respectfully.


If need be I can supply you with his complete career and all the various Ribbons and Commendations that make up the History of CMC Balcerzak.

Sincerely Steve

____

krew...@webtv.net wrote:

Betty Knieser MacDonald.... jazz musician and recording artist.
Susan Wiggs... author - daughter of Clara Lou Banfield Klist and Nick Klist.

_____

more from Marcia:

Carol Woodin - famous for her exquisite paintings of botanical orchids on velum
Jeff McMullen - large format landscape photographer
Bruce Nevins - Dutcher Crossing Vineyard, Healdsburg, CA
Marcia & Jack Kelly, authors of "Sanctuaries: A Guide to Lodgings in Monasteries, Abbeys, and Retreats," and "100 Graces: Mealtime Blessings."
Dave Duggan - CBS Correspondent

___

another from Mike B:

Earl "Steamboat" McElfresh - Civil War Historian

----
from Marcia

Clyde Dickerson, saxophone
Norris Phillips, founder Olean Tile
Erik Laine & Company, made Cutco knives famous worldwide
James Luther, Sr., All American basketball player
The Butchello family, The Castle restaurant, and Loretto salad dressing & sauce
Walter Braunsweiger, Exec. VP, Bank of America
---
from Dane Clark
Dorothy Clark, an author

----
Weren't there those Twins that appeared on Leno or Letterman?
Emil and Sam Chiavetta?
Thanks!
Dave Wagner
____

Does Bob Lanier count?

Mike B
__
There was an African American named Clyde Dickerson, who was a musician and was from Olean. He wrote the song "Turn around Look at me", however, he sold the copyright to the song for a couple of hundred bucks. Now, unless there is some pretty old African Americans still around, like, "Sugar", didn't know him by any other name, or some of the Gayton family, there is no way to substantiate this.

I knew him, as a very young kid, should say at that age I barely remember him, but the "Turn around Look at me" I remembered, because I was a small time musician in Olean and that intrigued me. My Great Grandparents owned a Bar/Restaurant called the Star, below the tracks so to speak, you might not remember but your Dad was around then and would remember the name, and Clyde Dickerson use to hang out there so that is where and how I met him. I just started playing drums, and I sat in with him, but just one time. Anyway, that is what I recall, correct recall or not, but, I am pretty sure.

I know you probably want to be accurate and not document something that is not correct, so, I thought I would pass it along.

I can't think of any other famous people, except, the Franchott's. They had a grandson, you might remember this name. Franchott Tone, the actor, well, his family was from Olean and he, so I was told by my parents, used to come to olean a lot in the summertime to visit. He was born in the Falls, but, as I said, used to visit his family in Olean. But, that wouldn't count because he was not from Olean.

Frank
Barbaro
__
From Ilomay Thomas

How was the early movie star "Franchot Tone" related to the Franchots of Olean?? Someone must know the answer.

_____
From WikiPedia
Paul Owens- Born in Salamanca, New York, Owens - nicknamed "The Pope" - was a minor league first baseman in his native upstate New York, eventually becoming player-manager of the Olean Oilers of the (then) Class D NY-Penn League during the mid 1950s. The Oilers became a Phillies' affiliate and Owens moved into their organization as a scout, and, eventually, director of their farm system. In June 1972, he replaced John Quinn as the Phillies' general manager. In July, he fired manager Frank Lucchesi and assumed that job as well, to get a closer (if temporary) look at the last-place Phillies' on-field struggles.

In 1983, Owens again decided to don a uniform and run the Phillies from the dugout as well as from the front office. He fired Pat Corrales - even though Philadelphia was in first place at the time - and led the club to 47 wins in 77 games. They then defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in four games in the NLCS to win the Phillies' fourth pennant. But the Phils were dispatched by Baltimore quickly - in five games - in the World Series.

-----
From Marcia

Bernie Servil is great for the list .... .... truly a great priest, spent most of his career in south america fighting for social justice.

----
Even though, he was born in Rushford, NY, Frank W. Higgins was pretty famous and brought a bit of the spotlight to Olean at around the turn of the 20th Century. He served as Governor of New York State from 1905 to 1907. Teddy Roosevelt considered him to be one of his closest friends. Speculation has it that TR wanted to appoint Higgins to a fairly high federal office or ambassadorship but his untimely death shortchanged the opportunity.

Of course, you know how his legacy and fame was preserved in his hometown- the picturesque Higgins Mansion on South Street was demolished to make way for a chain grocery store (I think it was either Loblaws or Acme).

Thanks and hope this helps you with this quest.

Dan Harris
___
Dr. Ronald Garvey was suggested by Earl McElfresh

Before joining the Health Center, Dr. Garvey was president and chief executive officer of Zale Lipshy University Hospital in Dallas from 1987 to 1991. From 1960 to 1993, he served on the staff of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, where he was a professor of surgery.

Dr. Garvey received a bachelor's degree from Harvard College in 1949 and a medical degree from the University of Buffalo in 1953. He received a master's of business administration degree in health-care administration from the University of Dallas in 1986.

He began his medical career in Dallas with an internship at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas in 1953. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he returned to Parkland for his residency in surgery from 1956 to 1960. From 1959 to 1960, he was assigned a traineeship at Parkland in the areas of arthritis and metabolic diseases from the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Garvey joined UT Southwestern in 1960 as an instructor of surgery and held a succession of academic and administrative appointments. He maintained a private practice in surgery from 1961 to 1983. Dr Garvey was the team physician for the Dallas Cowboys from 1963 to 1972 and a consultant for the team from 1972 to 1993.

Dr. Ronald F. Garvey  -- A friend of Kennedy aide Kenny O'Donnell, Dr. Garvey went to Parkland Hospital and was with O'Donnell immediately following the shooting. His late brother, Dr. Jim Garvey, worked at Parkland Hospital in 1963 and assisted in the treatment of Governor Connally and the surgery of Lee Harvey Oswald. Recorded on 7/6/2004
----
John McGraw

Probably one of the most significant people ever to play at St. Bonaventure was John Joseph McGraw. McGraw was born in 1873 in Truxton, New York, just south of Syracuse. He began his professional baseball career in Olean, New York as a pitcher in 1890, but sources say that he was quickly transformed into a third baseman. In St. Bonaventure's student publication, The Laurel, Hugh Erb spoke of how McGraw was not particularly delighted with the change and at first his performance at the newly acquired position was considered sub-par. McGraw spent his off- seasons attending St. Bonas from 1892-1895, it is here where he helped tune his style of play, as well as expand his knowledge in the academic world. John McGraw eventually was acquired by the major league Baltimore Orioles where he played third base until the late 1890s. In 1901 McGraw went to St. Louis, of the American League, but left after one season to take the managerial/player position with the New York Giants. McGraw eventually decided, in 1907, that he would hang up his spikes for the last time and devote his effort strictly to managing. John McGraw spent over thirty years at the head of the Giants organization and in doing so he managed to acquire ten pennants and three world series titles. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937.
----
From Mike B

Brigadier General (R) Maureen K (Keenan) LeBoeuf, an Army aviator, also a former member of the permanent faculty at West Point with degree from St. Bonaventure and a doctorate from the University of Georgia. Col. Maureen K. LeBoeuf, who assumed duties as Master of the Sword, head of
the DPE at West Point Academy in June 1997. She is the first woman department head since the Academy was founded in 1802. She was born in Olean and is the daughter of Leo Keenan.

----
From Norma S

Tom Stephan (aka Superchumbo) is a well known DJ/remixer on the London scene. He has several albums and number one dance hits on the US Dance Charts by billbord. He is the son of local musician George Stephan.