Wally Huckno Sr.
2010 Inductee
Wally Huckno Sr. was born in Detroit, Michigan. He moved to Union City when he was a young boy and is a 1958 graduate of Union City High School. Wally attended Edinboro University and graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Studies and English. Wally also attended graduate school at Edinboro University, Fredonia University, and Canisius College. He taught thirty-two years in the Jamestown, NY, Public Schools and was Athletic Director for ten and a half years before retiring in 2004.
Wally had an extremely successful career in coaching athletics throughout his teaching career. He began his football coaching career at Lincoln Junior High School in 1963 as an assistant coach before becoming head coach in 1972. He led Lincoln Junior High to three Chadakoin Valley Championships in four years before moving on to Jamestown High School in 1976 as an assistant football coach. Wally was appointed head football coach in 1983 and finished his twenty-one year coaching career at Jamestown as the all-time leader in wins with a record of 159-47-1. During his time as head coach at Jamestown, Wally received numerous accolades and honors for his coaching abilities. He was named Large School Coach of the Year in Western New York six times, Chautauqua County Coach of the Year five times, New York State Coach of the Year three times, New York State Division One Coach of the Year one time, Buffalo Bills Coach of the Week three times, and Coach of the Decade by the Western New York High School Sports in September of 2000. Wally's coaching accomplishments also earned him induction into the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.
Wally also was very active in politics, serving ten years on the Chautauqua County Legislature. Since retiring from politics, Wally has served on several committees including the Capital Projects Finance Committee, Public Safety Committee, Fire Safety Board, and Vice-President of the Board of Trustees of Jamestown Community College. Wally has also taken a special interest in cleaning Chautauqua Lake of the weed problem while being available to individuals in his district when problems occur. Wally's public service to the Jamestown Area earned him accolades also, including having a seat dedicated in his honor on behalf of the Jamestown Jammers Baseball Team.
Since retirement Wally has continued to reside in Ellicott, NY, his home for the last forty-three years. He enjoys spending time with his wife of forty-eight years, Dixie, and his four children: Leslie Ann, Wally Jr., Michelle, and Kelly. Wally is also the proud grandfather of eight. He enjoys watching all types of athletics, especially the professional teams from Buffalo and Detroit. Wally also enjoys reading and golfing in his spare time and is an active member of the Vikings, Lakewood Rod and Gun Club, Elks, Moose, and the Allen Park Men's Club.
