Large crowd in Washington turns out to honor Tom Ridge

Former Governor Tom Ridge received three standing ovations as he accepted the prestigious William Oliver Baker Award on May 14 before a packed house at Washington, D.C.’s Shoreham Hotel.

Tributes to Ridge by former President George W. Bush, Condoleezza Rice and other D.C. big shots made clear that the Erie native was most deserving of the highest award for protecting the nation’s security.

The 76-year-old Ridge joked that he’s received two letters from U.S. presidents during his life. The first came from Richard Nixon, informing him that he’d been drafted to serve in Vietnam. And the second came from Bush in the days after 9/11 when he was asked to leave the governor’s mansion in Harrisburg to serve as the nation’s first Secretary of Homeland Security.

Ridge — in fine form — sprinkled his witty remarks with references to Erie, and his hometown was well represented by Kristin Talarico, Doug Smith, Brian Bolash, John Bonnett and others who journeyed to Washington for the dinner.

I’m told Monsignor Henry Kriegel, pastor of Erie’s St. Patrick Catholic Church, received a standing ovation for his invocation. Kriegel called for more of the “decency of Tom Ridge in our politics today.”

● Erie lost one of its treasured sports heroes on May 11 when Charlie Locke, who starred on the Erie Lions hockey team, died at 91. Charlie was known for his great play on the ice and his warm smile. In the 1960s and early ‘70s, the Lions played to large, enthusiastic crowds in weekend games at the Glenwood Ice Rink. They fired the passion of fans for the professional Erie hockey teams that followed.

Obituary:Charles H. Locke

Locke was a great family man who always said one of the highlights of his life occurred when his two sons, Rick and Larry Locke, joined him on the same line during one of the Lions’ games. Rick and Larry Locke played in Erie’s youth hockey program where Charlie was a dedicated coach. Charlie also cherished his daughter, Lisa.

● Emmy Award-winning TV personality and Erie native Maria Sansone appeared May 16 on the “Kelly Clarkson Show” where she gave Clarkson and viewers a tour of Boston. Maria is the host of “The Hub Today” on NBC’s Channel 10 in Boston. She and her husband and two children reside in Marblehead, Mass.

Sansone visited Erie recently to serve as godmother to Josie Sansone, daughter of Maria’s brother, Dominic, and his wife, Jess Sansone. Maria started her TV career as a child sports reporter, interviewing Michael Jordan and other big stars. She even appeared on the “Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson.

● Congratulations to Kathy Lynch, coach of Mercyhurst Prep’s girls golf team, for shooting her first hole-in-one during a recent trip to South Carolina.

Kathy, who was a star basketball player at St. Bonaventure University, was saddened by the recent death of Bona basketball legend Bob Lanier. Their plaques are next to each other at the Bonaventure Hall of Fame on the Olean, N.Y. campus.

● Alumni of Villa Maria Academy plan to gather on May 25 at 11:20 a.m. on the school’s front lawn to honor a century-long tradition by singing Villa’s alma mater as the seniors depart at 11:30 a.m. for the last time. This is an emotional time for many Villa graduates, as the school on West Eighth Street prepares to close and the students move on to join with the students at Cathedral Prep.

Villa alums are encouraged to “belt out the alma mater with pride. And if you don’t know the song by heart, lyrics will be provided.”

Rev. Mike DeMartinis, who has worked with theater students from Villa and Prep in recent years, is celebrating his 25^th year as a Catholic priest. His young people’s Mass on Sunday nights at Blessed Sacrament Church draws large, enthusiastic crowds.

Erie native Kayla McBride is a Villa graduate who continues to bring pride to the school. ESPN’s Mechelle Voepel heaped praise on the WNBA star for recently leading Fenerbache Safiport to the Turkish championship. McBride then rushed to the airport and caught a flight to Los Angeles where she joined her Minnesota Lynx teammates.

The Lynx had lost four straight without McBride, but that night she scored 24 points, including a reserve layup at the buzzer to help Minnesota defeat the Sparks. To Kayla, there’s no such thing as jet lag.

● Former WJET TV reporter Steve Drexler, who went on to become a top lawyer in Pittsburgh, is closing his practice and merging with Romanow Law Group in the Steel City.

Steve posted photos on the internet of his last day at his old office and the first day at the new one.

Kevin Cuneo can be reached at kevin.cuneo1844@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Large crowd in Washington turns out to honor Tom Ridge