Allen Gilberti Sr. has made his mark as a respected coach and administrator, not only in his local community, but throughout Section III and New York State.

Born on July 4, 1929, Gilberti earned 12 Varsity letters in basketball, baseball, and football at Utica Free Academy in the late 1940's. He played on three undefeated teams in his senior year, 1946-47. He received an athletic scholarship to Ithaca College, where he was captain of the baseball and basketball teams. Gilberti was elected president of Kappa PSI Alpha, was a member of the Adelphi National Honor Society, and was selected for Who's Who in American College's and Universities.

In 1953, Gilberti was voted Ithaca College's senior athlete of the year. He was also named a Major College Second Team All American at shortstop and First Team Major College All-East.

He graduated from Ithaca in 1953 with a degree in education, and then attended the U.S. Navy Officer Candidate School in Long Beach California. He was a basketball player-coach on a team that captured the Atlantic Fleet Championship at Quonset Point Naval Station. He was also awarded the Korean Campaign Ribbon.

"Mr. G'; returned home in 1954 and became a teacher and coach at Whitesboro Central School and later taught at New Hartford Central. He was a member of the International Board of Approved Basketball Officials from 1956-1974, and served as president of the New Hartford Teachers Association.

Gilberti left teaching in 1968 to become director of training for Mohawk Airlines. In 1974, he was hired as director of training for Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation. In his spare time, he was an adjunct faculty member at Utica College, Mohawk Valley Community College and the Cornell University International Labor Relations School.

Gilberti has always been active in public service. As a Whitestown Little League and American Legion baseball coach, he helped nurture the skills of present Atlanta Braves standout Mark Lemke. Gilberti has served on the boards of directors of Catholic Charities and the Utica Boys and Girls Club, and is past president of the YMCA Board of Directors.

In 1995, he received the Niagra Mohawk Chairman's Heroism Award for rescuing a drowning man in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida, and was nominated for a Carnegie Medal. He was president and charter member of the Central New York Chapter of the American Society For Training and Development.

Gilberti has served as Section III Treasurer for 36 years. He helped establish the Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame in 1988 and is its current vice-president. He was inducted into the UFA Boosters Association Hall of Fame in 1975 and the SUNY Wildcat Hall of Fame in 1996.