From the play yards of Brandegee School to the football and lacrosse turfs of Colgate University, Ralph M. Antone competed in both sports against Syracuse's Jimmy Brown. Born just six houses and two empty lots from Brandegee School on July 22, 1936, the son of Agnes and Angelo Antone, Ralph became the stellar performer in five sports at Proctor High School from 1950-1954. Nicknamed "The Train" in high school because of his obvious dominance and momentum, Ralph captained football, basketball and baseball besides participating in track and volleyball. He rambled for the winning touchdown after catching the pass that beat UFA in 1954 for Proctor's fifth consecutive City Football Championship.

This scholar/athlete and active club member was vicepresident of his class, starred in his senior play and was named to the National Honor Society for three years. Voted Most Athletic by his classmates at Proctor, Ralph went on to Colgate University with a scholarship in the fall of 1954. He also starred as a catcher and led all hitters in American Legion Baseball one year with a .444 batting average.

At Colgate, it was more of the same. As a defensive ace and outstanding end for the Colgate freshmen, Ralph caught a pass and ran for the score that enabled the Red Raiders to tie Syracuse frosh 12 to 12 in 1954. Converted to a guard and mostly tackle for tile Red Raider varsity, Ralph took Yale apart in his junior year. He led the Red Raiders as their captain in his senior season and was also named to the first team Eastern College Athletic Conference All-East team in 1957 with the likes of Navy quarterback Tom Forrestal and Army runningback, Bob Anderson. Antone also played varsity baseball at Colgate along with lacrosse where he was named an All-American defenseman in his senior year.

He graduated Colgate in June 1958 with a BA degree and was signed by the Toronto Argonaughts of the Canadian Football League. When a career-ending injury curtailed that effort, Ralph pursued his career and retired as a vice-president of the National Lubricating Products Co.

He and his high school sweetheart, Donna, a UFA grad, raised three sons and one daughter. Ralph coached all of their youth teams and helped to develop a youth hockey program as well as sponsor an Inter-Scholastic Hockey League in tile South Hills of Pittsburgh. One of his sons was a standout baseball prospect who caught tile attention of professional scouts.

Still a dedicated family man, Ralph and Donna are now enjoying retirement in McMurray, Pennsylvania, where they root for the Steelers and follow all the sports achievements of their grandchildren. Ralph M. Antone has come a long way from his Brandegee Boy days, to being a star for the Maroon of Proctor and Colgate U. to corporate oil company VP and happy family man. We're honored to have him join this select club as a member of the Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame. It all began on the playgrounds of East Utica where his roots are and his heart will always be.