The Saugerties Sports Hall of Fame inducted five new members Saturday evening at Diamond Mills, honoring athletes whose accomplishments spanned generations of Saugerties High School sports.
Before a crowd of about 200 guests, the organization welcomed Lars Hauck, Kevin Beaver, Bobby Francello, Shane Geisler, who was inducted posthumously, and Ruben Lindo during its 61st induction banquet, a tradition dating to 1963. Brendan Amodio received the President’s Award for his decades of support for Saugerties athletics.
For Hauck, the news came far from Saugerties and in bitter winter weather.
He was in Clayton, New York, with temperatures at 17 degrees below zero, preparing to clear his driveway after a heavy snowfall when his wife came outside holding his phone. He initially waved her off, but she told him, “Lars, you are going to want to take this call.”
On the other end was the news that he would be inducted into the Saugerties Sports Hall of Fame.
Hauck remains one of the most decorated three-sport athletes in Saugerties High School history. He starred in football and wrestling and competed as a thrower on the track team. He later built a career in Clayton as a football coach and then as a high school principal.
Lindo, another celebrated three-sport standout in football, wrestling and track, reflected on his life and roots in Saugerties during the ceremony.
“I have lived a beautiful life, full of ups and downs, and my heart will always be in Saugerties and I will always be a SAWYER,” Lindo said after thanking the coaches and supporters who shaped his life.
Many of those coaches were in the room. So was Lindo’s family, including his 8-year-old daughter, Claire, who smiled back at him from the audience.
After high school, Lindo went on to play in the NFL with the New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars. He later spent three seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.
One of the evening’s most emotional moments came during the tribute to Geisler. Geisler died in 2005 while running in the annual Shamrock Run in Kingston. He was 29.
A basketball signed by all Hall of Fame members in attendance was presented to Geisler’s mother, Diane, and his daughter, Sage.
Keith Hudak is a contributing writer. Send correspondence to reporting@theoverlooknews.com.
