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| 2011 MHS Hall of Fame |
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Seven more high-achieving alumni were chosen to join the McKeesport High School Hall of Fame, bringing total membership to 163.
The Class of 2011 – the 24th to be inducted – includes:
Donald I. Moritz, Class of 1945 – Lawyer and successful businessman who guided the development of Equitable Gas into the far-reaching business it is today.
Florence Bonczek Innes, Class of 1952 – Humanitarian who battled her own hearing loss and dedicated her life to helping others with similar impairments.
C. Scott Harrison, M.D., Class of 1955 – Founder and CEO of CURE International, which provides orthopedic care to children in the developing world.
Robert P. Sedlock, Sr., Class of 1955 – Transportation expert who oversaw installations of major transit system projects throughout the U.S.
Richard A. Anderson, Class of 1964 – President and CEO of St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network in Bethlehem, Pa.
The Rev. Alonzo Burney, Sr., Esq., Class of 1965 – Lawyer and ordained minister who has dedicated his life to justice and faith.
V. James DeVincentis, Class of 1971 – Co-owner of Pryzborski Productions, Inc., a successful media company that creates commercials for local and national clients.
They will be inducted at the annual Alumni Recognition Night sponsored by the MHS Alumni & Friends Association on Saturday, Oct. 15, at Stratigos Banquet Centre, North Huntingdon Twp.
The event begins at 6 p.m. with a reception, followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and then the program and induction ceremony. Returning to serve as master of ceremonies is Cara Grimm-McBride, Executive Producer, ComcastSportsNet. She is a member of the McKeesport Area High School Class of 1985 and a 2008 Hall of Fame inductee.
Attendance is by reservation only. Cost is $40 per person. Contact the alumni office for tickets (412-678-9215; 410 Ninth Street, McKeesport, Pa. 15132).
Deadline for reservations is Friday, Oct. 7. Deadline for ads in the program book is Monday, Oct. 3. Click here for reservation and program book ad forms.
 Donald I. Moritz
Class of 1945
After Donald I. Moritz received his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh, he had to decide whether to join Harvard Law School as a teaching fellow or enter the business world.
He chose the latter, beginning a successful career that saw him rise to the presidency of Equitable Gas in 1978.
Equitable Gas at that time was a medium-sized public utility distributing natural gas at retail in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky. Mr. Moritz’ goal was to increase the production, exploration and transportation operations so that Equitable would become a fully integrated natural gas company. He expanded exploration and production into Texas, Louisiana, Montana and Wyoming and enlarged the natural gas liquids business.
Equitable became one of the first companies to extract natural gas from coal seams and was drilling for gas in shale long before the Marcellus Shale captured the headlines.
During Mr. Moritz’ tenure as CEO, Equitable’s stock value increased 600 percent. Today the company is known as EQT and is a multi-billion-dollar business.
In the business world, Mr. Moritz served as director of PNC Financial Corp., was president of the Pennsylvania Gas Association and a director of the American Gas Association, and was a member of the National Petroleum Council Advisory group to the U.S. Secretary of Energy.
He also was a trustee of the Institute of Gas Technology, a director of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Executive Committee member for the Pennsylvania Economy League, and a director of the Duquesne Club.
Mr. Moritz believes in contributing to the community and for six years was president of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. During that same time period, he also served on the board of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. He held board positions as well at Montefiore and Presbyterian University Hospitals and at Carnegie Mellon and Seton Hill Universities. For several years he was president of the Pittsburgh Jewish Home for the Aged. He currently is on the boards of the symphony, Seton Hill, and Phipps Conservatory.
Mr. Moritz said that “by far, the best thing” that happened to him was his marriage to Janet Papernick of Glassport. They are approaching their 60th wedding anniversary. They currently reside in Pittsburgh and have three children: Paula Spock, Laurie Moritz and J. Kenneth Moritz. They have six grandchildren. Mr. Moritz notes that his two daughters are McKeesport Area High School graduates, with Laurie having been valedictorian of her graduating class.
 Florence Bonczek Innes
Class of 1952
Florence Innes’ hearing loss was discovered when she was just six years of age. She was fitted with her first hearing aid: a box with amplification connected to two large batteries worn on her right leg.
Both hearing aids and attitudes toward those with hearing loss have come a long way since then, but for young Florence, the battle was just beginning.
And battle she did, beginning in grade school where teachers weren’t trained to deal with hearing-loss students and where some decided not to deal with them at all (her fifth grade teacher told her to stand in the hall). Lip-reading helped her in high school and so did a successful majorette tryout and a new one-piece hearing aid. “I realized for the first time that I could be like everyone else,” she said.
Still, she had trouble finding a job as a secretary. She took an entry level position at Joseph Horne Co. instead, received a number of promotions, and eventually went to The Pittsburgh Art Institute for further study, which led to a job in Horne’s Interior Furnishings Department.
At 32, she moved to Sarasota, Fla., where she became involved in helping those with hearing loss. As president of the Self Help for Hearing Loss organization, she realized how little help was available for members. Due to a generous donation from a friend who knew she wanted to open a center just for the hard of hearing, Advocates For Better Hearing, Inc. was born.
Ms. Innes put together the largest, innovative, hands-on display of assistive hearing devices (more than 100) in the state of Florida. Her goal is to provide her hard-of-hearing clients with the necessary tools and skills to enrich their lives.
In addition to founding her own organization, Ms. Innes has served on the Board of Trustees for the Hearing Loss Association of Florida; has received the Spirit Award from the Hearing Loss Association of America; been honored for her work by the city of Sarasota. Each year she awards scholarships to hard-of-hearing students at Florida State College. She supports and sponsors seeing eye dogs and training for dogs for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Perhaps remembering her own struggles, she is an active member of Sertome, which helps children with hearing loss.
She definitely remembers the day – July 26, 1990 – that President George H.W. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act, which to her is “the most wonderful law ever written.”
 C. Scott Harrison, M.D.
Class of 1955
Scott Harrison, M.D., is Founder and CEO of CURE International. Initially an orthopedic surgeon, he trained in pediatric orthopedics with the internationally respected children’s orthopedist Walter Blount.
He put his expertise in reconstructive spinal surgery to good use in Africa to help the desperate needy disabled children of that continent. When he could find no organization that was meeting this need, he formed CURE International. CURE was the synthesis of his experiences as a professor of orthopedics, a co-founder of a network of for-profit rehabilitation hospitals, and his work as the Chairman/CEO of an international medical device company.
He had parallel careers in the “business of medicine” along with being Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Penn State’s Medical School. He was also Director of the Scoliosis Service for the Pennsylvania State Crippled Children's Hospital and the Chief of Orthopedic Surgery at Harrisburg Hospital.
Because of his experience in founding Rehab Hospital Services Corporation, the first for-profit chain of 17 rehabilitation hospitals, he left private practice in 1991 to become chairman of the board and CEO of Kirschner Medical Corporation, a NASDAQ listed international orthopedic device manufacturing company. Kirschner merged with Biomet, Inc., in 1994, and Dr. Harrison served as lead director until the company was sold in 2007 at a 50% premium in its stock price.
He resumed his surgical career in 1996 with regular trips to Kenya. Of the many mission hospitals in Africa he visited, most were having difficulty obtaining funding and competent staffing. He developed a 21st Century model to address these problems when building CURE's first hospital in Kenya in 1998. It called for a commitment to training and specialty care, based on a blend of for-profit and non-profit care which would be the foundation of sustainability.
Since then, more than 1000 medical practitioners have been trained since CURE’s inception. No one is turned away for lack of money. Under Dr. Harrison’s leadership, CURE International has become a $67 million company with 1,450 employees and is the world leader in surgical reconstructive care to disabled children.
Dr. Harrison has received many honors and awards. In 2000, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons presented him with its annual Humanitarian Award. In 2002, the University of Pittsburgh recognized Dr. Harrison as a Legacy Laureate, identifying him as a “most distinguished alumnus.” He is a member of numerous professional organizations as well, including the Scoliosis Research Society.
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 Richard A. Anderson
Class of 1964
Richard A. Anderson swam his way to success at McKeesport High School and along the way learned lessons in leadership, initiative and teamwork that he has put into practice during his career in health care administration.
He has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network in Bethlehem, Pa., since 1986, making him the state’s longest-tenured health care leader.
He earned a Master of Public Health in Hospital Administration (1971) at the University of Pittsburgh and did his undergraduate work at the University of Illinois, where he earned a varsity “I” in swimming during each of his three years of eligibility and held freshman and varsity records in various events. Mr. Anderson was the first member of what eventually became McKeesport Area Senior High School’s competitive swimming team. He won honors at the local, regional and state championships, setting a WPIAL record along the way.
He is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, a former board member of the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania and a participant on national panels hosted by the American Hospital Association.
Mr. Anderson has overseen St. Luke’s successful evolution from a single hospital to six hospital sites and the largest geographically distributed health care network in southeastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey, providing services at more than 150 locations. During his tenure, St. Luke’s has been nationally recognized more than 40 times and twice was named one of the best hospitals in the U. S. in the 100 Top Hospitals: Benchmarks for Success. On multiple occasions, St. Luke’s has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Pennsylvania.
Over the past 25 years, Mr. Anderson also has helped advance St. Luke’s development as one of the nation’s major teaching hospitals, offering 152 resident/fellowship positions in 20 accredited programs. In October of 2009, St. Luke’s and Temple University announced their joint establishment of the region’s first medical school.
Mr. Anderson and his management team currently are developing a new 500-acre medical campus located in Bethlehem Township. In observance of his 25 years of service and his accomplishments, the Board of Trustees of St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network named this campus in his honor in 2010. In 2011, the University of Illinois named Mr. Anderson a recipient of the College of Applied Health Sciences’ Distinguished Alumni Award.
He and his wife, Helen, are the parents of Lauren Anderson Midlam. They reside in Bethlehem, Pa.
 The Rev. Alonzo Burney, Sr., Esq.
Class of 1965
For many years, Alonzo Burney has balanced careers in the law and the church, counseling those with legal or spiritual problems and sometimes both.
After graduating from McKeesport Area High School, Mr. Burney earned his undergraduate degree in business from Penn State University in 1969 and went on to receive his Juris Doctor from Duquesne University in 1972.
He joined Allegheny County and worked his way up from law clerk in the Court of Common Pleas, to trial attorney in the Public Defender’s Office, to trial attorney and then supervising attorney in the Office of the District Attorney. He also taught at the city and county police academies.
He has been a partner in three law firms and now maintains his own practice in McKeesport.
Mr. Burney’s father had predicted that one of his four sons would become a minister and that thought had always been in the background for him. In 1989, it moved to the foreground and he accepted the call. He preached his initial sermon in January, 1990, at Bethlehem Baptist Church, where he had been a member of the congregation and had served on the Board of Trustees in varying capacities.
He served as an associate minister of Bethlehem Baptist Church until he was chosen as pastor of Mt. Bethel Baptist Church in Trafford in 1996. Mr. Burney is a 1998 graduate of Greater Works Outreach, School of Ministry, and has received ordinations from Bethlehem Baptist Church, Raven Ministries and Greater Works. He is a member of the Baptist Ministers’ Conference of Pittsburgh and Vicinity, Inc., and on the board of the Noah’s Ark Community Center in McKeesport.
He also serves as adjunct professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Intelligence Studies at Point Park University and is a member of the Criminal Justice Panel of the U.S. District Court.
He is married to the former Tybitha Ann Guiton. They have three sons – Alonzo Burney, Jr., of Ohio, Courtney of Georgia and Brandon of North Carolina – and three granddaughters. Mr. Burney and his wife reside in Murrysville, Pa.
He says he encourages his family, church members and clients to “strive for excellence in everything they do.”
In some situations, he adds, they may not “receive the response they desire or be treated the way they want to be, but, if they keep the necessary faith in God, they will survive.”
 V. James DeVincentis
Class of 1971
V. James DeVincentis, known to his friends and colleagues as “Jimmy D or just D, ” is co-owner of Przyborski Productions, located in the Strip District of Pittsburgh.
His company has produced award-winning commercials at the regional level for Giant Eagle, Allegheny General Hospital, Eat'N Park, and S&T Bank and nationally for Auto Zone, Kaopectate Brands, and AT&T Wireless. In addition, Przyborski Productions owns several U.S. patents in the high-definition camera field and has signed licensed agreements with such companies as SONY, Panasonic, and Canon.
Mr. DeVincentis attributes his career as a successful entrepreneur to his natural people skills, his keen business sense and his marketing background. He attended graduate school at Ohio University, majoring in broadcast administration. He completed his undergraduate degree on a full athletic scholarship for swimming at Kent State University, graduating with honors in 1975. While at Kent State, he was a two-time captain on a swim team that won three consecutive Mid-American Conference titles.
By graduation, Mr. DeVincentis had won more conference titles and scored more points than anyone in the conference history. In 1984 he was inducted into the Kent State University Athletic Hall of Fame. He serves as a board member of the NCAA Athletic Department Council, where he has represented Kent State University for 12 years. This year, Kent State honored him for his commitment to excellence in athletics by naming the Football Team Room after him.
Mr. DeVincentis remembers learning to swim at an early age at the McKeesport YMCA. It started him on the path that ultimately led to his future success, beginning at McKeesport Area High School where his swimming accomplishments included team captain, WPIAL championships, and All-WPIAL, All-State and All-American honors. He still holds the high school record for the 50 and 100 freestyle.
Although swimming gave him the opportunity to continue his education after graduation, Mr. DeVincentis attributes his strong foundation and commitment to success in life to his mother, a single parent who gave him love while fostering self-discipline and encouraged and nurtured his ability to be independent and self-reliant. He also credits his teachers and coaches as well as community mentors who served as role models in his life and gave him sound advice and direction.
Mr. DeVincentis and his wife, the former Georgia Spanos, have been married for 24 years and live in Peters Township. They have two daughters, Dina and Maria, both of whom attend Kent State University.
 Robert P. Sedlock, Sr.
Class of 1955
Robert P. Sedlock credits strong family discipline and demanding educators for guiding and supporting his interest in music and his career in the military, politics, transportation, and private business.
Mr. Sedlock served two three-year terms in the U.S. Army before joining McKeesport Transit, where he managed the maintenance of buses. During this time, he suffered serious injuries to both legs in an accident on the job and used the long healing period to decide his next career steps. He subsequently attended Pittsburgh Institute of Avionics, Kent State (management courses) and Westinghouse for computer programming, which enabled him to become part of a joint development for the "first-of-a-kind" electric Automated People Mover System.
Now working for the Port Authority of Allegheny County, he was an assistant superintendent in the late 1960s, then project manager for technical systems and engaged in design and construction of the light rail system, now known as “The T,” for Pittsburgh.
During the 1970s, Mr. Sedlock furthered his education for his position in management at Carnegie Mellon, Northeastern, and Duquesne Universities with degrees in management. He also served on several transportation boards and committees, including federal and industry agencies. He advanced as Manager of Systems Technology and became advisor to the Board of Directors for the Port Authority.
His position included the oversight of planning, production, maintenance, operation and safety of the light rail system until completion of the first phase, which included initial operations in downtown Pittsburgh. Completion of building and revenue operation for the entire system occurred in 1986.
Mr. Sedlock managed the $70 million procurement of light rail vehicles over seven years, "on time" and "on budget." Following the successful initial system start-up, he resigned from the Port Authority to move into private business. He became vice president of Sutrak Corp., a major supplier of air handling systems used by the transit industry.
After 12 years in the private sector, he went on to work for transit systems in New Jersey and helped set fixed rail system guidelines and oversight procedures for the Federal Transit Administration.
Mr. Sedlock is retired but continues to consult and pursue his interest in music. In his spare time, he loves to play his accordion and synthesizer/keyboard that he mastered as a child. He was founder of a local band, the "Melo Tones," which played from 1963 to 1985.
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