‘Hidden jewel’ in Quaker Valley athletics earns spot in hall of fame

He’s a most familiar figure in and around the Quaker Valley athletic family.

Dennis Pauley has been a fixture at Quaker Valley sporting events for close to 40 years, supporting varsity and junior varsity teams as both a staff member and a fan.

Thanks to his lifelong dedication and loyalty, Pauley has been selected for Quaker Valley Sports Hall of Fame induction as a member of the Class of 2026.

Pauley will be honored along with 1995 graduate Farrah Causby (basketball), 2000 grad John Martin (football), 2004 alum Kara Vezza-Herring (soccer) and the 2011 boys cross country team.

They will be introduced to the QV community Oct. 16 at the Quakers’ home football game at Chuck Knox Stadium. The induction banquet will take place at 11 a.m. Oct. 18 at Sewickley Heights Golf Club.

Pauley said he was “surprised and honored” when he discovered his hall of fame designation.

“Knowing who is in the hall of fame made me feel honored and with a feeling of being recognized in the community,” he said.

In his role as youth sports coordinator at the Sewickley Valley YMCA, Pauley has able to support and advance Quaker Valley youth sports programs for four decades. He has influenced and helped hundreds of youngsters and in turn helped establish the base for future QV high school athletic teams.

“Working at the Sewickley YMCA gave me a connection with QV students,” Pauley said, “running youth sports programs that overlapped with QV sports programs. I’ve kept stats for football for 30 years and kept the scorebook for boys and girls basketball on and off for 20 years.”

Pauley expanded his role over his many seasons at QV events by helping out the football, girls and boys basketball, track and field and lacrosse teams, handling statistics on game day, assisting in scorekeeping plus providing any other needed support.

Pauley is retired and has a degree in sports management from Robert Morris.

“I have considered Dennis Pauley to be a hidden jewel in our Quaker Valley athletic community,” said Mike Mastroianni, QV’s veteran athletic director and boys basketball coach. “His selfless help through his position at the Sewickley YMCA supported countless Quaker Valley student-athletes and influenced their paths as they started their high school athletic careers.

“I’m grateful for his passion for all Quaker Valley sports over the last 35-plus years.”

One of Pauley’s fondest memories at QV took place on the football field.

“Working with the football team and being part of the first-ever state championship stands out as tops,” he said. “It has to be the 2017 state championship.”

A Leetsdale resident, Pauley was born and raised in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh. Everyone at QV, however, considers him a hometown favorite.

And he considers the Pittsburgh Penguins a hometown favorite. Pauley has had Pens’ season tickets for 55 years.