LORETTO, Pa. - Saint Francis will celebrate the legacy of Norm Van Lier and the rest of the Red Flash "Golden Era" members during its game against Wagner on Thursday, February 15. Game time is 7 p.m.
 
"I am very excited about the opportunity to remember the achievements of Norm Van Lier and recognize the contributions of the Golden Era of Saint Francis men's basketball," said head coach Rob Krimmel. "The tradition, success, and passion of those who wore the uniform in the past have helped pave the way for the current generation of Red Flash men's basketball players. Connecting with our past will always be important to me and our staff. The bonds of those who share the honor of competing for the "Frankies" is one of the many things that makes Saint Francis such a special place."
 
The festivities will start with blessing the Golden Era plaques on the wall in front of DeGol Arena at 4:30 p.m. The Very Reverend President, Father Malachi Van Tassell, will bless the plaques, and Bob Moore (Class of 1969) will also give remarks during the ceremony.
 
Like every home basketball game, a meal in the Stokes-Twyman Room on the second floor will be available from 6-7 p.m. The meal cost is $10 for non-Red Flash Futures/Stokes Club members ($1,000 or more).
 
Before the game, there will be a on-court ceremony at 6:40 p.m., and then the Red Flash will take on the Seahawks at 7 p.m. During the pregame ceremony, there will be a video tribute, and members of the Golden Era in attendance at the game will be recognized. Additional tributes will occur throughout the game.
 
Van Lier was a three-year standout for the Frankies from 1966-69. He finished his career in Loretto with 1,410 points and averaged 18.8 points per game. Van Lier left as the third-leading scorer in program history behind only Maurice Stokes (2,282 points, 1951-55) and Sandy Williams (1,546 points, 1961-64). He currently sits in 13th place in program history. During the 1967-68 season, Van Lier dished out a program-record 290 assists.
 
Saint Francis went 55-20 in Van Lier's three seasons in Loretto. Legendary Frankies' head coach Dr. Skip Hughes retired before Van Lier's first season, but Van Lier helped the squad to a 20-6 record in 1966-67, a 19-6 record in 1967-68, and a 16-8 mark in 1968-69 during the three seasons John Clark was the head coach.
 
Van Lier became the fifth Saint Francis player drafted in program history in 1969 when the Chicago Bulls selected him with the fifth pick in the third round. Teammate Larry Lewis was also taken in that draft with the 13th pick in the ninth round, while Lew Alcindor Jr., who would change his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1971, was the No. 1 overall pick in that draft.
 
After being traded from the Bulls to the Cincinnati Royals, the same team Stokes played for in his career, Van Lier was a member of the Royals from 1969-71. He led the NBA in assists in 1971 and became the first player in NBA history to have a scoreless double-double with zero points, 13 assists, and 11 rebounds in a victory against the Los Angeles Lakers, a feat no one would duplicate for 50 years.
 
Van Lier was traded back to the Bulls during 1971-72 and played in Chicago until 1978. Van Lier earned three All-Star Games appearances (1974, 1976, 1977), three NBA All-Defensive first-team selections (1974, 1976, 1977), five NBA All-Defensive second-teams honors (1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, and 1978), and a spot on the All-NBA second team (1974). He has the most defensive team selections, along with Michael Cooper, not to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. On January 19, 1977, Van Lier broke the record for the longest successful field goal in NBA history at 84 feet; the record stood for 24 years until Baron Davis eclipsed it on November 17, 2001, from 89 feet.
 
After playing briefly with the Milwaukee Bucks during the 1978-79 season, Van Lier retired with 8,770 points and 5,217 assists. He registered a career-high 42 points against Seattle on January 12, 1975, and 13 rebounds against Golden State on January 11, 1975. He dished out a career-high 18 assists eight times, including thrice in 12 days in 1971.
 
He was inducted into the Saint Francis Athletics Hall of Fame on July 30, 1999, in the second Hall of Fame ceremony in school history. Van Lier is one of three former Frankies to have his number retired by Saint Francis, and he passed away on February 26, 2009.
 
The Golden Era
From the late 1940s to the early 1970s, Saint Francis College ranked among the upper tier of the nation's college basketball programs. Between 1947 and 1971, Saint Francis teams turned in 19 winning seasons and six 20-win campaigns and were selected to participate in the elite National Invitational Tournament on three occasions.
 
Dr. William "Skip" Hughes (1945-66) – Head Coach
Hughes was the head coach of Saint Francis from 1945-66, leading the Frankies to a 293-206-1 record in his 20 seasons in Loretto. The father of the Golden Era at Saint Francis, Hughes posted a winning record in 13 of his 20 seasons and a non-losing record 14 times. He guided the team to five 20-win seasons (1951-52, 1953-54, 1954-55, 1957-58, 1958-59). Hughes led Saint Francis to the National Invitational Tournament thrice (1953-54, 1954-55, 1957-58), and the team went 3-4 in the tournament. In 1954-55, the Frankies won a pair of games in the NIT to advance to the Final Four.
 
Ed Dugan (1950-54)
Dugan finished his career with 1,003 points to become the third player to eclipse the grand total in program history. He was a member of four winning seasons under Hughes, including the third 20-win season in program history with a then-program record 23 wins, a total surpassed by the Red Flash 1990-91 NCAA Tournament team.
 
Maurice Stokes (1952-55)
Stokes is the greatest player ever to don a Saint Francis uniform, finishing his career with 2,282 points and 1,819 rebounds. He is one of two players in program history with 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. He registered four 40-point games in his career, including a then program-record 43 points against Dayton in the 1955 NIT, despite not taking a shot for eight minutes against Dayton. Stokes is the only player named the Most Valuable Player of the NIT from a team that did not play in the title game. Drafted by the Rochester Royals in the first round, Stokes set a record with 1,256 rebounds, which Bill Russell later broke. Stokes, Van Lier, and Kevin Porter are the only three players to have their jerseys retired by Saint Francis.
 
Frank Puschauver (1954-57)
Puschauver finished his career with 1,371 career points, the second-highest point total when he graduated to only Stokes' 2,282 points. He now sits in 15th place in program history. Puschauver also hauled in 713 rebounds, the second most to Stokes when he graduated, and currently sits 16th in program history. The Frankies were 53-30 in his time in Loretto, with NIT appearances in 1954-55 and 1956-57.
 
Jim McClellan (1955-58)
McClellan finished his career with 1,140 points and 1,002 rebounds to be one of four players to finish their career with 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. He was the sixth player in program history to reach 1,000 points and ranked behind only Stokes and Puschauver when he graduated in points. McClellan currently sits 28th all-time. He was second in rebounds behind Stokes when he graduated and now sits fourth in the category. Along with being a member of two NIT teams and two 20-win seasons, McClellan was also a member of the 82-72 upset win against Duquesne on January 8, 1955. He was the second-ever player drafted by the Cincinnati Royals with the second pick in the sixth round of the 1958 draft.
 
Fr. Jack O'Malley (1956-59)
O'Malley posted 791 points and 422 rebounds and led the team in assists all three seasons in Loretto. The team went 52-22 in his time with the Frankies, including back-to-back 20-5 seasons. In 1958, he hit two free throws to defeat in-state rival Duquesne, 65-65, to help the Frankies return to the NIT for the final time. O'Malley is the only Saint Francis men's basketball player to become a priest.
 
Joe Aston (1957-60)
Aston finished his career with 1,128 points and 831 rebounds. He was the eighth player in program history to reach 1,000 points. Upon graduation, Aston was fifth in team history in points and fourth in rebounds. He now stands in 31st place for points and ninth in rebounds. The Frankies did not have a losing season with Aston in Loretto and won 20 games each of his last two seasons with an NIT bid in 1958.
 
Wilbur "Tree" Trosch (1957-60)
Trosch ended his career with 1,361 points and 875 rebounds playing alongside Aston for those three seasons, making a great one-two punch. Trosch was the seventh player in program history to reach 1,000 points, graduated with the third-most points in team history, and now sits in 16th place on the all-time list. He was third in rebounds when he left Loretto and has moved down to the seventh spot. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 1958 NBA Draft by the Saint Louis Hawks to become the third player in team history drafted. 
 
Ed Winters (1959-62)
Winters had 1,063 points in his career to become the 10th player in team history to reach 1,000 points. Winters left as the seventh-leading scorer in program history and currently ranks 37th on the chart. Winters and Cal Fowler were the only backcourt in the nation to feature two 1,000-point scorers. The Frankies won 34 games in his three seasons, including posting a 14-8 record in 1961-62 for the final winning season under Hughes.
 
Calvin Fowler (1959-62)
Fowler registered 1,179 points with the Frankies, becoming the ninth player in team history to reach 1,000 points and left ranking fifth in program history when he graduated. He currently sits in 26th place in program history. Fowler captained Team USA to its seventh consecutive gold medal in 1968. The Americans stormed through the group stage without a loss and a +207-point differential. After knocking off Brazil in the semifinal, Team USA posted a 15-point victory against upset-minded Yugoslavia to claim the gold.
 
Gene DeBerardinis (1961-64)
DeBerardinis finished his career as the all-time leader in field goal percentage, shooting at a 60.4 clip in his three seasons in Loretto. That mark stood for almost 50 years before it was broken in 2012 by 0.3 of a percentage point. He was one of the nation's top shooters in his senior year thanks to hitting 61.9 percent of his shots and now sits as the third-best field goal percentage mark all-time in team history. The Frankies won 34 games in his three seasons. 
 
Sandy Williams (1961-64)
Williams became the first player not named Stokes to score 40 points in a game for the Frankies when he notched 42 points against Kent State on December 28, 1963. He became the 11th player in program history to score 1,000 points and ended his career with 1,546 points, second to only Stokes when he graduated and currently the eighth-most points on the all-time chart. Williams also corralled 833 rebounds in his career, which was third behind Stokes and Trosch when he left Loretto and eighth currently. Williams was the fourth player in team history drafted in the NBA, with his first pick in the 15th round of the 1964 draft by the Baltimore Bullets.
 
Lenny Murray (1964-68)
Murray finished his career with 1,323 points and 689 rebounds. He was the 13th player in team history to reach 1,000 points and left Loretto as the fifth-leading scorer in program history. Murray left Saint Francis seventh in rebounds and now sits in 19th place in both points and rebounds in program history. He averaged double figures in points in all but one season and played two seasons each for Hughes and Clark. During his two seasons under Clark, the Frankies went 39-12.
 
Larry Lewis (1966-69)
Lewis was the 15th player to reach 1,000 points in his career, finishing with 1,293 points and 1,324 rebounds. One of four players in team history to register 1,000 rebounds in his career, his carom total is only bested by Stokes, while he was seventh on the points chart when he graduated and currently sits in 20th place. In addition, he had 495 rebounds (1968-69) and 443 boards (1967-68) to join Stokes as the only two players with at least 400 rebounds in a season. Lewis became the fifth player drafted in the NBA after being selected with the 13th pick in the ninth round by the Philadelphia 76ers.
 
Joe Hazinsky (1968-72)
Hazinsky finished his career with 1,187 points to become the 17th 1,000-point scorer in program history. Upon graduation, he ranked 10th in program history in points and has moved to the 25th spot. Playing for three different head coaches, the squad posted three winning seasons in Hazinsky's tenure with the Frankies as the Golden era was running to a close in Loretto.
 
Kevin Porter (1968-72)
Porter finished his career with 1,766 points and became the 16th player in program history to reach the century mark. He left Saint Francis second to only Stokes and currently sits fifth on the all-time chart. Porter averaged 23.0 or more points in his final three seasons, including a career-high 24.7 scoring average as a senior in 1971-72. Only Stokes and Williams have recorded higher single-season scoring averages. Upon graduation from Saint Francis, Porter enjoyed a 10-year career in the NBA. He led the NBA in assists four times and became the first player in the league's history to dish out 1,000 assists in a season, passing out 1,099 as a member of the Detroit Pistons in 1978-79. Porter finished his professional career with 5,314 assists and 7,654 points in 659 games. He returned to Saint Francis to serve as the head coach of Saint Francis from 1983-87 to become the second of three former Red Flash basketball players to serve as head coach (Dave Magarity and Krimmel are the only two to accomplish this feat). Porter's 11-year career in the NBA is the longest tenure by a former Saint Francis player. Van Lier played 10 seasons, Stokes played three seasons before his career was tragically cut short, and Mike Iuzzolino played two seasons in the NBA.
 
Clarence Hopson (1971-74)
Hopson wrapped up the Golden Era and became the 18th player to reach 1,000 points in his career after finishing with 1,148 points. He ranked 11th when he graduated and currently sits in 27th place. Hopson led the team in scoring and rebounding during the 1972-73 and 1973-74 seasons. The 1973-74 team finished 15-11, a 10-win improvement over the previous year's win total. That team finished the season with a 16-point home victory against Georgetown as head coach Pete Lonergan wrapped up his first year as the Saint Francis head coach.