OREN LYONS, SR.

LYLE PIERCE, SR.

IRVING POWLESS, SR.

STANLEY PIERCE

Credentials for induction into our Hall of Fame are normally presented as numbers or statistics. The candidate’s record shows when and where he played, how many shots he made or blocked, how many assists, and how far he helped carry his team.

There are no such records for the four Native Americans we are proudly and posthumously inducting this evening. These four men are more than contributors to the game. They are practically saviors of lacrosse. They played in an era where the only vital statistics were wins, losses, cuts, and bruises.

These four men helped keep the fires of lacrosse burning during times when many sports withered and faded away. During the 1920s which were not so roaring for the Native Americans on the Onondaga Reservations, through even leaner years of the Great Depression, and the sad War years, the game of lacrosse was nurtured, preserved, and even helped to flourish by men like Lyons, Pierce, Pierce, and Powless.

They saved the legacy of lacrosse and passed it on to their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who are playing the game today. It is indeed time we recognize and thank these four fine gentlemen for their devotion to the great game of lacrosse.