Nominee: Vernie L. “Buzz” Brandon
Nominated by: Daniel A. Brandon

Ticket Numbers 832 and 833 bring back many fond memories of the last “significant” award my father would receive as he was inducted into the Erie County Sports Hall of Fame in November of 1988. This was the crowning event in a sports career that spanned over fifty years.

Vernie “Buzz” Brandon began his athletic career in the mid-1930’s, in the Sugarcreek Township School District, just outside of Franklin, Pennsylvania. He excelled in basketball and baseball. Three days after his high school graduation, he joined the navy, where he continued to excel on the baseball team. When he was honorably discharged in 1946, he returned to Erie with his bride, Frances “Rosie” Brandon. His parents and siblings had moved to Erie in 1940. For over thirty-five more years, he would continue to excel in baseball and softball.

In October of 1979, my father became the second person to be inducted into the State Softball Hall of Fame.

In 1955, my father was a member of the Allied Trades Softball Team. That year, they won the state championship and brought the trophy to Erie. As a result, the late Louis J. Tullio, honorable mayor of the City of Erie, proclaimed June 24, 1976, as “’Buzz’ Brandon Day.” The year 1955 was the first time in the history of the City of Erie, that a team had won a state championship.

I had the privilege of meeting the late Gene Cuneo, who was Sports editor of The Erie Morning News and The Erie Daily Times News. He said it best when he referred to my father as “Mr. Softball.”

In his last years, my father was still very active in the sports world. He was instrumental in the founding of the Millcreek Youth Athletic Association.

My father encouraged family members, also. He and four of his brothers participated in the Brothers Bowling Tournament. They won a championship and in 1995, the four remaining brothers were selected as “1995 Family of the Year.” He also convinced his four sisters to participate in the Sisters Bowling Tournament. They also won a championship. He influenced my brother, Steve, from a very young age, as a Little League player. Steve is referred to as Buzz Brandon, Jr. His youngest child Peggy was active in girl’s softball and her team also achieved a state championship in the late seventies.

My father suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 66, on November 15, 1990.Guess what he was doing when he suffered his heart attack? He was playing a round of golf on the Elk Valley Golf course.

Over the years, my late mother kept a family scrapbook of my father’s athletic career. If members of the selection committee wish to review the pictures and articles, I will make this scrapbook available to them.

I submit this application on the behalf of the children of “Buzz” Brandon. They are: Stephen (“Buzz,” Jr.) Brandon, Daniel Brandon, Mrs. Patricia Brandon Tomczak, and Peggy Brandon.

Thank you for your kind consideration in this matter.

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