OREN LYONS, SR.

LYLE PIERCE, SR.

IRVING POWLESS, SR.

STANLEY PIERCE

Credentials for induction into our Hall of Fame are typically presented in the form of numbers or statistics. The candidate’s record shows when and where he played, the number of shots he made or blocked, the number of assists, and the distance 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.