Hall of Fame
Elmer Modla of Wallington, N.J., lettered in football for four years and in wrestling for two.
Modla, Class of 1951, was a standout tackle with the Red Raider football team. In 1950, his senior season, he was co-captain of the team and helped Shippensburg compile a 7-1-1 overall record. Shippensburg was nationally ranked in defense by the NCAA that year, allowing only 98.7 yards per game rushing, 64.7 yards per game passing, and 163.3 yards per game in total defense. Modla was a first team All-PSAC player and he was named to the All-Pennsylvania first team by the International News Service. The year before he was All-PSAC and second team All-Pennsylvania.
Following his graduation from Shippensburg, Modla served in the U.S. Army in Korea during the war from 1951 to 1953. At the conclusion of his military service, Modla entered the educational field. He taught for 38 years, retiring in 1994. He was a teacher for 17 years and a principal for 21 years at the Saddle Brook Franklin Elementary School. He also served as a volunteer football coach for 10 years.
A lifelong resident of Wallington, Modla has been active in civic affairs. He was on the board of education for several years including one year as president o the board. He also served two years on the town’s zoning board and was an active member of the VFW Pavlick-Koster Post 2640 and local chapter of the AARP.
