Hall of Fame
Francis “Whitey” Korkuch lettered in basketball for two seasons and served as captain of the team his senior year.
Korkuch played on the 1942 Shamokin High School basketball team that advanced to the PIAA Eastern Finals. He captained the 1943 squad and was one of the selections for the All-State team.
After high school, he joined the Air Force and served in the Pacific for two and a half years. He played throughout the Pacific Islands in the Fifth Air Force basketball league and was selected on the Fifth Air Force “All-Star” basketball team that played in the Hawaii Army Olympics.
Following his military discharge in 1946, Korkuch received a basketball scholarship to Long Island University, coached by Clair Bee, who still holds the NCAA career coaching record for winning percentage with a mark of .827.
A year later Korkuch transferred to Shippensburg. The Red Raiders head coach at the time was Harold Kramer, who also was a native of Shamokin. Korkuch played for 1947 to 1950 and captained the varsity his senior year. The team set a new school and gym record that season by scoring 90 points against Western Maryland. A guard, Korkuch was a consistent double figure scorer and an 80 percent foul shooter. Well known for his set shot, Korkuch was considered one of the best, if not the best set-shooter in the Pennsylvania Conference at the time. He was also known for his leadership abilities and his team play.
After graduating from Shippensburg Korkuch was invited to a tryout with the Philadelphia Warriors at their pre-season basketball camp in Hershey. Shippensburg teammate Bob Chubb, also played at the camp. They were both asked to tour with the Harlem Globetrotters and played for their opposing team, “The Generals.”
In 1950, he started his teaching and basketball teaching career in New Jersey. He moved to Harrisburg in 1952 and coached at John Harris High School varsity for 10 years. He also coached the cross-country and tennis teams. Korkuch also served as a basketball and football official for 15 years.
Korkuch entered the Harrisburg School District as an administrator when he was named an assistant principal in 1966. He served in the capacity and as head principal until his retirement after 36 years in education.
During his career, Korkuch has been very active with the Shippensburg University Alumni Board, serving a term as Alumni Board President. For the past five years he has been the Shippensburg representative to the Pennsylvania Council of Alumni Associations (PCAA). During the past two years, he served as the President of PCAA, the organization representing all 14 universities in the State System of Higher Education.
For his many years of service, and co-chairing many activities with his wife at Shippensburg University, Korkuch and his wife Jean were presented the Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 1987.
