Le Moyne College Athletics

Joseph F. Boehm ’51 – Class of 1983

A Steady Hand…

When Le Moyne College’s first basketball team took the court in 1947 its captain was a diminutive guard from Syracuse named Joe Boehm.  That team could not know that four years later William J Hickey ’53 would write in the first Le Moyne College yearbook, under the title, “Green, then Golden,” the following tribute:

“In 1947, Le Moyne College inaugurated its athletic program.  The first inexperienced and youthful squad which walked on a basketball court to represent the College was in the true sense of the word pioneer.  But through the progressing seasons, the teams which were first made up of green, young athletes became more and more aware of their own potential and slowly increased in power.  Within the process of this growth the original shaky lines became firm and the squads became confident.

“The athletic power of the Dolphins was not to reach its height, however, until its fourth year.  In a golden blaze of glory, the Le Moyne basketball team placed itself alongside the sports greats of the nation.

“Indeed, it took only four short years for the Green and Gold of Le Moyne College to live up to its colors.”

Coach Tom Niland molded that team of destiny.  Competing in a freshman league in 1947-48 with Boehm as captain, the fledging Dolphins served notice of great things to come by compiling a 16-4 record.  In varsity competition for the first time in 1948-49, a very respectable record of 12-7 was achieved.  However, in the following season the team dipped to 10-13.  Throughout these years, Joe Boehm served as the team’s balance, the solid figure whose proud yet gentle and steady, consistent performance countered the ups and downs of winning and losing.

A disappointing start in the pioneers’ final season together threatened to ruin the winning tradition they were striving to build.  But Joe Boehm never lost that steady reserve, and with him as catalyst, the 1950-51 Dolphins came on strong to complete the season ranked as one of the top ten small colleges in the nation.

In four years Joe Boehm scored 560 points.  But his chief contributions were his unselfishness, team spirit and example of hard work.

These are the same characteristics which mark Joe Boehm’s professional and personal life.  His industrial relations degree from Le Moyne led to an appointment as assistant personnel director at Oberdorfer Foundries in Syracuse and eventually to the post of employment manager at Syracuse China Corporation.

A deeply religious man, Joe’s record of community service is outstanding.  For many years he served his alma mater as “the voice of the Dolphins” manning the mike at basketball games.  St. James Parish, the Holy Name Society, The Knights of Columbus, Bishop Ludden High School and the Central New York Employee Relations Council are among the organizations which have benefited from Joe’s volunteer service.

His strong sense of commitment to his wife, Dorothy, and sons Joseph, Stephen and Robert is exemplary.

The steady hand which Joseph F. Boehm ’51 brought to the first Le Moyne Basketball team and his devotion to his community and family provide ample reason for his membership in the