Voted one of the top 200 athletes in Parochial League history, Monsignor Frank Sammons dedicated his life not only to his faith but also to church athletic programs.

Sammons was an All-Parochial League high school basketball player for St. Vincent de Paul from 1935 to 1938. His education included Niagara University, St. Bernard’s Seminary, Theology College (Washington D.C.), and Catholic University’s School of Social Services. Sammons was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest in 1947. He then became the Assistant Pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Syracuse.

While the priesthood was Sammons’ primary calling, he was still able to satisfy his love for athletics by becoming the director of the Parochial League. He founded the

City-County Youth Board and served on the National Conference of Catholic Youth. In 1961, he established the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) Basketball League in Syracuse.

Sammons, who served as the Syracuse Diocese’s athletic director for Bishop Ludden, Bishop Grimes and CBA, remained involved in the sports community by giving the invocations at the annual Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame dinners.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1935-1938: All-Parochial League high school basketball player for St. Vincent’s.

1939-1946: Educated at Niagara University, St. Bernard’s Seminary, Theology College, Washington, D.C., and Catholic University’s School of Social Services

1946-1954: Ordained and named Assistant Pastor of St. John the Baptist church, Syracuse

1954-1995: Pastor of St. Patrick’s church, Syracuse

1953-1971: Served as assistant and then director of the Parochial League where he set policy, established schedules and a code of conduct for all schools in the Diocese

1961: Established the CYO Basketball League in Syracuse

1947-2000: Served on the Onondaga County Youth Board, Parks and Recreation Committee

Other achievements: Sammons served as the Director of Lourdes Camp for many years and was the Diocesan Athletic Director for Bishop Ludden, CBA and Bishop Grimes. He was instrumental in establishing Syracuse City Schools-Parochial League Championship Series.