Army West Point Athletics
Guidance From Coaches Helps Lead To Hall of Fame Career
August 31, 2009 | General
Editor's Note: This is the third in a series of stories profiling the Kenna Hall of Army Sports inductees, Class of 2009. GoARMYsports.com will take a look at these outstanding athletes and their accomplishments, leading into the induction on Sept. 11.
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Ralph Chesnauskas was thinking about leaving the U.S. Military Academy. It was his first semester, the academics were challenging and he decided that one semester was enough.
Legendary football coach Earl “Red” Blaik wanted Chesnauskas to stay and wrote him a letter, urging him to finish the year. Blaik also convinced new hockey coach Jack Riley – now a Hall of Famer member himself – to allow Chesnauskas to play hockey.
Chesnauskas listened to his coaches and decided to continue, spurning several scholarship offers. It turned out to be a great decision, capped by Chesnauskas’ induction into the Army Sports Hall of Fame.
Chesnauskas is one of eight who will be honored this year in the sixth class. The Class of 2009 also includes Bill Carpenter (football and lacrosse), Tracy Hanlon (track and field and women’s basketball), Mike Krzyzewski (men’s basketball player and coach), Ray Murphy (Athletic Director and football, basketball and lacrosse player), Nicki Robbins (softball), Jack Rust (lacrosse) and Thomas Truxtun (lacrosse and men’s soccer).
The eight honorees will officially be inducted into the Army Sports Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 11. A special afternoon plaque unveiling ceremony will be held in the Kenna Hall of Army Sports inside Kimsey Center, with the formal black-tie banquet presented by Lockheed Martin set for Eisenhower Hall later that evening. The group will also be recognized during Army’s football game against Duke the next day at Michie Stadium with a special photograph and autograph session planned in Black Knights Alley prior to the contest.
The Army Sports Hall of Fame is a subset of the Kenna Hall of Army Sports, a comprehensive museum displaying Army’s rich and proud intercollegiate athletic program. It is located on the third floor of the Kimsey Athletic Center, Army’s massive football training facility.
Chesnauskas will take his place among the Army greats in recognition of his stellar career that spanned nine varsity letters in football, baseball and hockey and concluded with the prestigious Army Athletic Association trophy.
A 1956 graduate, Chesnauskas earned three letters in each sport. As a football player, he was a guard and named a first team All-American in 1954 and participated in the 1955 North-South Shrine Game while helping the squad to 18 victories. He also handled kicking duties as well.
Chesnauskas learned to skate when he came to West Point and his hard work earned him the captaincy of the hockey team his senior year. As a defenseman, he netted seven points off of four goals and three assists.
During his time on the baseball field, Chesnauskas helped the team to 30 wins, including a victory over Navy.
One of Chesnauskas’ favorite memories was the towering home run he hit off of Cullum Hall, deep to left field, off a pitcher who later competed professionally.
Following his Army career in the Armor branch, Chesnauskas later moved on to Gillette, where he oversaw 500 people at one time, designing equipment to make razors and blades.
None of which may not have been possible if he decided to leave West Point.
Catch Us Up On What You Have Been Doing Since Graduating: “I joined the Armor branch after graduation so I went to Fort Knox for tanker training and after jump school, to Germany. I spent two-and-a-half years in Germany and got out of the service. I returned to Massachusetts and worked for a company that made credit cards and credit card machines but was laid off in the recession. I went to Gillette as a junior engineer and spent 38 years there, the last 11 as vice president of engineering. I retired in January of 1999, did some consulting and then retired.”
Reaction When Received Letter You Were Chosen: “I was floored. I never expected to get in. I figured maybe some years down the road, when all these other people – and there are quite a few – got in, I might get my chance. When I got the letter from Mr. Anderson, I was floored. I am deeply honored to be inducted.”
Favorite Athletic Memory: “A couple of things come to mind. One is the Duke game in 1953. Duke was undefeated and ranked seventh in the country. ‘Poor, old’ Army wasn’t expected to do much. We fooled them. In 1953, we beat Duke at the Polo Grounds, 14-13. When the game ended, Duke had the ball on the on-inch line. A second thing is the two times we beat Navy and the second time was basically the finale of the comeback of Army football. I was very proud of the players and coaches. I ended up in the top 20 three years in a tow and no one ever expected us to be ranked at all. ”
Favorite West Point Memory: “I got quite a few demerits but since I was playing corps squad, I never had to walk the area. I had to stay confided to my room on weekends and such but didn’t have to walk. What I remember most though is the camaraderie of my classmates which I enjoyed very much and still enjoy.”
Who Had The Biggest Influence On Your Athletic Career: “I found it very difficult at West Point. I didn’t know what I was getting into when I signed up. I never took books home, never studied in high school and ended up with A’s and B’s. All I wanted to do was go to college. At the end of my first semester, I had to take an exam and was getting tired of all the things going on that I wasn’t used to. I made a decision that I was going to leave. I had a scholarship offer to Wisconsin if I wanted it. Col. Blaik then sent me a letter an encouraged me to stay for the remainder of the year. I still have that letter and it’s signed. Col. Blaik didn’t like to sign his name to anything either. At the same time, Jack Riley had just come in as hockey coach. Those two people had a great impact on my staying and getting past the problems and graduating.”
What’s The Biggest Difference At West Point Since You Were A Cadet: “The first and biggest difference is that there are female cadets. When I look back, there weren’t any woman around accept for those visiting in my time. The second thing is the curriculum, which is very, very different than we had. They can choose a major and take elective courses. That’s a big thing. And the facilities have expanded dramatically since the time I was there.”
Tickets for the event are available to the public and can be purchased by calling Army's External Operations Office at 845-938-2322. Proceeds will be directed to a fund that supports the daily care, maintenance and growth of the Kenna Hall of Army Sports and Army Sports Hall of Fame.
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Ralph Chesnauskas was thinking about leaving the U.S. Military Academy. It was his first semester, the academics were challenging and he decided that one semester was enough.
Legendary football coach Earl “Red” Blaik wanted Chesnauskas to stay and wrote him a letter, urging him to finish the year. Blaik also convinced new hockey coach Jack Riley – now a Hall of Famer member himself – to allow Chesnauskas to play hockey.
Chesnauskas listened to his coaches and decided to continue, spurning several scholarship offers. It turned out to be a great decision, capped by Chesnauskas’ induction into the Army Sports Hall of Fame.
Chesnauskas is one of eight who will be honored this year in the sixth class. The Class of 2009 also includes Bill Carpenter (football and lacrosse), Tracy Hanlon (track and field and women’s basketball), Mike Krzyzewski (men’s basketball player and coach), Ray Murphy (Athletic Director and football, basketball and lacrosse player), Nicki Robbins (softball), Jack Rust (lacrosse) and Thomas Truxtun (lacrosse and men’s soccer).
The eight honorees will officially be inducted into the Army Sports Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 11. A special afternoon plaque unveiling ceremony will be held in the Kenna Hall of Army Sports inside Kimsey Center, with the formal black-tie banquet presented by Lockheed Martin set for Eisenhower Hall later that evening. The group will also be recognized during Army’s football game against Duke the next day at Michie Stadium with a special photograph and autograph session planned in Black Knights Alley prior to the contest.
The Army Sports Hall of Fame is a subset of the Kenna Hall of Army Sports, a comprehensive museum displaying Army’s rich and proud intercollegiate athletic program. It is located on the third floor of the Kimsey Athletic Center, Army’s massive football training facility.
Chesnauskas will take his place among the Army greats in recognition of his stellar career that spanned nine varsity letters in football, baseball and hockey and concluded with the prestigious Army Athletic Association trophy.
A 1956 graduate, Chesnauskas earned three letters in each sport. As a football player, he was a guard and named a first team All-American in 1954 and participated in the 1955 North-South Shrine Game while helping the squad to 18 victories. He also handled kicking duties as well.
Chesnauskas learned to skate when he came to West Point and his hard work earned him the captaincy of the hockey team his senior year. As a defenseman, he netted seven points off of four goals and three assists.
During his time on the baseball field, Chesnauskas helped the team to 30 wins, including a victory over Navy.
One of Chesnauskas’ favorite memories was the towering home run he hit off of Cullum Hall, deep to left field, off a pitcher who later competed professionally.
Following his Army career in the Armor branch, Chesnauskas later moved on to Gillette, where he oversaw 500 people at one time, designing equipment to make razors and blades.
None of which may not have been possible if he decided to leave West Point.
Catch Us Up On What You Have Been Doing Since Graduating: “I joined the Armor branch after graduation so I went to Fort Knox for tanker training and after jump school, to Germany. I spent two-and-a-half years in Germany and got out of the service. I returned to Massachusetts and worked for a company that made credit cards and credit card machines but was laid off in the recession. I went to Gillette as a junior engineer and spent 38 years there, the last 11 as vice president of engineering. I retired in January of 1999, did some consulting and then retired.”
Reaction When Received Letter You Were Chosen: “I was floored. I never expected to get in. I figured maybe some years down the road, when all these other people – and there are quite a few – got in, I might get my chance. When I got the letter from Mr. Anderson, I was floored. I am deeply honored to be inducted.”
Favorite Athletic Memory: “A couple of things come to mind. One is the Duke game in 1953. Duke was undefeated and ranked seventh in the country. ‘Poor, old’ Army wasn’t expected to do much. We fooled them. In 1953, we beat Duke at the Polo Grounds, 14-13. When the game ended, Duke had the ball on the on-inch line. A second thing is the two times we beat Navy and the second time was basically the finale of the comeback of Army football. I was very proud of the players and coaches. I ended up in the top 20 three years in a tow and no one ever expected us to be ranked at all. ”
Favorite West Point Memory: “I got quite a few demerits but since I was playing corps squad, I never had to walk the area. I had to stay confided to my room on weekends and such but didn’t have to walk. What I remember most though is the camaraderie of my classmates which I enjoyed very much and still enjoy.”
Who Had The Biggest Influence On Your Athletic Career: “I found it very difficult at West Point. I didn’t know what I was getting into when I signed up. I never took books home, never studied in high school and ended up with A’s and B’s. All I wanted to do was go to college. At the end of my first semester, I had to take an exam and was getting tired of all the things going on that I wasn’t used to. I made a decision that I was going to leave. I had a scholarship offer to Wisconsin if I wanted it. Col. Blaik then sent me a letter an encouraged me to stay for the remainder of the year. I still have that letter and it’s signed. Col. Blaik didn’t like to sign his name to anything either. At the same time, Jack Riley had just come in as hockey coach. Those two people had a great impact on my staying and getting past the problems and graduating.”
What’s The Biggest Difference At West Point Since You Were A Cadet: “The first and biggest difference is that there are female cadets. When I look back, there weren’t any woman around accept for those visiting in my time. The second thing is the curriculum, which is very, very different than we had. They can choose a major and take elective courses. That’s a big thing. And the facilities have expanded dramatically since the time I was there.”
Tickets for the event are available to the public and can be purchased by calling Army's External Operations Office at 845-938-2322. Proceeds will be directed to a fund that supports the daily care, maintenance and growth of the Kenna Hall of Army Sports and Army Sports Hall of Fame.
Army vs. American Women's Lacrosse Game Highlights
Monday, April 06
Army vs. Lehigh Men's Lacrosse Game Highlights
Saturday, April 04
Army vs. Lafayette Women's Lacrosse Game Highlights
Saturday, April 04
Army Navy Baseball Stops for the Retiring of the Colors.
Friday, April 03