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Military/ Law Enforcement
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Military/ Law Enforcement
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Lieutenant-Colonel Ed Staniowski joined the Canadian Forces Primary
Reserves in 1985 as an Officer, following a ten-year career playing Professional Hockey in the NHL. He was selected
as the St. Louis Blues first pick in the 1975 draft. As a member of the Canadian Forces, LCol Staniowski has served
on three United Nations and NATO Peacekeeping and Peace Enforcement Missions including Bosnia, Croatia and the Middle East.
All of the overseas tours were with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. On foreign and domestic operations,
LCol Staniowski has served as a Staff Officer at the Unit and Formation level. Staff positions include: Senior Military
Liaison Officer for the CF Joint Task Force HQ during the 2002 G8 Summit in Kananaskis and in 2003, as the Military Assistant
to the Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Multi-National Stand-by High Readiness Brigade for the United Nations Operations
(SHIRBRIG).
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Although best known for his role with America's Team, Chad Hennings'
successful career began long before his professional football career. An accomplished lineman in high school, Hennings
was offered full scholarships for Universities across the Nation. However, he chose
to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he racked up numerous honors academically as well as on the gridiron. His
exemplary achievements put him at the top of many draft lists and earned him a spot on the Dallas Cowboys' roster,
but Hennings postponed his entry into the NFL to fullfill his commitment to the U.S. Air Force. He entered
the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program and soon found himself at the controls of the A-10 Thunderbolt. During
his four years of service in the U.S. Air Force, Hennings flew 45 missions in support of Operation Provide Support in Northern
Iraq, receiving two Ariel Achievement Medals, a Humanitarian Award and Outstanding Unit Award for his
actions in service. After his discharge, Hennings joined the Dallas Cowboys in a starting position as a defensive lineman.
He spent his entire 9 years in the NFL with the Cowboys, retiring with three Super Bowl rings.
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Between 1978 and 1980, Banaszak started 45 regular season
games at defensive end on a pair of Pittsburgh Super Bowl Championship teams (XIII & XIV). During Super Bowl XIII, Banaszak
recorded six tackles, including a pair of sacks, and a fumble recovery in a 35-31 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, which garnered
him Defensive Player of the Game honors. In the following Super Bowl against the Los Angeles Rams, Banaszak finished with
five tackles and a sack in a 31-19 Steelers victory. Banaszak took a unique route
to the NFL via his schooling. John enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and spent two years in the
service between high school and University.
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Bower grew up in rural Saskatchewan, the only boy in a family
of nine children. He was dirt poor and never had the proper equipment. He made his goalie pads from an old mattress; he made
pucks, "cow pies," from horse manure; his dad would look for suitably crooked tree branches to shave into sticks;
a friend gave him his first pair of skates because his father couldn't afford to buy him a pair; and still he refined his
game to become one of the best goalies of all time. In 1940, when he was 15 years old, Bower lied about his age for the
first time, though not the last, in order to enlist in the Army. He was sent to a training camp in British Columbia and was
eventually called up by the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders and shipped to England. Four years later, he became sick
during his service and was discharged in 1944, at which time he resumed his junior career with Prince Albert. After
he retired in 1970 as the oldest goalie ever to play in the NHL, Bower remained with the Leafs for many years as a scout and
then goalie coach, putting the pads on and helping Leaf goalies in practice. At one injury-riddled time during the 1979-1980
season, he came within a whisker, at age 56, of dressing as the team's backup. A member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Bower
is one of only a select few to have his number honored by the Leafs.
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In 1943 at the tender age of 18, Howie enlisted in the Canadian
Armed Forces. In July of the same year, he boarded The Queen Mary and headed overseas accompanied by his cohorts in
the CRWC. During a training session in England, where the troops were supposed to have used plastic grenades, a live
grenade was inadvertently thrown and exploded between his legs. He remained in the hospital for 8 weeks before returning
to his troop and returned home from his tour of duty in December of 1945. Upon his return from overseas he to pursued
his dream of playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs. In the 1946-47 season, Meeker captured the Calder Memorial Trophy
as NHL Rookie of the Year. That season, he scored a record 5 goals in a single season. He was a Stanley Cup winner
three times in 1947, '48 and '49.
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John "Mule" Miles was born in San Antonio, Texas on August
11, 1922. He entered military service in 1942 and attended the Special Aircraft Mechanic Journeyman Rating School in
Tuskegee, Alabama to assist the nation's first African-American flying training program, The Black Wings. Following his discharge
in 1946, Miles joined the Chicago American Giants as a third baseman/outfielder through 1949. In 1982, Miles received
a Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Contribution to the History of Black Americans from Lackland Air Force Base.
He also received the Tuskegee Airman Heritage Award: Tuskegee Ground Support Maintenance Crew in 1995.
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Bob Motley
is a rare historical figure at best. He is a living legend, the only living umpire from the historical Negro Baseball
Leagues. Born in Autaugaville, Alabama in 1923, Bob Motley has lived an extraordinary and colorful life. Ironically,
it was while serving as a Marine during World War II where Motley found his passion, umpiring. From a few stints as
an arbitrator for military pick-up games amongst the distressed soldiers, he would eventually find his way to the Negro American
League after being Honorably discharged and receiving a Purple Heart.
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Pedro Sierra
Pedro
left his native Cuba at age 16 to come to America to play in the Negro Leagues with the Indianapolis Clowns. It
was with the Clowns in 1954 that Pedro played for Hall of Fame legend Oscar Charleston. In 1959, The Washington Senators signed Sierra and
shortly thereafter he was drafted into the US Army. It was while in the service that he helped his team
with the U.S. 4th Army Championship with a 17-5 record and a 1.75 ERA. After his tour of duty
ended in 1962, Pedro played in the Minnesota Twins farm system until 1966. In 1967, he went to play in
the Provinciale League in Quebec, Canada where he went 14-3 in 1969 winning his team’s MVP award and finishing second
in voting for the league’s MVP. In 1970, the legendary Ted Williams gave Pedro a try-out with the
Senators again and he was assigned to AA ball and later became the big club’s batting practice pitcher.
He ended his playing career with time spent playing in Panama and Mexico.
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Henry “Hank” Presswood
was born on October 7, 1921 in Electric Mills, Mississippi. A shortstop and third baseman, he played for Mill City Jitterbugs
in 1936-1937 and the Denkman All-Stars in Canton, Mississippi, from 1938 to 1944. Presswood served with
the Army from February 1945 to 1947, then returned briefly to the Denkman All-Stars before joining the Cleveland
Buckeyes of the Negro League. In 1952, his last year in the Negro Leagues, Presswood played for the Kansas City Monarchs.
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In 1939 Satchel Paige met Joe B. Scott and brought him aboard
his team for a barnstorming tour. The team traveled to cities abroad to fulfill the challenges of major league, Minor
league and military teams. Joe's efforts earned him All-Star appearances through his consistent hitting, steady fielding
and ability to steal bases. In 1942, Mr. Scott was called into the Air Force- Special Services assigned to the
345th Aviation Squadron. Joe held down his responsibilities while playing sports for his unit. They played Negro
League teams and Major League teams as well. When Lt. Col. McGill scouted Joe's performance at a post game, he transferred
him from this unit to play baseball for another unit. In 1945, Joe left military service and returned to the fields
of the Negro Leagues Memphis Red Sox. Joe
B. Scott is the first African-American to play at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
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