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2/16/2008 3:34 AM

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There are some people who make a positive impact on the lives of people they meet. Denny Gump of Canonsburg was one of them to be sure. He died this past week at 62 of cancer, and will be missed by a great many.

Although he was a mild-mannered sort of guy, he was a fierce competitor in any sport that he chose to participate in, including golf and bowling.

"He was a little guy, but he could really hit a golf ball," said longtime golf companion Dr. Michael Crabtree of Washington. "From 180 yards in, he was almost unbeatable."

When he was in high school, Gump was as tough as any 150-pound varsity football player at Canon-McMillan. He was a sergeant in the U.S. Marines in Vietnam. After the war, he joined the metro police force in Washington, D.C. On returning to his hometown, he became head of security at the former Western Center (site of the Southpointe II development) and at the former Woodville State Hospital.

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I knew him best as a boxer. As a matter of fact, when I was kid sports editor of the old Daily Notes in Canonsburg, he came up to my office and asked if I could help him become a fighter. I was 18; he had just turned 16.

"Popeye" Chemento and John Porco gave me a good deal (free) on gloves, wraps and a mouthpiece for him. I showed him what little I knew at the time about boxing and the late "Red" Foley generously gave of his time to coach me to coach him. Frank Jones of Allenport, later to become a Washington County commissioner, put him on an amateur card in Stockdale that he promoted in May 1962. Denny won the three-rounder handily.

I moved away but Denny got with George Coleman, now a councilman in Canonsburg, himself an accomplished amateur fighter and 1959 Diamond Belt welterweight champion.

"Denny was a darn good fighter," Coleman said Tuesday night at Salandra Funeral Home. "He had about 20 bouts. He fought for the Golden Gloves championship as a welterweight. He didn't win, but he gave the guy who did one heck of a fight.

"He was a fierce competitor, as you know so well," Coleman added. "He was a good kid who grew up to be the kind of guy that we all liked to have around."

The three of us were together a couple of years ago for fights at The Meadows. We three were so looking forward to the boxing shows that are sure to come when The Meadows Racetrack & Casino moves into its permanent location next year and they look for attractions to put in the temporary slots casino building there now.

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Anniversary waltz

Feb. 16 - Linda and Warner Piatt of Washington, their 40th

Feb. 17 - Marlene and George Smoody of Crucible, their 40th

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Birthday candles

Feb. 16 - Mackenzie McElhaney, Diane Puskarich

Feb. 17 - Joe Batove of Washington, his 85th; Joan Beddow of Amity, her 75th; Anna Marie Taleff

Feb. 18 - Irene Powell of Washington, her 80th

Feb. 19 - Earl Doria of Washington, his 95th; Angelo Falconi Sr.

Feb. 20 - Cameron Meier

Feb. 21 - Debbie Kallis

Byron Smialek can be reached at bsmialek@observer-reporter.com

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