The Slatington History Preservation Committee & Slatington Rotary Club have announced the publishing of ‘Service Above Self’.

The fifth in the Slatington Sports History series, the book follows popular publications ‘Clad in Iron’ (2018), ‘10-0, Here We Go!’ (2019), ‘Beasts of the East’ (2021), and ‘We’ve Got the Bite and Bark’ (2023).

This 38-page book chronicles the history of the Slatington Rotary Basketball Tournament, held annually at Northern Lehigh High School since 1982, said Mike Hofmann Jr, author.

Hofmann said Slatington Rotarians Michael O’Brien, Joe Bechtel, and Rev. Barry Harbach are credited with establishing this yearly holiday fete.

He said O’Brien contacted former Northern Lehigh athletic director Glenn Rissmiller with the idea, who, in turn, invited Palmerton, Nazareth, and Parkland to join Northern Lehigh in the inaugural contests.

Forty-two years later, the tournament is still a success, said Hofmann, who noted that over the years, 13 local schools have participated in the tournament (Northern Lehigh, Palmerton, Lehighton, Jim Thorpe, Nazareth, Catasauqua, Kutztown, Parkland, Panther Valley, Liberty, Tamaqua, Notre Dame Green Pond, and Bethlehem Christian), with a 14th (Pleasant Valley) scheduled to partake in this year’s festivities.

Host Northern Lehigh has won the tournament 16 times, with Palmerton copping the title nine times, said Hofmann, who added that last year’s champion was the Lehighton Indians.

“Included in Service Above Self are game results from each of the 40 tournaments (there was no tournament held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), a history of Slatington High School’s participation in other holiday tournaments in the Lehigh Valley during the 1950s and 1960s, various statistical records, and yearly all-tournament teams and most valuable players (MVPs),” Hofmann said. “Archives of local newspapers The Allentown Morning Call and The Lehighton Times News greatly helped in the research needed for this publication.”

The softcover book, which has been published by Times News Publishing in Lehighton, is currently available, Hofmann said. Those interested in preordering a copy can send a check made payable to Slatington History Preservation Committee for $10 to 44 S. Walnut Street, Slatington, PA 18080. Those individuals who live out of the area and would like their book shipped to them could elect to do so with an added $5 cost.

He said copies will be available for purchase at this year’s Slatington Rotary Basketball Tournament, held at Northern Lehigh High School, on Dec. 26 and 27.

Proceeds will equally benefit the Slatington History Preservation Committee and the Rotary Club of Slatington, Hofmann said.

Those individuals who would like additional information are encouraged to either message the committee on their Facebook page (Slatington Historical Preservation Committee), or email Hofmann at mthofmannjr@gmail.com.