Jim Kroculick graduated from Jim Thorpe Area High School in 1957 and went on to graduate from Kings College with a BS in Science.

Kroculick earned seven varsity letters playing football, basketball and baseball, but is most heralded in the Thorpe record books for scoring the very first touchdown in Olympians’ football program history, after the merger of Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk in 1954. There was no football before the towns merged.

Kroculick was also a member of the first Jim Thorpe basketball team to win a District 11 title (1957).

In baseball, Kroculick won consecutive Carbon County baseball batting titles, hitting .586 as a junior and .540 as a senior.

In 1965, Kroculick returned to Jim Thorpe and coached numerous sports, serving as head baseball coach, assistant football coach and volunteer wrestling coach. As an assistant football coach, Kroculick helped to guide numerous championship teams, including the undefeated 1966 Thorpe squad.

The Jim Thorpe Hall of Fame Class of 2023 awards banquet will be held on Saturday, Aug. 26 at Jim Thorpe High School, and is open to the public. Tickets are now on sale. Reach out to Craig Zurn at 570-325-3631 or 570-325-3855 to purchase tickets.

Personalized advertisements for the Banquet Program can be purchased for $25, $50 and $100. Reach out to Zurn or Jack Kmetz (570-325-4923) to purchase an advertisement.