Tribute Page
In Memory of Fallen J-E Cross Country Athletes
This page has been dedicated to two former J-E runners who were taken from this earth way before their time. On Christmas 2009, Paul Williams, a 1992 J-E grad passed away. He was 35. On January 3, 2010, Bryan Place unexpectantly died. Bryan was a 1989 J-E grad. He was 39.
Both individuals made our world a much better place while they were here and will be forever missed.
Paul Williams
Paul proudly wore the J-E Eagles Cross Country, Basketball, and Track uniforms. In this 1991 photo, Paul is preparing for a time trial to decide the varsity squad - notice the smile on Paul's face. There rarely was a time that Paul was not smiling - his presence lifted up the darkest of moods. As an individual, Paul always saw the best in people and situations - truly an individual that saw the 'glass as half full'.
Bryan Place. A distinguished member of the J-E Cross Country Hall of Fame, Bryan graduated from J-E in 1989. A three-time all league runner and one of the leaders of the team that finished second in the 1987 State Meet. Bryan's sense of humor and wit kept his teammates toeing-the-line enabling him to be a terrific captain. During Bryan's tenure at J-E's varsity, the team won consecutive championships in 1986, 87, and 88. In both 1986 and 1987, J-E won the Class C Sectional Title. More impressive than Bryan's running was his dedication and close friendships to his teammates and coaches. During his sophomore and junior seasons, Bryan was in fierce competition with teammate Rory Thorpe, but this never threatened his friendship with Rory. During Bryan's senior season, his relationship and friendship with Mark Schneider blossomed. Bryan said it best during a H.S. Psychology 'speech' where he said to Mark that "He got by with a little help from his friends" a tribute to both the Beatles and Mark. Bryan will forever be remembered as a die-hard Mets fan.
Bryan is in the middle row, 4th from the left sitting along side J-E Coach Roger Roman. Just behind Bryan was J-E's Girls Coach Amy Wagner. Many of the pictured teammates were on the Wrestling Team with Bryan or played along side him on the Lacrosse field.
This 1987 photo is from a Post-Standard article about Bryan and teammate Rory Thorpe. The entire article can be viewed on the 1986 - 1987 J-E Cross Country history page - the link is found in the menu bar on the top of each page.
May your souls rest in peace gentlemen. I will forever remember your contributions to J-E cross country and to my life. I can say that my life was made better by knowing both of you.
~Coach R. W. Roman, January 4, 2010