SALAMANCA — Football gave Charles T. “Chuck” Crist his fame, but looking back through his athletic career both as a student and recreationally, it could have been any number of sports.

After his days as a player came to an end, Crist continued his involvement in sports as a coach and ultimately as an educator in the Salamanca City Central School District.

For his dedication both on and off the field, the late Chuck Crist was inducted Friday into the Salamanca Area Historical Society Museum’s Hall of Distinction.

It was standing room only as nearly 100 family members, friends, colleagues and supporters of Crist from the greater Salamanca area gathered on the museum main floor to remember him.

“This is a moment that is long overdue as we honor our local hero,” said Jim Griffith, Salamanca’s city historian.

Griffith said when he first began talking to Crist’s wife, Patti, about inducting her husband to the Wall of Distrinction a few years ago, he asked if she had any memorabilia she could share with the museum for the display.

“She said, ‘Yes, I have storage units in three states,’” he said. “So she was able to come up with some ideas for us.”

Patti Crist thanked the historical society board for the tremendous tribute to her husband and thanked all in attendance for coming together to honor his memory.

“Chuck would be so honored and full of pride for his hometown to take a place on the wall upstairs with his accomplished fellow nominees,” she said. “They all kept Salamanca in the public eye and made our hometown proud.”

Patti said Chuck was always thankful to everyone who supported him at St. Patrick’s School and Salamanca High School, saying he had the most talented and dedicated coaches and teachers. His early training and discipline set him up for collegiate and professional success, she added.

“Speaking to all of you who have known Chuck forever is a challenge. I can’t embellish a thing because you all know the truth,” Patti said, receiving a large laugh from the attendees.

Chuck’s path to the NFL, any sport and any professional thing he did was done with blood sweat and tears, Patti said. “The good, the bad and the ugly. The thrill of victory and the agony of an occasional defeat. That’s the sports world.”

Patti said she was blessed to be by her husband’s side on his rollercoaster of a life. She said his God-given athleticism paired with lots of discipline was nurtured and refined to make him the best player he could be.

“Hey may have worked even harder during his principal years in Salamanca school,” she said. “He loved his job, his teachers, his staff — all dedicating their lives so the kids could live their best lives and become good citizens.”

Patti said Chuck had many opportunities to become “a city boy” in New York, New Orleans and San Francisco, but after the last day of the season the family was either in the car or on the plane on their way back to Salamanca.

“I think there was a couple times (their son) Scott was in the car the night before because he couldn’t wait to get back here,” she recalled.

Patti also expressed hope that Salamanca produces another Academy Award winner, more Major League Baseball managers, more politicians that get the national spotlight, savvy business men and women and more NFL players to add to the museum’s distinguished wall.

“And in Chuck’s favorite last words: Once a Warrior, always a Warrior.”

Chuck Crist’s display on the Salamanca Area Historical Society’s Wall of Distinction hangs alongside Tony-winning and Oscar-nominated writer, producer and director George Abbott; three time Oscar-winning songwriter Ray Evans; and professional baseball pitcher Ray “Slim” Caldwell, who played for the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians.

CRIST LEFT AN indelible athletic legacy to those who saw him perform, from Salamanca High School in the 1960s, college basketball at Penn State or in the NFL for the New York Giants, New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers.

Crist graduated from Salamanca in 1968, where he was awarded a Varsity letter in four sports in his sophomore, junior and senior years. He still holds the school record for the triple jump — nearly 45 feet — and participated in the New York State Track and Field Championship his senior year. Crist was also named to First Team All Western New York Baseball for the 1967–68 season.

Crist attended Penn State University on a four-year scholarship as a dual sport athlete. He played basketball for three years at Penn State and was named team captain his senior year.

Despite not playing football in collage, Crist played professionally in the NFL from 192 to 1987 as a strong safety for the Giants, Saints and 49ers.

After retirement from the NFL, Chuck worked as the assistant coach with the Cattaraugus Central School from 1983 to 1985 and the Alfred Saxons football team from 1985 to 1991. He then earned his master’s degree in education and was employed with Salamanca schools, serving as the high school principal until 2001, when he began serving as principal at Seneca Elementary until his retirement in 2015.

Crist was inducted into the Cattaraugus County Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003, the Chautauqua County Sports Hall of Fame in 2015 and the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2019. He was also named Southwestern New York Athlete of the Century by the Olean Times Herald.

Still an avid athlete recreationally, Crist became an outstanding golfer, going on to win the Holiday Valley Golf Club Championship six times. He also excelled in fast pitch softball in the summer and played shortstop with the best in Western New York.

Crist died Oct. 28, 2020, at the Cleveland Clinic after a long illness. He was 69.

Crist’s display will share space on the wall across from the museum’s elevator with three other Salamanca natives who became giants in sports and entertainment — Tony-winning and Oscar-nominated writer, producer and director George Abbott; three time Oscar-winning songwriter Ray Evans; and professional baseball pitcher Ray “Slim” Caldwell, who played for the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians from 1910 to 1921.