 Eight New Members for Boston College Hall of Fame Honorees to be inducted October 15.
June 21, 1999
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Eight great athletes, whose career spanned 40 years of Boston College athletics, have been selected for the University's Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame.
The athletes selected for the honor are: John Kissell '50 (football), Dr. Harry Ernst '50 (golf), Dan Zailskas '69 (baseball), Jim Rourke '79 (football), Joe Nash '82 (football), Jay Murphy '84 (basketball), Shannon Murphy Silvestri '88 (field hockey), and Dan Shea '88 (ice hockey).
The eight will be inducted in ceremonies at Lantana's in Randolph on Friday, October 15, 1999, and honored at halftime of BC's football game against Pittsburgh the following day.
Here are short biographies of the eight new Hall of Fame members:
John Kissell '50: A native of Nashua, N.H., John Kissell was a three-year standout on the Eagles' football team. A towering defensive lineman, he was a member of the 1942 team that faced Alabama in the Orange Bowl. He then served three years in the Army during World War II, before returning to Boston College for the 1946 and 1947 seasons.
Following his stellar collegiate career, Kissell made his mark at the professional level. Before his career ended, he'd distinguished himself as one of the National Football League's premier linemen. He helped the Browns capture three world titles (1950, 1954, 1955), earning All-Pro honors in each of the championship seasons. His NFL career was briefly interrupted when he played the 1953 season with Ottawa in the Canadian League. He retired from football in 1959 after playing and coaching with Kitchner-Waterloo of the Canadian League.
John, who was selected to the Cleveland Browns' All-Time Team, returned to his native Nashua and taught in the public school system following his playing career.
Dr. Harry Ernst '50: A graduate of Brookline (Mass.) High School, Harry Ernst enjoyed an outstanding golf career at Boston College. He led the Eagles to three consecutive New England intercollegiate golf titles (1948-50), earning individual co-medalist honors in 1948. Two years later, he was the runner-up in the same tournament. Twice during his career, Boston College qualified for the National Intercollegiate Tournament.
A war veteran and a noted economist, Ernst enjoyed an award-winning golf career after his graduation.
Dan Zailskas '69: A versatile baseball player who played every field position during his collegiate career, Dan Zailskas was a three-year varsity player at Boston College. As a sophomore, he played a key role in the Eagles advancing to the 1967 College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. The following two years, he led the eagles in hits, home runs and RBIs. As a senior, he earned the school's prestigious Francis "Cheese" McCrehan Award for baseball, scholarship and character.
A graduate of Croft (Conn.) High School, Zailskas signed a professional baseball contract with the Philadelphia Philles after his graduation from the Heights. He also served as Assistant Dean of Students at Boston College.
Jim Rourke '79: A standout at Boston College High School, Jim Rourke continued his distinguished playing career at Boston College. A three-year starter at offensive guard/tackle, the 6-foot-5-inch, 265-pound lineman was noted for his incredible blocking techniques. He started every game in his junior and senior seasons. He was selected to play in both the Blue-Gray Game and the Senior Bowl.
He was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the ninth round of the 1978 NFL Draft. One of the last players cut that year, Rourke sat out the 1979 season before signing with the Kansas City Chiefs. He enjoyed a six-year NFL career, playing six seasons with the Chiefs and one each with the New Orleans Saints and the Cincinnati Bengals.
Joe Nash '82: Joe Nash came to Boston College in the fall of 1978 and broke into the Eagles' starting line-up as a freshman. A 6-foot-3-inch, 250-pound defensive lineman, Nash played three years at defensive tackle, before moving to nose guard as a senior. In his final season, he recorded 88 tackles, five sacks and one fumble recovery to earn All-New England accolades.
In 1982, Nash was not selected in the NFL Draft, but instead signed as a free agent with the Seattle Seahawks. He played his entire, distinguished 16-year professional career with the Seahawks. As a defensive tackle, he earned Pro Bowl honors. In 1995, he established a Seattle record when he played in his 201st game (just the 19th defensive lineman in NFL history to play in 200 games). Jay Murphy '84: A native of Meriden, Conn., Jay Murphy's four-year career at Boston College marked some of the finest seasons in school history. During his time at the Heights, Murphy led the Eagles to three NCAA Tournament berths and one NIT bid. Twice, BC advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16, while advancing to the tournament's Elite 8 in 1982. He earned BIG EAST honors three times, including All-Conference first team accolades as a senior.
He currently ranks sixth on BC's career scoring list (1,795 points) and seventh on its career rebounding list (763 rebounds). Following his graduation, Murphy continued his playing career in both the NBA and in Europe. He is currently an assistant basketball coach at the University of Hartford.
Shannon Murphy Silvestri '88: The all-time leading scorer in Boston College field hockey history, Shannon Murphy Silvestri was a four-year star for the Eagles. A two-time Regional All-America selection (1986 and 1987), she led BC in scoring in each of her last two seasons. In 1986, her 22 goals and nine assists helped the Eagles capture the ECAC title.
Her accomplishments at Boston College earned her national recognition. She twice competed in the U.S. Olympic Sports Festival.
Dan Shea '88: A distinguished forward on the Eagles' dominating hockey teams of the mid-1980s, Dan Shea's numbers speak for themselves. In four years, he registered 66 goals and 124 assists in 155 games. Each of these numbers rank Shea among the school's career leaders.
The Eagles earned three NCAA Tournament berths in his four-year career, advancing to the tournament's Frozen Four in 1985. As a junior (1986-87), when Kelley Rink was under construction and the Eagles were without a true home, Shea and his teammates registered a BC single-season record with 31 victories. As a senior, Shea served as team captain and earned the prestigious Norman F. Dailey Memorial Award as team MVP.
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