Phillip "Pops" Meagley
Class of 1972
Basketball, Golf
 
Education
Associates Degree in Accounting, Broome Community College
Bachelor of Science in Economics, Oneonta
 
Athletic Bio
Two-year member of Basketball and Golf teams (1970-72)
Led basketball team in scoring and assists in both seasons
Basketball Co-Captain and MVP in senior year
Played #2 position for golf team
 
Professional Bio
Spent 37 years in the defense business for IBM Federal Systems, Lockhead Martin in Owego, NY – Highlight was being a member of the proposal team that won a two billion dollar contract to build Presidential fleet of helicopters
 
Personal Reflections
As a kid growing up in the "City of the Hills", I often attended the Oneonta Red Dragons games coached by Hal Chase.  Many games were played in the downtown Armory, which was also my home court at Oneonta High School. I remember watching Bruce Jester, Fuzzy Battalini, and Laddie Decker, the latter of which is a member of the Oneonta State Athletic Hall of Fame.
 
In 1970, my wife and I decided to take a leave from jobs in Binghamton to finish our college degrees. Never even thinking that I still had two years of eligibility left, I was surprised to get a call from Ed Kassler asking me to play college ball again. It had been 1965 when I played my last college ball. After conferring with my family coach (my wife, Dale), I accepted Ed's offer, and was honored to play in the "House that Hal Chase Built".
 
I enjoyed my time playing ball for "O" State. Ed Kassler was known as Mr. Basketball in Carbondale, Pa. before he came to Oneonta. He was an emotional military veteran, who coached with a passion.  I remember one game where he ran up to the top of the bleachers screaming because we didn't follow his instructions. (We lost the game in Scranton, Pa. in overtime.)
 
I played for Don Flewelling my senior year, and he too, became a great coach. Don would push his team very hard in practice and he was big on conditioning. He was also a great entrepreneur. When the student council rejected Don's bid for funds for red converse sneakers, he bought two 10-speed bikes and we raffled them off.  We got our "Red" sneakers.
 
My time spent at "O" State was memorable and my education prepared me for a rewarding career.  I worked for IBM and Lockheed Martin for 37 years.  I was privileged enough to travel in the US and Europe as an instructor/advisor in Program Control Management Systems, for Cost and Schedule Management.
 
I would especially like to thank all who were responsible for selecting me to be a member of the Oneonta State College Athletic Hall of Fame. I am honored.
 
Meagley, along with five former student athletes will be part of the 16^th SUNY Oneonta Athletics Hall of Fame class to be inducted on Saturday, Sep. 13.  This year's class will bring the number of inductees to 115 and eight Honorary.  The induction will take place in the Dewar Arena of the Alumni Field House and will begin at noon.  The induction is free and open to the public.