HHH East Thunderbirds Retire James C. Metzger’s #21 Jersey

Syosset NY

27 September, 2021

2:43 PM

Description

This year’s Homecoming Game for Half Hollow Hills High School East in Dix Hills also will feature appreciation for the school’s teachers and a ceremony to retire jersey #21 that honors 1970s three-sport scholar-athlete James C. Metzger. _______ Thunderbirds Football - versus North Babylon High School Friday, October 15, 2021 - 4 p.m. 50 Vanderbilt Parkway, Dix Hills, New York 11746 Teammates from the 1974-1977 teams are invited to attend. _______ Metzger is the founder and CEO of Whitmore – The Agency, a leading New York City area insurance brokerage and financial services company headquartered in Garden City. A 1977 graduate of Half Hollow Hills East, Metzger was a three-sport athlete (football, lacrosse and basketball) and then a lacrosse All-American at Hofstra University, where he is a member of the Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame. Metzger also is a member of the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame. He was acknowledged by the Adelphi University Athletic Hall of Fame with the 2016 Woodruff Lifetime Achievement Award and by the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum with the 2013 George Young Award. On the gridiron, Metzger graduated as the school's all-time leading scorer and rusher. He was a Suffolk County All-Star Running Back, known for starting 25 consecutive games and rushing for 2,155 yards, scoring 27 touchdowns and totaling 170 points. Metzger's career total offense, including receptions and returns, was 2,777 yards. He led the team in scoring for 1974, 1975 and 1976, and rushing for 1975 and 1976. During 1977, Metzger was the only high school athlete to be selected and participate in both the Suffolk County North – South All-Star Football Game and the North – South All-Star Lacrosse Game. Metzger started at running back on the North Football Team and started at attack for the North Lacrosse Team. For the same year, he was the Suffolk County lacrosse scoring champion (public schools), named an All-American lacrosse player and received the Lt. Ray Enners Award as Outstanding Lacrosse Player in Suffolk County. During 2019, the school officially retired the jerseys worn by Lt. Enners (#26) and Metzger (#21). Metzger also played basketball for the 1974-1975 school varsity basketball team in the Suffolk County Playoffs. Metzger champions countless youth athletic and education programs on Long Island and in New York City. He also supports lacrosse programs on Long Island that include his outstanding player award for Thunderbirds boys’ lacrosse, leadership and most valuable player awards for Long Island high school championships, Hempstead PAL Lacrosse, and men’s and women’s lacrosse programs at Hofstra University. Metzger also supports the Mr. Football New York City Player of the Year Award presented by the New York City Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. The Suffolk County Chapter has been named in his honor.