Jun 7, 2025
OBSERVER Photos by Braden Carmen Dan Palmer was honored on Thursday with a dedication of the newly renovated athletic lobby in his honor at Dunkirk High School.
For far too long, Dunkirk High School’s athletic history has primarily lived in the memory of the athletes and fans that witnessed the school’s past achievements.
Not anymore.
Dunkirk unveiled its updated athletic lobby and a fully revamped Dunkirk Athletics website at a ceremony on Thursday evening at Dunkirk High School. The new name of the area to display awards and accomplishments is the Dan Palmer Athletic Lobby.
Palmer, a Dunkirk graduate, was introduced by another one of Dunkirk’s most accomplished graduates, Frank Jagoda. As friends for several decades, Jagoda said his connection to Palmer dates back to 1975 when Palmer attended Little League games along with his family. Palmer has since been inducted to the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame and the New York State Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.
“This graduate has carried the torch in acknowledging student athletes, not only for Dunkirk schools, but Chautauqua County in its entirety,” Jagoda said of Palmer.
Dunkirk baseball coach Frank Jagoda, left, introduced Dan Palmer, a Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame broadcaster, at a ceremony on Thursday in his honor.
In addition to his name across the top of the hallway and over the trophy case, Palmer has a plaque on the wall, which concludes by stating, “His voice has not just narrated Dunkirk’s athletic history; it has helped create it.”
Palmer hugged Jagoda as he handed him the microphone to address a crowd that filled the lobby that now dons his name. Palmer offered thanks to the district and all those who played a part in the ceremony.
“Most importantly, thank you to the athletes because we would not be here if it wasn’t for the athletes,” Palmer said. “… It’s the athletes that really deserve this day.”
Athletic Director A.J. Burnside led the way as the district renovated and redesigned the athletic lobby, with support from the Board of Education, Superintendent Michael Mansfield, the Buildings and Grounds staff that helped with the displays, and the Technology Department for assistance with the website. Burnside credited the district for the “motivation to take Dunkirk’s history and Dunkirk’s past, and really try to make sure that it is preserved so that it can be continued from generation to generation.”
Awards are displayed in trophy cases throughout the lobby and small banners are hung above the trophies to signify the greatest teams in Dunkirk history. All five 1,000-point scorers are recognized high on the wall, as well as past state champions.
Photos, trophies, and banners are not only displayed throughout the lobby, but also on the newly designed Dunkirk Athletics web page, which can be found through accessing the school district’s website. An interactive screen in the lobby provides access to archives dating back more than a century, with the ability to search for athletes and teams by year, by sport, or by name. Past games that were recorded can also be accessed online, as well as pages of all the current senior athletes at the district.
Speaking to the lobby and the website updates, Burnside said, “We can preserve Dunkirk’s history and make sure that our next generation of Dunkirk student athletes, especially, know exactly where they are coming from and what being a Marauder is all about.”
Another influential figure in media was honored with a dedication along the same wall: Ron Szot. A passionate supporter of Dunkirk athletics, as well as other athletes across Chautauqua County, Szot’s photos captured countless memories for student athletes and their families until his death in September of 2021.
Burnside said Szot’s death was “a huge loss to the Dunkirk community” because of his support of athletes throughout the region. “He was always at the games, always encouraging, and just the type of person you wanted to be around,” Burnside said.
Szot’s daughter, Aleyna, thanked the district for inviting her to the ceremony and for recognizing her father. She recalled his passion for sports and photography, including the reactions of those who he shared the photos with.
Ron Szot was recognized for his contributions as a photographer in Chautauqua County up until his death in September of 2021.
“If there was a game, my father was likely there. He never missed any of my games, no matter the weather or the distance,” Aleyna Szot said. “He was always there. … I always felt excited when people would say, ‘Who is that man in the corner with the camera?’ I would proudly say, ‘That’s my dad.’”
The ceremony was followed by a signing event for eight Dunkirk seniors who will compete in college next year. Five of the eight seniors moving on were members of Jagoda’s Sectional Champion baseball team this season.
Jagoda later added about the dedication, “A.J. Burnside, his staff, and the Board of Education have done an outstanding job putting this together. It’s just tremendous. I would encourage people to come in here and take a look at what they’ve done.”
Palmer said in conclusion of Thursday’s event, “Once a Marauder, always a Marauder. Thank you so much. I’ll be a Marauder forever.”
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