By 
Greenbelt, MD
By Ron Harris – There is a finality about being selected for any Hall of Fame. All members are set for life, etched in stone, forever members. No one can remove the names of Hall of Fame members.
This is the 6th year that the Fairmont Heights Football Alumni Association is inducting a H O F class. Led by President Carlos Prillman, class of ’87, 16 former players and the 1975 team will make up of the class of 2026. The players include Crawford Ellerbe, class of 1958, Sylvester Harrison, ’65, Walter Harris, ’65, Leroy Weaver, ’72, Tyrone Weaver, ’72, RIP, Joe Gwynn, ’75, RIP, Stewart A. Hardy, III, ’88, Eric Myers, ’88, Willie J. Green, Jr. ’89, LaDonta Jones, ’93, RIP, Antoine Brooks, ’94, Donald “Donnie” Gallion,’97, RIP, Antonio Mallory, ’98, RIP, Antoine Foster, 2001, Matthew Mitchell, ’02, and Brian Williams, ’04.
Left to Right: Pres. Carlos Prillman, John Patarini and VP Napoleon “Manzy” Queen
The 1975 team featured the first white player to play football at FHHS. His name is John Patarini. John joined the team for the 1974 season. He also played baseball and was on the wrestling team. Patarini, now living in Pennsylvania, made the long drive to Maryland to attend the program. “I was quite surprised and honored that they still remembered us,” says Patarini. “Not so much for me, but for the team. Coaches, Pieplow, Paden and Payne gave us the opportunity to not just play football but to be a team.” The burden of being the first white player was not felt so much by Patarini or the other players, but the families that had to bus their kids past closer high schools to attend Fairmont Heights. “That made a difference. It’s the closer schools like Bladensburg or Parkdale where we all knew each other and would hang out during and after school and stuff like that. On the field, I was half back on offense, a linebacker on defense and I was the place kicker, and I was on the receiving teams. I was on the field all the time.”
John Patarini
Patarini’s teammates welcomed him, “I think it was with open arms, you came out for the team and if you could play and showed up for practice and run those hills and everybody respected each other.”
Michael Wooten, class of 1971 played cornerback and safety in football, but he made his mark on the track. He is a Hall of Fame track and field performer. His team won a state championship every year during his time. He ran the 440-yard dash and the 440 relay and the low hurdles. “Let me clear something up, I did not play much football. I never played a whole season because I was injured with a head injury and for several weeks I had amnesia.” Wooten added something personal. “5 years ago, I would not have done this interview. I was a sever stutterer. I could not get a complete sentence out. I could not propose to my wife because I could not say her name, Juanita. When I could say her name, I proposed.”
On the administrative side, we have Marika Richardson. She is the check-in manager for the football alumni association. “We prepare at least a couple of weeks before the event. We accept tickets and set up seating in the venue”, says Marika. “I am a good friend of Carlos. He has a great mind and is a great visionary so I knew it would work out well. It has exceeded my expectations, every year we get greater and greater.”
The legendary coach and teacher Ralph Paden seems to be overlooking this event from above every year. His name is mentioned with reverence, respect and admiration by each and every speaker and every player that ever played for him. Congratulations to the Fairmont Heights Hall of Fame class of 2026.
President Carlos Prillman and wife Kim.
Photo credit by Monique Michael
About Ron Harris
Ron Harris, retired college administrator, coach, broadcaster, Internet and TV sports producer and host. Former radio host of a live call-in show. Extremely close to the sports landscape in the Washington, DC metro area. Former radio sports reporter, covering MLB, college sports, major boxing events and much more.
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