Tony was born on July 2, 1922 in Carbondale, PA, son of the late Charles and Phyllis Drago, both of Oneonta, and brother of the late Carmelita Heiner. Tony is survived by his wife of 68 years, Marcella Drago, and his four children, Mary Drago of Oneonta, Charlie Drago of San Antonio, TX, Brenda Udovich of Jacksonville, FL, and Tony Jr. of Wakefield, MA. He has seven grand-children and five great grand-children.
A 1939 graduate of Oneonta High School Tony served in the U.S. Army 106th Infantry, fought in the Battle of Bulge and was a prisoner of war in Germany until he was liberated in 1945. He was honorably discharged from the military in November, 1945. After returning home from World War II, Tony obtained his bachelor’s degree from Springfield College in 1949 and embarked on a long career in education and sports where he touched the lives of thousands of young men and woman.
In 1949 Tony became Head Baseball Coach and JV Basketball Coach at Hartwick College. In 1952 Tony moved to North Carolina with his wife where he became Head JV Basketball Coach and Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach at Duke University under head coach and friend Harold Bradley. After coaching at Duke from 1952 to 1957 Tony returned to Oneonta where he became Head Basketball and Golf Coach at OHS. Tony worked at OHS from 1957 until 1984 when he retired. His work at OHS included being a Physical Education Teacher for 27 years, Director of Athletics for 20 years, Head Basketball Coach for 8 years and Golf Coach for 27 years. As Head Basketball Coach he compiled a record of 114 wins and 50 losses. Coach Drago’s basketball teams won 5 Iroquois League Championships, and 3 Section Three Championships. His 1959-1960 team went undefeated and remains the only undefeated basketball team in OHS history. His golf teams won many Section IV championships.
In addition to his long coaching career, Tony was President of the Iroquois League from 1960 to 1962. He served on the Executive Committee for the Southern Tier Athletic Conference for 11 years, the Executive Committee for Section IV for 11 years, and was one of the two Athletic Directors in the State of New York to serve on the Executive Committee for the New York Public High School Athletic Association. Tony served on the Section IV Hall of Fame Committee from 1972 through 1982 and was also Chairman of the Southern Tier Athletic Conference Football Committee for Section IV. In 1982 Tony was inducted into the Section IV Hall of Fame. In 1986 OHS named the high school gymnasium the “Anthony C. Drago” gym and the Drago Tip Off Classic, which Coach Drago started in 1959, remains a staple Oneonta sports event at OHS to this day.
As a member of the Oneonta community Tony served on the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls club for 42 years. He was a member of the Hartwick College Citizens Board for 4 years, the Otsego Delaware United Way for 4 years, the Oneonta City Recreation and Parks Commission for 5 years and together with several other members of the community helped found the OHS Alumni Association which continues to thrive. Tony helped organize and found the golf tournament on alumni weekend which hundreds of alumni have participated in. He was inducted into the OHS Hall of Fame in 2007 with the initial group of inductees.
In 2000 Tony was voted Italian American Citizen of the Year. He was awarded an Honoree award by Fox Hospital at its 2011 Gala. Tony was a life-long member of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church and a long-time member of the Oneonta Country Club, the Elks Club, the American Legion, and the 6th Ward Athletic Club. Tony served his country and the Oneonta community with distinction and honor and dedicated his entire career to education and coaching. He impacted the lives of thousands of OHS students, was loved by all and will be dearly missed in the community.
Tony and Marcella wish to thank all their friends and members of the Oneonta community for their support over the years. They were very thankful for the services provided by Helios Care and many individuals who helped care for Tony when he fell ill.
Burial arrangements by Grummons Funeral Home will take place in the spring at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Anthony C. Drago to one of Tony’s favorite organizations, the OHS Alumni Association at www.oneontahighalumni.org and/or the Oneonta Boys and Girls Club at www.oneontaboysandgirlsclub.org
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.grummonsfuneralhome.com for the Drago family.
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