Athletics Hall of Fame
A 1926 graduate of Union who died in 1994, Makofski was Union’s first basketball player to achieve first-team All-American status and was also recognized for his abilities on the football field by being named as an honorable mention All-American. He played professional basketball with Kingston and Utica in the New York State League, and with the Patterson (NJ) team in the old ABL, which evoved into the NBA. Makofski was also a championship-caliber golfer, setting numerous records at local courses. Makofski taught and coached at his alma mater, Schenectady High School, and then at Mont Pleasant High School, compiling a 26-year career basketball record of 461-35 (a winning percentage of .929). His high school teams produced six undefeated seasons and had winning streaks of 46, 42, 39, and 36 games. During one multi-year stretch, his teams won 98 of 100 games. Makofski also coached Mont Pleasant’s football team to four undefeated seasons, finishing with a .700 winning percentage, and guided the Red Raiders’ golf team to a pair of New York State championships while compiling an .820 winning percentage. A former Schenectady City Councilman, Makofski had a plaque honoring his coaching accomplishments in the “High School” section of the old National Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. Makofski was also among the five inductees to the Schenectady City School District Athletic Hall of Fame at their inaugural in September of 1998.
