Trustees Honor Roll

Polka Promoter (1923 - 2005)
Inducted on November 27, 1999

Hank Pawlak never ventured from the realm of music after learning to play polkas and waltzes at the direction of his mother . Broadening his horizons, Hank embraced jazz, country-western, and rock while playing and associating with such artists as Sha Na Na, Johnny Cash, and the Eagles. Hank rekindled his love for polkas in the 1970's collaborating with Hank Haller on television and in the recording studio. Rounding out his experience as a composer, music store operator, disc jockey, booking agent, and promoter, Hank assumed leadership roles with the Broadcasters Hall of Fame in Akron and Europe America United. Among Hank's 300 compositions are many Cleveland-Style selections as well as many Cleveland-Style selections as well as customized themes like the "Woolly Bear March," written for Cleveland's Dick Goddard and recorded by Haller.