Inducted on November 12, 1998
Born Nicholas Albert Gallello in New Rochelle on November 2, 1919, was known as Scoop for the better part of his life. Raised and educated in the New
Rochelle school system. He first became interested in boxing at the age of 12, engaging in many youth bouts around the Westchester area. As he became a teenager, former Westchester County Featherweight Champion Nofi Vaccaro took him under his wing and entered him in various tournaments. In 1937, he reached the quarterfinals of the New York Golden Gloves, losing the decision. The following year, he participated in a countywide tournament known as The Victory Gloves. Winning all his bouts and entered the finals at the Westchester County Center. There were three boxers left in his 147-pound division, where he decisioned the first man, then faced the remaining finalist, whom he also decisioned to garner the welterweight title.
He boxed until 1942 with great success, never being knocked out. He never lost his love for the sport, he commenced to train and manage young ring hopefuls, both in the amateur and professional ranks. Some of the better known pugilists he handles were New Rochelle’s Ronnie Cohen, Connecticut’s Bernie Raines, Mt. Vernon’s Sal Algieri in the pro ranks, as well as his nephew Frank Gallello and his son Butch, both being undefeated as amateurs. He worked with the New Rochelle Recreation Department promoting shows which were free to the public, while teaching youngsters in the public school system. In 1968, he organized a veteran boxers group in Westchester, joining the parent group known as the National VBA. They were issued a number 30, with Scoop becoming its first president. Two years later, Scoop ran for the first vice president spot winning that post. The following year, President Jack Larkin passed away and Scoop took over that spot. That National then grew worldwide and became known as the International Veteran Boxers Association. A position that he still holds to this day.
This was a great day for all involved with the great former Heavyweight Champion Jack Dempsey acting as the “vote counter.” For years he worked in his own business as a roofer, then retired from that business to open a bar and grill, aptly named Ring #30 in New Rochelle. Closing bar in 1985, he was hired as a legislative assistant to the State Assemblyman Ron Tocci, a position he still holds. He ran a losing race for city council, capturing over 2,500 votes. When women boxing was still in its infancy, he was picked as the Commissioner of the Women’s Boxing Federation. He once trained the 135-pound female boxing champion Cathy “Cat” Davis, with the very capable Pelhamite Bob Cremins taking over the chores.
Scoop also served as the chairman of the Westchester Boxing Hall of Fame, as well as chairman of the Toys for Tots campaign, delivering toys to the Cardinal McCloskey Orphanage in White Plains, N.Y. He was a writer for the very popular Ring Magazine, titled “Along the VBA Trail.” He also wrote a boxing column for Mr. Martinelli of the Yonkers Newspaper, called the New Rochelle News. He published and edited his own magazine called “Scoop’s Corner” and is presently the Boxing writer for the Sound Shore Review newspaper in Port Chester, N.Y. He’s also had his own radio show on boxing on WVOX. He still is a boxing historian, knowing the sport thoroughly.