 In 1940, Jerry Cossol Jr. was literally born into the sport of cycling. His parents owned and operated the Hill Cycle Shop in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia since 1929. His father, Gerard Cossol Sr., also coached riders and supported amateur cycling events. As a young man, Jerry Jr. raced bicycles and learned to become a mechanic. He also coached many promising cyclists, several of whom later turned professional. Jerry developed the bike shop into THE place for imported, high-end racing components and frame sets. In the late 1970s, he built his own line of custom road and track racing frame sets. In the late 1980s, he and his engineer son Nick created a prototype for a monocoque carbon fiber racing frame as part of Nick's senior design thesis. Jerry Jr. became the chief mechanic for U.S. pro-cycling and traveled with the team all over the world. At the 1984 World Championships in Barcelona, he came up with the idea to produce a professional cycling event in his hometown of Philadelphia. He partnered with friends David Chowner and Jack Symes to create the Core States Championship in 1985. The 156-mile race started at the Philadelphia Art Museum, went through the Philly neighborhoods, and included the tough 17% climbing grade known as the Maniunk Wall. The race crowned the U.S. National Pro Road Racing Champion and offered the largest purse at the time of any single-day cycling race. Eric Hyden won the first race in 1985. Jerry and David Chowner created an event management company and went on to produce a multitude of professional cycling events in Pennsylvania and throughout the United States. They also produced the 1996 Olympic Cycling Events in Atlanta and followed that with the Paralympic Games of 1996. Jerry also took the time to help produce events that supported many local charities. From local Philadelphia clubs to the international professional level, Jerry was a tireless supporter of the sport of cycling and he was well regarded by everyone who worked with him. Jerry passed away in 2012 and, in his honor, Philadelphia cyclists and friends held a memorial event. They called it the Party on the Maniunk Wall.