Four former Cheltenham High School students may have given fans of the area’s infamous sandwich their national day to celebrate. Ali Moshen, for Billy Penn, chronicled the Montgomery County role in establishing Mar. 24 as National Cheesesteak Day.

The sandwich celebration’s genesis is credited to:

• Sean Mealey
• John McGrath
• Jeremy Hollis
• Ted Goldberg

On Mar. 24 in 1994, the four, local teens drove to a now-closed sandwich shop just over the Philadelphia border from Rockledge for a shared meal.

Later, they recalled how idyllic the springtime experience was and vowed to repeat it.

The next Mar. 24, they met again, widening the invitation list through traditional mail and word of mouth. Year-two attendees hailed from Pittsburgh and San Francisco.

Tech developments widened the invitational reach, and soon, bloggers began not only highlighting the celebration but anecdotally designating the Mar. 24 date as “National Cheesesteak Day.”

It eventually stuck as a national celebration.

Although no official recognition has been bestowed on Mealey, McGrath, Hollis, and Goldberg, even the Philadelphia Restaurant & Lodging Association defaults credit to the foursome for the occasion.

“I have not been able to discover any information that would refute [their] claims,” said its vice president.

More on National Cheesesteak Day is at Billy Penn.

_____

Proposed history of the Philadelphia cheesesteak.