1979 Inductees
John “Shine” Cortazzo
John was from the Wilmerding, Turtle Creek Valley area
Turtle Creek HS:
FOOTBALL-
BASEBALL-
Mid-
Major League Baseball-
Bobby Epps
Swissvale HS:
BASKETBALL
FOOTBALL-
University of Pittsburgh -
National Football League New York Giants -
Bob Garbark
Edgewood HS
BASEBALL
Allegheny College: 1928-
Major League Baseball: Cleveland, Chicago (1938), Philadelphia and Boston
Coaching Career: Baseball Allegheny College, 1947; 15 conference championships; Basketball and assistant football coach almost 30 years
Leon Hart
Turtle Creek HS:
FOOTBALL
University or Notre Dame: won the Heisman Trophy and the Maxwell Award in 1949 and played in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons, from 1950 to 1957, with the Detroit Lions.
Hart holds the distinction of being the only lineman to win three college football national championships and three NFL Championships. He is the last of only two lineman ever to win the Heisman Trophy. Also, he is one of only three players, along with Angelo Bertelli and Cam Newton to win the Heisman Trophy, a national championship, and be the first overall pick in the NFL draft all in the same one-
Elmer “Pickles” Kreiling
Braddock HS:
BASKETBALL
Duquesne University: Basketball, 1930’s, on top rated teams under Coach Chick Davies
John J “Speedo” Loughran
Braddock HS:
MULTI-
University of Pittsburgh: “Pitt’s Only Four Letter Man”, starring in four sports: baseball, football, basketball, and track
Paul Martha
University of Pittsburgh: Football All-
Duquesne University: Doctor of Law degree.
National Football League: Pittsburgh Steelers-
Bob Massick
Boxer-
Dapper Dan Sports Banquet: Luncheon-
George A. Matsik
Wilkinsburg resident
Duquesne University: Football (running back, 1935-
Eastern All-
Coley McDonough
North Braddock Scott HS: 1936 graduate
FOOTBALL
University of Dayton: Football star
National Football League Pittsburgh Steelers: All-
Al Paliscak
East Pittsburgh HS : 1931-
BASKETBALL: led Shamrocks to four undefeated sectional crowns.
FOOTBALL
College Football: began under Aldo “Buff” Donelli and finished at Randolph Macon where he held a number of the college’s athletic records
Ed Paulie
Swissvale HS: 1924 graduate
Washington and Jefferson University: football (1926-
Coaching Career: Swissvale, 1929 to begin 13 years at Athletic Director and Coach (all sports); served 35 years as an official for college and high school football games
Jock Rosenberg
Schenley HS: 1924 graduate
FOOTBALL
BASKETBALL
Duquesne University: four years basketball under Coach Chick Davies
Coaching Career: 1929 became Coach and Athletic Director at Rankin, until resigned to begin a career in finance.
Matty Vaniel
East Pittsburgh HS
BASKETBALL: 1936-
FOOTBALL: 1937 WPIAL Football Championship Team
All-
Other teams: Youngstown baseball team, East Pittsburgh Pirate basketball team