1979 Inductees


John “Shine” Cortazzo 

John was from the Wilmerding, Turtle Creek Valley area 

Turtle Creek HS:

FOOTBALL- halfback on 1992 team that upset Greensburg team 6-0, named to All-State team.

BASEBALL- letterman. 

Mid-Atlantic League, Professional baseball- shortstop for Cumberland, MD Colts (1925-27) and Johnstown; voted into Cumberland All-Time All-Star Team 

Major League Baseball- Chicago White Sox, career shortened by typhoid fever and his size 

Bobby Epps

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Swissvale HS:

BASKETBALL

FOOTBALL- scored thirty touchdowns over three years 

University of Pittsburgh - 1950-53 

National Football League New York Giants  - 1954-57, member of 1956 world championship team 

Bob Garbark 

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 Edgewood HS

BASEBALL 

Allegheny College: 1928-32, four year letter earner in football and baseball, honorable mention on Walter Camp’s All-American football team 

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 

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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-year span. 

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-SPORT STAR 

University of Pittsburgh: “Pitt’s Only Four Letter Man”, starring in four sports: baseball, football, basketball, and track 

Paul Martha 

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University of Pittsburgh:  Football All-American

Duquesne University:  Doctor of Law degree. 

National Football League:  Pittsburgh Steelers- #1 draft pick, 1964, Leading defensive back 1964-69. 

Bob Massick 

Boxer- Willow AC, Swissvale AC, Braddock Library team, managed by world champion Frank Klaus 

Dapper Dan Sports Banquet:   Luncheon- co-chairman 

George A. Matsik 

Wilkinsburg resident 

Duquesne University:  Football (running back, 1935-37), played in Orange Bowl, 1937, defeating Mississippi State 13-12;  Dukes handed Pitt only loss in 1936, George scored winning touchdown on 72 yard run 

Eastern All-Stars:  played against Philadelphia Eagles, lost 13-7, George scored Stars’ lone touchdown on 75 yard run. 

Coley McDonough 

North Braddock Scott HS: 1936 graduate

FOOTBALL 

University of Dayton:  Football star 

National Football League Pittsburgh Steelers:  All-time team, 1946 

Al Paliscak 

East Pittsburgh HS : 1931-34

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 (1926-28) under Andy Kerr 

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: 1936-39

FOOTBALL: 1937 WPIAL Football Championship Team 

All-American League Semi-pro Basketball: Pittsburgh Raiders 

Other teams:   Youngstown baseball team, East Pittsburgh Pirate basketball team