Take trip down the Western Chapter inductees memory lane. Enjoy!

Don Asmonga was a native of the Steel Valley, but his 26 year tenure as the first basketball and Baseball coach in 1965 at Belle Vernon Area High School made him a fixture in the Mon Valley. He holds the school’s all-time winning record at 287-254, winning a WPIAL Championship in 1978. In baseball the had a section winner in 1967.
As an athlete, he was an outstanding basketball player leading Homestead to a 28-0 record and PIAA championship in 1946. He was also All-WPIAL in football and Basketball.
Don was inducted in to the Western Chapter in 1988

Dr. "Red" Carlson M.D. came to Fayette City at the age of two and graduated from Fayette City High School. He was a three sports star at Bellefonte Academy Prep and the University of Pittsburgh earning eleven letters in four years. He help pay his way through Medical school playing football in Cleveland and teaching at Mars High School.
He started coaching football at Pittsburgh in 1922 and that winter became the varsity Basketball Coach and started the makings of a legend. When he retired in 1953 his record was 369 - 247 with two National Championships and a Helms Basketball Hall of Fame honor.
He was inducted into the Western Chapter and State Hall of Fame in 1969 and Naismith Hall of Fame - 1959.

Lou “ Bimbo” Cecconi a four sports star at Donora High School went on to star as a quarterback and defensive standout for four years at the University of Pittsburgh. After graduating in 1950, he coached football until 1973 .
“Bimbo" was inducted into the Western Chapter in 1980 and the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.

He had a 51-49 recordas a spot starter with the Pirates, Royals, Braves, and White Sox.
He was an outstanding collegiate pitcher at California University of PA.
Inducted into the Robert “Tick” Cloherty – Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1992 and Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame also in 2018.

Biographical details
Born April 28, 1930
Brackenridge, Pennsylvania
Died December 7, 2005 (aged 75)
Sarasota, Florida
Playing career
1949–1951 North Carolina
Position(s) Defensive back
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1966 Georgia Tech (DC)
1967–1971 Georgia Tech
1972 Pittsburgh Steelers (DB)
1973–1977 Pittsburgh Steelers (DC)
1978–1981 Los Angeles Rams (DC)
1982 Baltimore Colts (DC)
1983 Kansas City Chiefs (DC/DB)
1985–1988 New York Jets (DC)
1989–1990 Cleveland Browns
1991–1994 Philadelphia Eagles (DC)
1997 St. Louis Rams (DC)
Head coaching record
Overall 27–27 (college)
Bowls 1–1
Inducted into the Robert “Tick” Cloherty – Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2000 and Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame also in 2004.

Number 74 Position: Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born: March 22, 1960 (age 58)
Conway, Pennsylvania
Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight: 271 lb (123 kg)
Career information
High school: Freedom (PA)
College: Pittsburgh
NFL Draft: 1983 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6
Career history
Chicago Bears (1983–1991)
Career highlights and awards
2× Pro Bowl (1985, 1986)
2× First Team All-Pro (1985, 1986)
Super Bowl champion (XX)
NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
Consensus All-American (1982)
Walter Camp Alumni of the Year (1995)
Inducted into the Robert “Tick” Cloherty – Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1995 and Pro Football Hall of Fame 2020Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame also in 2012 and .

As the Head Football Coach at Monessen and Charleroi high schools he compiled a record of 212 wins 106 losses and 10 ties, winning five Conference Championships, and garnering two Coach of the Year honors.
“Rab” was inducted into the Western Chapter in 1982.

In high school, Gus was a "State Champion in 1949. He was a member of the U.S. Olympic team in 1952. In 1953 he was an NCAA Champion that was undefeated in college dual competition. After college he turned to coaching his beloved sport and began producing championship wrestlers and championship teams. His record included 22 Section Championships, seven WPIAL Championships, and six State Titles. He was a four time, WPIAL and two time PIAA Coach of the Year Honoree. He turned to college coaching and won the Eastern Regional Championship in 1994 and 1996 at Duquesne University. He has been the recipient of a National Wrestling Hall of Fame Lifetime Service Award.
Inducted into the Robert “Tick” Cloherty – Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1977 and Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame also in 2004.

Position: Cornerback
Personal information
Born: October 2, 1937 (age 81)
Midway, Pennsylvania
Career information
College: Pittsburgh
NFL Draft: 1959 / Round: 9 / Pick: 100
Career history
Washington Redskins (1959–1960)
Minnesota Vikings (1961)
Pittsburgh Steelers (1961–1964)
Career highlights and awards
4× Super Bowl Champion (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
2011 Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame
Personnel, Director of Player personnel for Steelers and new York Giants
Career NFL statistics
Games played: 75
Interceptions: 14
Touchdowns: 2
Inducted into the Robert “Tick” Cloherty – Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1991 and Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame also in 2004.

Born January 25, 1899
Washington, Pennsylvania
Died November 20, 1979 (aged 80)
Washington, D.C.
Residence Alexandria, Virginia
Alma mater Washington & Jefferson College
Occupation physician
College football career
Washington & Jefferson Presidents
Position Quarterback
Career history
College Washington & Jefferson (1920–1923)
Bowl games Rose Bowl (1922)
Career highlights and awards
Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame
All-American Honorable Mention (1923)
Inducted into the Robert “Tick” Cloherty – Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1979 and Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame also in 1979.

Born: June 22, 1942 (age 76)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Career information
Position(s) Safety
College Pittsburgh
NFL draft 1964 / Round: 1 / Pick 10
Career history - As player
1964–1969 Pittsburgh Steelers
1970 Denver Broncos
Inducted into the Robert “Tick” Cloherty – Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1979 and Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame also in 1979.

His teams captured three Mon Valley Conference Championships at Redstone and Monongahela.


After 22 big league seasons from 1941 through 1963, Mr. St.Louis Cardinal, Stan Musial, ranked near the top of baseball's All-time list in almost every batting category. He topped .the .300 mark 18 times, won seven batting titles and, was a three time Most Valuable Player and, participated in an amazing 24 All-star games.
Commissioner Ford Frick said on the day Musial retired, "Here stands baseball's perfect warrior, here stands baseball's perfect knight."
A native of Donora, PA "Stan the Man" was among the most liked and most respected players in the game.
Stan was among the initial inductees into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and Western Chapter and the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame both in 1963. Baseball Hall of Fame - 1969

He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1934 through 1942 as a two-way tackle and place kicker. He tied for the league lead in field goals in 1935 and 36 and was a team captain for five seasons.
He coached football for twelve seasons compiling a record of 87-72-10 and also officiated football for several years.
Armand was inducted in to the Western Chapter in 1974 and the State in 1976.

Jeff Petrucci was an All-Big 6 running back at Charleroi and went on to a stellar career as a quarterback at California University of PA. He was twice honored as an NAIA All-American quarterback leading the nation in total offense in 1967 and 1968.
He finished his collegiate career in 1968 with a school and PSAC record of 6,297 yards and a PSAC League Championship. Jeff returned to California in 1981 and led them to the PSAC title in 1984.
He was inducted into the Western Chapter in 1998


Jimmy Russell was born in Fayette City and like many of his peers at the time quit school to help the family by working in the mills or mines of the Mon-valley. He never lost his love for baseball and succeeded thanks to the goading of an aunt that recognized his talent.
He was very fast and had a solid power bat from both sides of the plate which drew the watchful eye of the Pirates who purchased his contract from Toronto in 1942.
He led the Pirates in hitting at .312 and total hits with 181 in 1944. That year he was in the top five with Musial in runs scored, triples, and walks. He was the first Pirate to hit a pinch-hit grand slam. In 1948 he was traded to Boston for Danny Murtaugh.
Jim was inducted into the Western Chapter in 1976 and State Hall of Frame in 2006.

Although he did not play football in high school, he was an insightfull student of the game and got close to Knute Rockne while a student at Notre Dame. He led his team to six Mon Valley and three WPIAL Titles.
He left Donora 1n 1965 to take over the reins at the new Belle Vernon High School following the Bellmar and Rostraver jointure. His overall coaching record was 198-146-28.
He was inducted into the Western Chapter in 1982 and the State Hall of Fame in 2006.


Dale Hamer is a former National Football League (NFL Official) who served from 1978 to 2001, with a break taken for heart valve surgery during the 1995 season.
During his 23 seasons in the NFL, Hamer was assigned to officiate numerous playoff games including two Super Bowls, as a head linesman in Super Bowl XVII and in Super Bowl XXII. Additionally, he was an alternate referee for Super Bowl XXVII.
Upon retirement following the 2001 season, he assumed new duties as an instant replay official for the NFL, a position he held through the 2014 season.
He wore uniform number 104, is a past president of the National Football League Referees Association and, a graduate of California University of PA
He was inducted into the Western Chapter in 1995 and the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.

Valerio Richard Jansante was was a graduate of Benleyville High School in 1940, starring in football and Basketball and winning The Mid Mon Valley Outstanding Athlete Award his senior year.
He went to Duquesne University where his football career was interrupted by a three year tour in the US Navy. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1944 but did not play until 1945.
Playing in an era when the pass was not the king he set and broke several Steeler records during his Steeler career. He retired after one season with the Green Bay Packers.
He spent his adult years teaching and coaching in and around the Pittsburgh area. He was inducted into the Western Chapter in 2003
.

Personal information
Born: November 24, 1929 Waterproof, Louisiana
Died: June 3, 2011 Tracy, California
Career information
High school: Pittsburg (California)
College: Arizona State
St. Mary’s (California)
NFL Draft: 1953 / Round: 2 / Pick: 18
Career history
Calgary Stampeders (1953)
San Francisco 49ers (1954–1956)
Detroit Lions (1957–1959)
Pittsburgh Steelers (1960–1965)
Houston Oilers (1966)
Career highlights and awards
NFL champion (1957)
4× Pro Bowl (1954, 1962–1964)
2× Second-team All-Pro (1954, 1962)
Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy (1953)
San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame
Pittsburgh Steelers Legends team
Inducted into the Robert “Tick” Cloherty – Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1977 and Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame also in 1977. Pro Football Hall of Fame - 1987

Frank Lignelli’s athletic career began at Monongahela High School and went on to Clarion University of PA. He was a three sport star at Clarion, earning state and national All-American honors in football and NAIA and Clarion Hall of Fame recognition in football and wrestling. A long time football coach and Athletic Director at Clarion,
Frank was inducted into the Western Chapter in 1986.

Born: December 15, 1944 (age 73)
Perrysburg, Ohio
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB statistics
Games managed 3,499
Managerial record 1,769–1,728
Winning % .506
Teams As manager
Pittsburgh Pirates (1986–1996)
Florida Marlins (1997–1998)
Colorado Rockies (1999)
Detroit Tigers (2006–2013)
Teams As coach
Chicago White Sox (1982–1985)
Career highlights and awards
World Series champion (1997)
3× Manager of the Year (1990, 1992, 2006)
Inducted into the Robert “Tick” Cloherty – Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2004 and Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame also in 2012.

Born: July 17, 1930
Bay City, Michigan
Died: March 31, 2012 (aged 81)
Atlanta, Georgia
Batted: Left Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 15, 1954, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Last MLB appearance
October 2, 1966, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
Batting average .277
Home runs 115
Runs batted in 470
Teams
Pittsburgh Pirates (1954–1956)
Cincinnati Reds (1957–1963)
Pittsburgh Pirates (1963–1966)
Career highlights and awards
Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame
Inducted into the Robert “Tick” Cloherty – Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1979 and Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame also in 1979.

He began his high school coaching career at Bellmar High School in 1951 compiling a 84-38-7 mark there in 14 seasons.
He moved on to Thomas Jefferson HS in 1965 and retired in 1980 with a WPIAL AAA Title, a record of 119-36-1, and an overall record of 203-74-8.
He was a 1987 inductee of the Western Chapter and a 2006 Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame Inductee.
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