Part 12 – Bridgeville High School, 1952-1953

The Bridgeville Area Historical Society “Second Tuesday” workshop for July continued our study of the history of Bridgeville High School, this time focusing on the classes of 1952 and 1953. Thanks to the presence of five alumni of those two classes, we had a lively session with lots of input from them.

The 1953 class was particularly difficult for me. I knew three of its members – Ron Rothermund, Dale DeBlander, and Russ Kovach – well when they were small children and have been privileged to be close friends with them as adults. When I went away to college in 1949 they were eighth graders; consequently I missed seeing them grow up. It still is hard for me to imagine them as Seniors in high school accomplishing all the wonderful things they did.

The high school had a fairly successful football season in 1951, winning five games while losing three and tying one. A 26 to 0 trouncing of Scott Township was the highlight of the campaign. Walt Maruzewski, Guelfo Dozzo, and the Hofrichter twins were key Seniors on the team.

In the meantime BHS alumni were making headlines playing college football. Ken Beadling had a big year as a single wing tailback for Waynesburg College, including a near-upset of heavily favored West Virginia. His team-mates included Joe Brown, Roger Bradford, and Bill Wolf.

Pitt Sophomore Lou Cimarolli was their leading ground gainer.  Bob O’Neil was playing for Notre Dame; Joe Stalma, for Toledo; and Fred Donelli, for Clarion. Don Brown and Lloyd Crawley were at Westminster.

Dave Chabala was President of the Class of 1952. Sam Talenti was Vice President; Carole Jones, Secretary; and Ralph Hofrichter, Treasurer. Two members of the workshop audience – Dale DeBlander and Ron Rothermund – were President and Vice President of the Junior Class that year.

The ’52 class was represented by alumna Mary Margaret Maioli at the workshop; her input was greatly appreciated. Other prominent classmates whom we discussed included Don Hopper, Arthur “Buzz” Fryer, Mell Colussy, and Sarah Weise. Doris Maioli was May Queen; Shirley Gazda, Maid of Honor.

At this point the facilitator showed the first of several newspaper clippings dealing with the potential merger of the Bridgeville School District with Carnegie and Collier Township.

The 1952 football season turned out to be quite successful, largely because of the backfield of Denny Neuman, Paul “Fats” Koval, Dale DeBlander, and Fred Lasota. They won seven games, losing only to Carnegie and Crafton. Commenting on this team, Dale DeBlander mentioned that Koval had been knocked unconscious in the Carnegie game and spent four days in the hospital recuperating. He wondered if our current understanding of the consequences of concussions would have resulted in different treatment.

Earlier this year ex-BHS coach Bob Hast had left North Catholic to become head coach at Scott Township. Beating Scott 8 to 6 was particularly satisfying for BHS coach Clyde “Tiny” Carson, who had been Hast’s assistant three years earlier.

Prior to the season finale against South Fayette, the School Board dropped a bombshell by recommending that junior high coach Ray Donelli switch jobs with assistant coach Al Como and be given responsibility for coaching the backfield. Carson would remain head coach, but be limited to coaching the linemen.

Como resigned in protest and was immediately joined by Carson and the other assistant coach, Tom Quirk. This initiated a walkout by the student body and a loud demonstration opposing the school board’s actions. The team responded by shellacking South Fayette 39 to 0.

The coaches finished out the year in fulfillment of their contracts. Carson left coaching for a management position at Mayview Hospital. Como coached the basketball and baseball seasons, then left for a head coaching job at Ellwood City. Quirk went to Canonsburg as an assistant coach and teacher after leading the soccer team to a WPIAL championship.

Como’s basketball team ended the regular season in a tie with Peters Township, then lost in a playoff at Dormont. Led by Fred Lasota, the soccer eleven turned in a perfect season, including playoff wins over South Fayette and Monongahela.

At our last Octogenarian Brunch I stumped three 1953 alumni – Russ Kovach, Dale DeBlander, and Ron Rothermund -- with the trivia question, “What member of your class earned a letter in four different sports his Senior Year”. Ninety minutes later my brother emailed me with the correct answer – Tommy Lucas.

At the workshop I came up with another puzzler, “What member of the Class of 1953 made All-State at first base?” This one worked only because it was presented orally. The audience heard “base”, when I really was saying “bass”. During the discussion I showed a clipping reporting that Ron Rothermund had been selected to the All-State Chorus at first bass.

The 1953 Yearbook was dedicated to teacher Jane Patton, an honor I am sure she appreciated. The same can be said about the previous year’s Yearbook, dedicated to teacher Joseph “Pop” Ferree.

Class officers for the ’53 class were Denny Neuman, Charlotte Degrosky, Dorothy Hanley, Anthony Reale, Joan D’Andrea, and Bob McMillen. The facilitator discussed McMillen’s successful career which culminated in his running a large shipping firm moving truck trailers from Tacoma to Anchorage and back on large vessels.

In addition to DeBlander and Rothermund the workshop audience included two very special ladies who were ’53 alumna – Judy Oelschlager and Dolly Lupatin. Based on their significant involvement in the Historical Society, I shouldn’t have been surprised at how active they were in high school. No wonder this particular class was so successful.

Joan Oliver was the 1953 May Queen; Muriel Apt, the Maid of Honor. Other classmates of theirs whom I have difficulty envisioning as grownups include Dick Cooper, Larry Davis, Janet Deep, Don Heller, Dorothy Maioli, Dick Paholsky, and Laura Pruner. What an impressive class!