As the nation prepares to tune in to the 50th Super Bowl, Local History takes a look back at football stars from around the area.
• Edgar “Special Delivery” Jones made a name for himself at Scranton Technical High School and the University of Pittsburgh. After being discharged from the Navy in 1945, Mr. Jones played for the Cleveland Browns for four years. In 1951, he began a second career as a coach — first for Pitt and then the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the mid-1960s, he returned to Scranton and served as the superintendent of the city’s recreation bureau for two years.
• Lou Palazzi graduated from Dunmore High School in 1939 and attended Penn State, where he was a walk on for the football team. In his senior year there, he made the Associated Press All-East team. After serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II, he played for the New York Giants from 1946 to 1948. He later rejoined the NFL as an official. Among his accomplishments were officiating Super Bowl IV, VII and XI.
• Jack Koniszewski of Dickson City shone on the football field and basketball courts at George Washington University. From 1945 to 1949, he played for the Washington Redskins. He also had quite a career at the University of Scranton, serving as assistant football coach from 1947 to 1959, assistant baseball coach from 1961 to 1963, and finally head football coach in 1964, according to the university’s Wall of Fame.
• Duryea native Johnny Rogalla stood out as a player at the University of Scranton before joining the Philadelphia Eagles in 1945.
• Charley Trippi, originally from Pittston, played at the University of Georgia, where he was named most valuable player in the 1943 Rose Bowl. He went on to play for the Cardinals. Among his many career highlights: scoring two touchdowns in the 1947 NFL Championship game where the Cardinals beat the Eagles, 28-21. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968. He later served as an assistant coach with the Cardinals from 1957 to 1965.
• After graduating from West Scranton High School, Nick Chickillo played football for the University of Miami. He was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals in the15th round of the 1953 NFL draft. He was elected to the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 1987.
• Mike Hudock played high school football for Tunkhannock. After graduating in 1952, he attended the University of Pittsburgh and then transferred to Miami, where he excelled on the football field. He was an original member of the New York Titans, which later became the Jets, and remained there until 1965. In 1966, he played for the Miami Dolphins. He retired in 1967 after he was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs.
• Mike Munchak played for Scranton Central High and Penn State. He was chosen as the Houston Oilers first round pick in the 1982 NFL Draft, making him the first offensive lineman drafted that year. His 12-year tenure there led to many accolades, including nine Pro Bowl nominations, four All-Pro, nine Second Team All-Pro, seven All-AFC, and four second team All-Pro selections. After retiring at the end of the 1993 season, he went on to coach for the Oilers, staying there when the team relocated to Tennessee, before taking a coaching job at the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2014.
• After being a two-time all-state selection and a three-time All-Conference selection during his high school football career at Montrose Area Junior/Senior High School, Chris Snee attended Boston College and played football there. He went pro in 2004, joining the New York Giants, where he started 141 regular-season and 11 postseason games, including wins over the New England Patriots in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI. He announced his retirement in 2014 after undergoing several surgeries in two years.
• Another West Scranton High grad, Matt McGloin, was a starting quarterback for Penn State after joining the team as a walk on in 2009. In 2013, he was signed to the Oakland Raiders after a visit there as an undrafted free agent. He debuted as a starting quarterback for the team on Nov. 17, 2013.
Erin L. Nissley is an assistant metro editor at The Times-Tribune. She has lived in the area for a decade.
Contact the writer:
localhistory@timesshamrock.com