Jul 18, 2009 5 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – John Lujack has been the recipient of many accolades in his lifetime. He was a standout quarterback for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, helping the team to win three national titles, a Heisman Trophy winner in 1947, named as an All-Pro on defense and offense while playing for the Chicago Bears and elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in 1960, among others. But all the while, he told a group of Connellsville Area High School Falcon football players and others Friday, he never forgot his Connellsville roots.

“It is great to be back here,” he said as the 2009-10 football team members went by and shook his hand. “It is such a delight to see so many people; I was really looking forward to this.”

The visit to his hometown Friday was part of a weekend of activities that would culminate with his induction into the Fayette County Sport Hall of Fame.

However, his first stop was to visit the high school football training center the bears his name.

As former football coaches Tom Dolde and Lou DeSimone sought to raise funds for the new training center, it was Lujack, said district athletic director James Lembo that made it happen.

“He called my office and wanted to do something that would give our students an opportunity to be successful,” said Lembo. “He credits his high school days for his success and he wanted to do something in return.

“His generous contribution allowed us to build a facility that will not only benefit many students, but it also shows the caliber of man that he is.”

Lembo met Lujack nearly 15 years ago when a reunion was being planned for the legendary 1941 Connellsville Coker football team.

The “Stars of ’41” as they were nicknamed, said Lembo, were not only known for their athletic ability, but also their military, educational and career accomplishments.

“It is obvious by Mr. Lujack’s statistics in college and in professional football he was an outstanding athlete,” said Lembo. “He competed at the highest level and achieved the highest individual award as well as team awards while at Notre Dame.”

Along with many of his high school friends, his teammate at Connellsville John “Wally” Schroyer was also among the crowd inside the training facility.

“He’s a great guy and was a great athlete,” said Schroyer.

It was Schroyer, however, that was the “best” athlete, Lujack told those in attendance.

“He was one terrific football and basketball player,” said Lujack as the two men bantered back and forth about their most memorable game. “He was the finest athlete Connellsville ever had.”

Their last game in 1941 against Brownsville, the two agreed, was one for the books.

“We were tied 13-13 and had we have won we would have gone on to the next level,” said Lujack.

The team was a “good one,” said Schroyer.

The hard worked paid off with many of the Class of 1942 squad going on to play at the college level.

“It was during the Depression; everyone was poor and sports was your only way,” he said. “We had seven or eight that went on to play in college.”

The young football players, meanwhile, stood in awe of the legendary Lujack.

Luke Kuhns, 11, waited in line waiting for his turn to have Lujack autograph a football.

“Pretty cool,” he said as he recounted his knowledge of Lujack’s career.

Jim Lembo Jr. said that he has heard “so much” about the football standout while living at home and attending school.

The varsity football player was lucky enough to be seated next to Lujack and the Heisman Trophy during a team picture taking session.

“It was unbelievable,” he said. “Every time you walk through the high school, you see his trophies and the awards he has won.

“It is very inspiring to have him here; he’s a good man and I’m glad he is here and provided us with this building.”

When he is not on the road, Lujack said that these days he can be found on the golf course, near his now California home playing a round with baseball great Yogi Berra.

“He tells me when I hit a putt short that 95-percent of them that are hit short, don’t go in,” said Lujack, adding that the baseball player has not lost his legendary sense of humor.

James Lembo said that Lujack and those from that era, along with their life accomplishments, are an important part of Connellsville history.

“Even though time has past since Mr. Lujack went to Connellsville High School and won the Heisman Trophy, many people are proud to point out that he is from Connellsville and Mr. Lujack is equally proud to say he got his start in Connellsville.”

Also contributing to the training center construction were Keith Miller, M&D Excavation; Mark Stone, Stone & Co.; Jay Puskar, Universal Ready Mix; Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center instructors Jeff Puskar and Vince Speers along with masonry and electrical class students; district business manager Gene Cunningham; director of building and grounds Mike Omatick, district maintenance personnel Rock Richter and Tom Smith and DeSimone.