Willie Thrower (1930-2002)

First African American to play quarterback in the modern National Football League and in the Big Ten Conference. He played in two games for the Chicago Bears in 1953 and was a member of Michigan State’s national championship team in 1952. Thrower first played football here, for New Kensington High School’s WPIAL champion teams, 1946-48. He finished his career in Canada at age 27. (Dedicated: Friday, October 24, 2003)