Groundbreaking QB Willie Thrower honored with statue
Willie Thrower came home to New Kensington's Valley Memorial Stadium on Thursday night cast in bronze, a testament to his contribution to American football.
He did not return as a Ken High Red Raider or a Michigan State Spartan, his high school and college teams, but as a 1953 Chicago Bear and the first black quarterback in the NFL.
"Everything is completed now," his son, Willie Thrower Jr., said after he, his two brothers and his mother unveiled the statue at halftime of the Valley-Shady Side Academy game. "It's like he's here. The legend lives on."
"I've been crying all day, but it's a good cry," Mary Thrower, Willie's widow, said before the halftime ceremony which included congratulations from Dan and Art Rooney, owners of the Steelers, who were at the game.
The halftime ceremony and unveiling of the statue fulfills a quest by the Thrower family and others who knew Willie to validate his contribution, which many people -- even some members of his own family -- had doubted through the years.
But there was no denying it last night, as evidenced by comments from Lloyd M. Vance, editor of the African-American Quarterback Web site who represented The Field Generals, a nonprofit organization established by present and former black quarterbacks in the NFL.
He presented a collector's print from the organization featuring many of those quarterbacks and autographed by former quarterbacks Doug Williams of the Washington Redskins, Warren Moon of the Houston Oilers, Marlin Briscoe of the Denver Broncos and James Harris of the Los Angeles Rams.
"They wanted to acknowledge Willie Thrower as the man whose shoulders they stood on as they made their way in the NFL," Vance said.
While the statue commemorates Thrower's milestone as a professional athlete, it also pays tribute to his career at New Kensington High School, better known as Ken High. There he played four years as a single-wing tailback and led the school to two WPIAL Class AA championships.
"I couldn't be happier," said Ralph Buffone, a former Ken High player and friend of Thrower. Buffone, who now lives in Philadelphia, started the movement to honor Thrower and it was joined by Will Varner and other friends and teammates of Thrower, who also was the first black quarterback in the Big Ten Conference.
The sculpture was done, fittingly, by a 1979 Valley High School graduate, Steve Paulovich, who is now based in Louisville, Ky.
The home crowd's night was complete when sixth-ranked Valley overcame a sluggish offensive performance and an inspired defensive effort from Shady Side Academy to escape with a 7-0 win in the Class AA Allegheny Conference game.
Peabody 28, Carrick 16
In the City League, Peabody's Stewart Townsend rushed for 161 yards and three touchdowns, as Peabody (2-2) defeated Carrick (0-4). Cory Page accounted for both Carrick scores with two touchdown passes to James Jett.
