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Tragic accident cut Worrell's life short

Brian Herman
| Thursday, June 5, 2008 4:00 a.m.
At 19, Robert "Red" Worrell will have the distinction of being the youngest person to make the Mid Mon Valley Sports Hall of Fame. No, it's not a misprint! Worrell died at the early age three days before Christmas in 1957 when he was electrocuted helping his father put up a television antenna at their Denbo home. Before his untimely and stunning death, Worrell had made his mark as one of the greatest all-around athletes in Centerville history. A four-year starter and possibly the WPIAL's first ninth grader to play varsity football, Worrell also starred in track and field, basketball and baseball. "There's no question he was one of the best I ever saw," said long-time Brownsville sports writer Bob Petriello. "He was a kid in an adult's body and was far ahead of other players of that era." A fullback-linebacker, Worrell scored 376 points in his high school career, including 125 points in seven games as a junior. Besides being the school's all-time leading scorer, he also set a single game rushing record with 318 yards. A scholastic All-American, Worrell was named the WPIAL's top gridder as both a junior and senior and was the lone Class B player to make the prestigious Wigwam Wisemen's All-American team. In track and field, he set a state shot put record. Recruited by over 100 colleges, Worrell was headed to North Carolina but changed his mind and ended up at Penn State. Worrell starred in his fresh-man season with the Nittany Lions. Penn State never forgot Worrell. The school has been giving an award out in his name since 1958 to the football player for "exemplary conduct, loyalty, attitude and improvement" during spring practice.


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