All page numbers refer to the print edition of Playing Through the Whistle. Please use the search feature on your reader to locate the text that corresponds to the note entries that follow.
PART ONE
7 Čovek mora da radi . . . : Morawska, Ewa. For Bread with Butter: The Life-Worlds of East Central Europeans in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, 1890-1940. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press, 2003: pg. 42.
7 “15 million strong” . . . :“Progressive Era to New Era, 1900-1929: Immigrants in the Progressive Era”, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/timeline/progress/immigrnt/.
8 Sent funds in 1903 . . . : Vukmir, Rade B. The Mill. Lanham, Md.: University Press of America, 2011: 248.
8 Began buying up acreage twenty-six miles down the Ohio River . . . : “Aliquippa History”, Piroli, Gino, B.F. Jones Memorial Library, Aliquippa, Pa., May 20, 2008; “Aliquippa Celebrates 100 Years.” Beaver County Times. May 25, 2008; “The Islands of West Aliquippa were a source of food, leisure”, Beaver County Times. February 25, 2015.
8 The original village name . . . : Ireton, Gabriel, http://www.aliquippa.gov/history.htm.
9 General “Mad Anthony” Wayne . . . : Thompson, Donald B. “Requiem for a Steel Town.” Industry Week. June 10, 1985. 55.
9 Tom Girdler, the mill’s de facto . . . : Girdler, Tom M, Sparkes, Boyden. Boot Straps: The Autobiography of Tom M. Girdler. Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1943: 161–166.
10 The first blast furnace . . . : Inman, Donald R., Wollman, David H. Portraits in Steel: An Illustrated History of Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press, 1999: 63.
10 By the end of 1912 . . . : “Aliquippa, J&L Steel and the National Immigrant Movement: A History Lesson for Beaver County.” The Bridge. 12.
10 Across the tracks . . . : Piroli.
10 Base price of $2,200 . . . : “Steelmakers Turned to African Americans in South to Fill Employee Rosters.” Beaver County Times. February 25, 2015.
10 The central commercial district . . . : Piroli.
10 “It has every modern utility . . . ”: Ireton.
11 Plan 6, with its three clay tennis courts . . . : Vukmir, 310.
11 “The fathers and mothers . . . ”: Interview with Joe Perriello, conducted by Blackside, Inc. on December 19, 1992, for “The Great Depression.” Washington University Libraries, Film and Media Archive, Henry Hampton Collection.
12 Soon after the mill’s opening . . . : Vukmir, 248.
12 “In the Aliquippa plant . . . ”: “City Items in Brief.” Pittsburgh Post. July 15, 1913: 7.
12 Three thousand J&L workers would go off to fight . . . : Wollman, David H., Inman, Donald R. Portraits in Steel: An Illustrated History of Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation. Kent, Ohio: The Kent State University Press, 1999: pg. 81; Of Men and Steel, No. 9, September 1944: pg. 7.
13 B. F. Jones may have been the first in Pittsburgh . . . : Inman, Wollman, 42.
13 “It was a terrifying site, and hypnotic . . . ”: Holbrook, Stewart H. Iron Brew: A Century of American Ore and Steel. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1939: Chapter 1.
13 “Black snow” . . . : Mancini, Henry, with Lees, Gene. Did They Mention the Music? Chicago: Contemporary Books, Inc., 1989: 13.
14 “Little Las Vegas” . . . : Perriello interview.
14 The notorious Black Hand . . . : “Italian Terror Is Lured to His Death.” Pittsburgh Gazette Times. August 7, 1911: p. 1.
14 “It is said” . . . : Commonwealth v. Zec, 262 Pa. 251, 105 Atl. 279 (1918), Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Walling, Emory.
14 “An unofficial caliph” . . . : Girdler, 166.
14 “There was in Aliquippa” . . . : Girdler, 177.
15 “So, good or bad” . . . : Girdler, 19.
16 “I hit him in the mouth” . . . : Girdler, 97.
16 When a cadre of Finnish tin workers . . . : “War Hero Makes Mob Kiss Flag.” Pittsburgh Gazette Times, October 8, 1919, 1–2.
16 “They had local government” . . . : Zahorsky, Michael J., interview by Kocherzat, Stephen, June 20, 1978, in the Beaver Valley Labor History Society Collection, 1909-1981, AIS.1981.08, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh. Box 2, File 58, pp. 4–5.
17 “There were scarcely half a dozen registered Democrats” . . . : Girdler, 177–178.
17 Immigrants opened every kind . . . : “Ethnic Clubs Are Fading into Beaver County’s Past”, Beaver County Times, February 26, 2015.
17 In the summer of 1925 . . . : “Immigrant Workers Sought New Beginning in Area’s Burgeoning Steel Industry”, Beaver County Times, February 25, 2015.
17 “On any payday” . . . : Girdler, 170.
18 “Shine was delivered in five-gallon tins” . . . : Zernich, Dr. Stephen, Dr. Steve. Pittsburgh, self-published, 1992: 3–4.
18 After it acquired the island . . . : “The Islands of West Aliquippa Were a Source of Food, Leisure”, Beaver County Times, February 25, 2015.
18 330 American college men . . . : Zimbalist, Andrew, Unpaid Professionals: Commercialism and Conflict in Big-Time College Sports. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 2001: 8.
19 Professional football began in Pittsburgh: “Birth of Pro Football”, Pro Football Hall of Fame, http://www.profootballhof.com/football-history/birth-of-pro-football/.
19 “The AAA expense sheet” . . . : ibid.
19 “What the Pittsburghs tried to do” . . . : ibid.
20 “Leading citizens found fault” . . . : “History of the WPIAL”, Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League, http://www.wpial.org/history.asp.
20 “You cannot play two kinds of football” . . . : “Glenn ‘Pop’ Warner”, National Football Foundation, http://www.footballfoundation.org/Programs/CollegeFootballHallofFame/SearchDetail.aspx?id=10054.
20 “Ha! Ha!” . . . : Condor, 1915, Aliquippa, Pa., Woodlawn High School, 33.
22 “My mother was born in 1909” . . . : Steals, Melvin, author interview, February 1, 2013.
22 The fathers of James Frank . . . : Frank, James, author interview, May 14, 2012.
22 . . . and Eugene “Salt” Smith . . . : Smith, Eugene, author interview, November 28, 2011.
22 Private William Little . . . : “The Meanest Little Town . . .” The Early County News, March 25, 2015.
22 Some 500,000 blacks . . . : Dickerson, Dennis C. Out of the Crucible: Black Steelworkers in Western Pennsylvania, 1875-1980. Albany, N.Y.: State University of New York Press, 1986: 31.
22 During the last few years of World War I . . . : Dickerson, 32.
23 Workers made 33 cents an hour . . . : “Steelmakers Turned to African Americans in South to Fill Employee Rosters”, Beaver County Times, February 25, 2015.
23 Enough white ethnics . . . : “Aliquippa Housing Plans Show Journey of Immigrants”, Beaver County Times, February 25, 2015.
23 When J&L built . . . : Aliquippa: The Union Comes to Little Siberia, The Great Depression, WGBH, Boston, prod., PBS, 1993.
24 60 cents an hour . . . : Dickerson, 50.
24 Superintendent of J&L’s seamless tube . . . : Perriello interview, 462.
24 “Betrayed by Reconstruction” . . . : Murray, Albert, Trading Twelves: The Selected Letters of Ralph Ellison and Albert Murray. New York: Vintage Books, 2001: preface, cit.
25 250,000 . . . : “The Ku Klux Klan in Pennsylvania, 1920–1940”, Jenkins, Philip, The Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine, Vol. 69, No. 2, April 1986.
25 300,000 . . . : Loucks, Emerson Hunberger. “The Ku Klux Klan in Pennsylvania: A Study in Nativism.” Harrisburg, Pa.: The Telegraph Press, 1936.
25 Next-door Allegheny County . . . : Jenkins, Philip, Hoods and Shirts: The Extreme Right in Pennsylvania, 1925–1950. Chapel Hill, N.C.: The University of North Carolina Press, 1997, 71.
25 . . . Beaver County, with nine klaverns . . . : Ku Klux Klan Kleagle Robe Reports 1924-25 (Series #30.19); Record Group 30, Records of the Pennsylvania State Police; Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg.
25 In July 1923 . . . : Jenkins, Hoods and Shirts, 67.
25 . . . Ku Klux Klan of Woodlawn.” It was announced in the spring of 1922 with a late-night launch of skyrockets, a burning cross . . . : Woodlawn News, letter, April 28, 1922, p. 1; article, June 2, 1922, p. 5.
25 “To drive the colored people” . . . : Girdler, 179–180.
25 Many a night the town’s young black men . . . : Cobb, Clark, interview, May 14, 1980, in the Beaver Valley Labor History Society Collection, 1909-1981, AIS.1981.08, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh; Box #2, File 48, p. 35.
26 In 1923 . . . : Dickerson, 81.
26 . . . welcomed in “the regalia of their order” by town pastors . . . while a choir sang “Onward, Christian Soldiers” . . . : Woodlawn Gazette, January 11, 1924, p. 1.
26 . . . celebrated with a “special sermon” at an evening Methodist service at Woodlawn High . . . : Woodlawn Gazette, February 26, 1924, p. 1.
26 “Sometimes in the summer” . . . : Mancini, 16.
26 Some, like Emory Clark . . . : Stephenson, Sam. “Sonny Clark, Part 2.” The Paris Review, January 26, 2011, http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2011/01/26/sonny-clark-part-ii/. Based on Stephenson interviews with Sonny Clark’s surviving family members and friends in Herminie No. 2, Pennsylvania.
27 Reputedly outraced a horse . . . : North, E. Lee, Battling the Indians, Panthers, and Nittany Lions: The Story of Washington and Jefferson College’s First Century of Football, 1890-1990. Daring Publishing Group, 1991: 125–132.
27 In the off-seasons . . . : “Sport and Black Pittsburgh, 1900-1930”, Ruck, Rob, ed., Miller, Patrick B., Wiggins, David K. Sport and the Color Line: Black Athletes and Race Relations in Twentieth-Century America. New York: Routledge, 2004: 12.
28 A waiting crowd . . . : North, 125–132.
28 “We didn’t bring him with us this time” . . . : ibid.
28 The first time a black man . . . : “Meet the Presidents”, Meyer, Walter G., Pittsburgh Magazine, October 30, 2014.
28 “He was an idol of mine” . . . : “Payoff: Pruner Makes Hall of Fame”, Washington Observer and Reporter, Washington, Pa., April 17, 1979, 19.
29 “It was segregated, but not in sports” . . . : Thomas, Townsell, author interview, April 10, 2015.
30 Though his customary suit had been replaced . . . : Green, James, “Democracy Comes to Little Siberia”, Labor’s Heritage, Vol. 5, No. 2, Summer 1993, George Meany Memorial Archives, Silver Spring, Md.: 11; Brooks, Thomas R. Clint: A Biography of a Labor Intellectual. New York: Atheneum, 1978: 129.
30 By seventeen . . . : Brooks, 14, 16, 20.
30 Golden’s clothes . . . : Golden, Clinton S., letter to wife Dora, undated (Tuesday P.M.), Clinton S. Golden papers (1565), Historical Collections and Labor Archives, Special Collections Library, Pennsylvania State University.
31 The idle in Aliquippa talked women, baseball . . . : Brooks, ibid.
31 Twenty steelworkers . . . : Cortner, Richard C. The Jones & Laughlin Case. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1970: 34.
32 On New Year’s Day 1920 . . . : Stevenson, David. Cataclysm: The First World War as Political Tragedy. New York: Basic Books, 2009: 440.
32 The Attorney General then spent the winter . . . : “May Day Death Plot Is Uncovered”, Tulsa Daily World, April 30, 1920, p. 1.
32 But on September 16 . . . : “Havoc Wrought in Morgan Offices”, New York Times, September 17, 1920, p. 1.
33 “The idea is if we don’t look out” . . . : Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1925: Chapter 1.
33 By 1920 . . . : Inman and Wollman, 289-290; The Iron Age, January 2, 2013, American Iron and Steel Institute.
33 By 1924 . . . : Inman and Wollman, 92.
33 “Girdler” . . . : “An Occurrence at Republic Steel”, Fast, Howard, in Leighton, Isabel, ed., The Aspirin Age, 1919–1941. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1949, 399.
34 “Break it up, you Hunkies!” . . . : Davin, Eric Leif. Crucible of Freedom: Workers’ Democracy in the Industrial Heartland, 1914–1960. Lanham, Md.: Lexington Books, 2012, 160.
34 “Woodlawn is governed and regulated by fear” . . . : Woodlawn News, March 30, 1923, p. 1.
34 Four days later . . . : Woodlawn News, April 3, 1923, p.1.
35 “American Plan” . . . : Brooks, 49–50.
35 Girdler boasted . . . : Girdler, 175–176.
35 “In that day you had to keep your mind shut . . . : Razzano, Angelo, interview by Hoffman, Alice M., January 16, 1974, in the United Steelworkers of America Oral History Collection, Penn State University. P. 3. This interview is listed as being with “Angelo Rozzano.” For the sake of historical consistency, I’ve chosen to use the name listed in U.S Census and Supreme Court records, as well as contemporaneous accounts.
35–36 “We don’t discharge a man for belonging to a union” . . . : Brody, David. Labor in Crisis: The Steel Strike of 1919. Champaign, IL: University of Illinois Press, 1965: 89.
36 “It wasn’t so much union” . . . : Zahorsky.
36 “Typical Cossack town” . . . : Davin, 160.
37 “He’s reading the Declaration of Independence” . . . : Muselin, Pete, “The Steel Fist in a Pennsylvania Company Town”, in Schultz, Bud, Schultz, Ruth, It Did Happen Here: Recollections of Political Repression in America, Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1989: 69–71.
37 “One of the dirtiest” . . . : Muselin, 72.
38 “Hopelessly maladjusted” . . . : Spiniza, Judith Ader. “Women of Long Island: Cornelia Bryce Pinchot, Feminist, Social-Activist-The Long Islander Who Became First Lady of Pennsylvania.” www.spinizalongislandestates.com.
38 “There was nothing” . . . : Perriello interview.
38 “Sometimes we would have a customer for the day” . . . : Steinfeld, Jesse, author interview, June 27, 2012.
38 “They’d bring in maybe twenty or thirty of us” . . . : Perriello, interview.
39 “What my father thought of Franklin Roosevelt” . . . : Interview with Tom Girdler, Jr. , conducted by Blackside, Inc. on December 22, 1992, for “The Great Depression.” Washington University Libraries, Film and Media Archive, Henry Hampton Collection.
40 One, fifty-year-old John Mayer . . . : Mayer, John S., affidavit, August 29, 1933, Clinton S. Golden Papers, Box 5, Historic Collections and Labor Archive, Pennsylvania State University; Green, William, letter to Pinchot, Gifford, August 30, 1933, Clinton S. Golden Papers, Box 5, Historic Collections and Labor Archive, Pennsylvania State University; Brooks, 128-129; Heineman, Kenneth J. Catholic New Deal: Religion and Reform in Depression Pittsburgh. University Park, Pa.: Penn State Press, 2010: pgs. 50-51.
40 Publicly called on “patriots” . . . : “Probe Demanded by Legion speaker”, Pittsburgh Press, November 13, 1935, pg. 38.
40 In October ’33 . . . :”Insurgent Miners Fight Peace”, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 3, 1933, page 4.
41 “Come and take ’em!” . . . : “Ambridge Riot Described By Eye-Witness”, Baubie, James A., Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, October 6, 1933.
41 “It was probably meant for me” . . . : Muselin, 74.
41 “One of the most wonderful things that ever happened in this valley” . . . : Davin.
42 “Violent terroristic action” . . . : National Labor Relations Board ruling, April 9, 1936.
42 “We want you to get busy” . . . : Brooks, 133.
42 “One of the most fearless, well-controlled people I’ve ever seen” . . . : Girdler, Jr., interview.
42 “He shot at me and missed” . . . : ibid.
44 “Always told us we had to win THAT game” . . . : “Rubinstein Honored, Ambridge Pays Homage.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. August 30, 1977: 6.
44 “Their frequent conflicts” . . . : “Casp’s Age Challenged by Ambridge.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. October 24, 1934: 16.
45 The Cleveland native wanted to be a doctor . . . : Mark Kriegel, Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich, New York: Free Press, 2008: 17.
45 Perhaps the worst loss: “Casp’s Age Challenged by Ambridge.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. October 24, 1934: 16.
45 On September 24, 1934, an unnaturalized Slovak named Mary Isasky . . . : Mary Isasky, letter to Mrs. Pinchot, Sept. 24, 1934. Cornelia Pinchot papers, Collections of the Manuscript Division, Library of Congress.
46 Her father had been a congressman . . . : Miller, Char. Gifford Pinchot and the Making of Modern Environmentalism. Washington, D.C.: Shearwater Books, 2001: 177.
46 Leveraged a $15 million fortune . . . : Beers, Paul B. Pennsylvania Politics Today and Yesterday: The Tolerable Accommodation. University Park, Pa.: Penn State Press, 2010: 101.
46 By 1914 . . . : Miller, 180.
46 “One of the keenest political minds” . . . : “Cornelia Bryce Pinchot (1881–1960)”, Grey Towers National Historic Site website, http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/greytowers/aboutgreytowers/history/?cid=stelprd3824418.
46 “Pinchot never dared” . . . : Bruen, E.J., “MRS. PINCHOT, BOSS; Pennsylvania Old Guard Regards Her as Warwick Behind Candidate”, New York Times, August 27, 1922.
46 “Women don’t want generalities and hot air” . . . : Grey Towers NHS website.
47 “It was due to Mrs. Pinchot” . . . : ibid.
47 “All my speeches are extemporaneous” . . . : Beers, Paul B. Pennsylvania Politics Today and Yesterday: The Tolerable Accommodation. University Park, PA: Penn State University Press, 2010: 103.
48 “Well, here I am” . . . : “Mrs. Pinchot Gives Mellon Word Licking”, Pittsburgh Press, November 26, 1933, 12.
48 “Grisly farce” . . . : Bryce Pinchot, Cornelia, speech, February 28, 1934, “Just Wolves, Mrs. Pinchot Says of NRA”, Associated Press, The Daily Oklahoman, February 28, 1934.
48 “No business on this side of the river” . . . : Amalgamated Journal, August 30, 1934, Vol. XXXVI, No. 1, “Great Meeting at Ambridge”, page 1, column 1.
48 “For only just one reason” . . . : “Steel Town”, Ruttenberg, Harold. The Nation, November 28, 1934.
49 “You black-handed mothers” . . . : Brooks, 133.
50 “Neurotic and pathological tendencies” . . . : Liveright, Alice J., memorandum to Gifford Pinchot, October 19, 1934. Cornelia Pinchot papers, Collections of the Manuscript Division, Library of Congress.
50 “Quiet and orderly” . . . : McKinniss, C.R., letter to Mary Isasky, September 20, 1934. Cornelia Pinchot papers, Collections of the Manuscript Division, Library of Congress.
50 “Let me know about this” . . . : Bryce Pinchot, Cornelia, letter to Mary Isasky, September 29, 1934. Cornelia Pinchot papers, Collections of the Manuscript Division, Library of Congress.
51 “Spotted and followed” . . . : Golden, Clinton S., letter to wife Dora, October 6, 1934, Clinton S. Golden papers (1565), Historical Collections and Labor Archives, Special Collections Library, Pennsylvania State University.
51 “You could almost feel the relief” . . . : ibid.
51 “As sane as I am” . . . : Brooks, 135.
52 Oct. 14, 1934 . . . : ibid.
53 “It was wonderful” . . . : Amalgamated Journal, October 25, 1934, Vol. XXXVI, No. 9, page 7.
53 “Friends”, she began . . . : Bryce Pinchot, Cornelia, October 14, 1934, speech to the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers, Aliquippa, Pa. Cornelia Pinchot papers, Collections of the Manuscript Division, Library of Congress.
55 “She came to Aliquippa” . . . : Interview with Harold Ruttenberg , conducted by Blackside, Inc. on December 21, 1992, for “The Great Depression.” Washington University Libraries, Film and Media Archive, Henry Hampton Collection.
56 “In a very dramatic way” . . . : Bryce Pinchot, Cornelia, letter to Roger Baldwin, November 16, 1934. Cornelia Pinchot papers, Collections of the Manuscript Division, Library of Congress.
56 “It’s the crazy house” . . . : Amalgamated Journal, November 1, 1934, Vol. XXXVI, No. 10, page 3.
56 “I want somebody’s names” . . . : Golden, Clinton S., letter to wife Dora, October 24, 1934 (est. “Wednesday P.M.”), Clinton S. Golden papers (1565), Historical Collections and Labor Archives, Special Collections Library, Pennsylvania State University.
56 “We can’t believe what that damn fool governor says” . . . : “More Lunacy Commitments To Be Studied”, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 26, 1934: 8.
57 37 percent unemployment . . . : Bezilla, Michael. Penn State: An Illustrated History. University Park, PA.: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1985.
57 “We had a happy town” . . . : Perriello, interview.
57 “If my mother was sick” . . . : Interview with James Downing, Jr. , conducted by Blackside, Inc. on December 20, 1992, for The Great Depression. Washington University Libraries, Film and Media Archive, Henry Hampton Collection.
58 On Labor Day, two competing worker parades . . . : “Two Celebrations Mark Labor Day”, The Daily Times, Beaver, Pa., September 8, 1936, pg. 1.
58 Deep rich green turf . . . : Aliquippa Gazette, September 25, 1936: 1.
58 “Vast mechanism” . . . : N.L.R.B. v. Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp., 301 U.S. 1 (1937), U.S. Supreme Court, April 12, 1937.
59 Employing 22,000 . . . : “Jones & Laughlin: Depressions & Mutations of a Mighty Dynasty: Work Change in Steel’s 4th Largest”, The Bulletin Index, April 9, 1936.
59 “40 percent of its limestone” . . . : ibid.
59 60 million tons of iron ore . . . : National Labor Relations board ruling, Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation and Amalgamated Association of Iron Steel & Tin Workers of North America, Beaver Valley Lodge No. 200, April 9, 1936.
59 “The ramifications of the Jones & Laughlin” . . . : N.L.R.B. v. Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp., 301 U.S. 1 (1937), U.S. Supreme Court, April 12, 1937.
60 “The company’s opposition to a union was very simple” . . . : Perriello, interview.
61 “I have been reading over some of the cases” . . . : Bryce Pinchot, Cornelia, speech, Aliquippa, Pa., September 1, 1935. Cornelia Pinchot papers, Collections of the Manuscript Division, Library of Congress.
61 Martin Dunn . . . : Cortner, 83.
61 Over the succeeding months . . . : ibid.
62 After his dismissal . . . : Razzano, Angelo, interview with Hoffman, Alice, January 16, 1974, page 8
62 When he returned that night, Razzano bumped into Eli Bozich . . . : ibid, page 9.
62 Beyond the NLRB’s description of him . . . : National Labor Relations Board ruling, Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation and Amalgamated Association of Iron Steel & Tin Workers of North America, Beaver Valley Lodge No. 200, April 9, 1936.
62–63 Relations between black steelworkers and organized labor had long been scarred by bigotry and mutual distrust . . . : Dickerson, Dennis C. Out of the Crucible: Black Steelworkers in Western Pennsylvania, 1875-1980. Albany, N.Y.: State University of New York Press, 1986: pg. 92.
63 Boyer came to J&L five years later . . . : National Labor Relations Board ruling, Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation and Amalgamated Association of Iron Steel & Tin Workers of North America, Beaver Valley Lodge No. 200, April 9, 1936.
63 The year before, in the nearby town of Industry . . . : “Beaver County Official ‘Bucks’ Pinchot’s Order”, Pittsburgh Courier, September 9, 1933, pgs. 1, 4; “Beaver County Officials May Face Grand Jury Probe In Shanghai Case”, Pittsburgh Courier, September 2, 1933, pgs. 1, 11.
63 In 1933, a black man was killed . . . : Ruttenberg, Harold. “Steel Town.” The Nation, November 28, 1934: pg. 624.
63 Boyer was fired a month before Razzano . . . : National Labor Relations Board ruling, Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation and Amalgamated Association of Iron Steel & Tin Workers of North America, Beaver Valley Lodge No. 200, April 9, 1936.
63 Mauk’s police introduced a new tactic . . . : Golden, Clinton S., letter to Moser, Clarence, March 7, 1935, Clinton S. Golden Papers, Historical Collections and Labor Archives, Special Collections Library, Pennsylvania State University.
64 “Silent intake of spectators’ breaths” . . . : Time, Altman, Nancy J. The Battle for Social Security: From FDR’s Vision To Bush’s Gamble. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, 2012.
64 “When industries organize themselves on a national scale” . . . : Cortner, 164.
65 “A major turning point” . . . : ibid, pg. VIII of preface.
65 “Revolutionized industrial relations” . . . : Lieberman, Elias. Unions Before the Bar: Historic Trials Showing the Evolution of Labor Rights in the United States. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1950: 193-201; Green, 19.
65 Royal Boyer received $2,040 . . . : Pittsburgh Courier, April 24, 1937, page 4.
65 And Angelo Razzano . . . : Razzano, Angelo, Hoffman, Alice interview, January 16, 1974, p. 15.
65 “Utter disgust and dismay” . . . : Girdler, Jr., interview.
65 “When I hear Wagner Act went constitutional” . . . : Kennedy, David M. Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929–1945. Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press, 1999.
66 “I was bitter about this” . . . : Girdler, Sr., 226.
66 “My father made the famous statement” . . . : Girdler, Jr., interview.
66 The company pushed for a vote . . . : Green, 19.
66 A Clint Golden spy . . . : Clint Golden spy report, February 24, 1937, Clinton S. Golden papers (1565), Historical Collections and Labor Archives, Special Collections Library, Pennsylvania State University. Collection of Pennsylvania State University, Box 5, Folder 29.
66 Both J&L locals . . . : Green, 19; Inman, Wollman, 108.
67 At 11 p.m . . . : Inman, Wollman, 108.
67 “I beat the hell out of him” . . . : Razzano, Angelo, interview by Hoffman, Alice, January 16, 1974, p. 15.
67 “The strike is a rank-and-file affair” . . . : Inman, Wollman, 108, cit. Brooks, Robert R.R. As Steel Goes . . . : Unionism in a Basic Industry. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1940: 124-125, Green, 20.
68 “I don’t want any trouble here” . . . : Inman, Wollman, 111, cit. Robert R. R. Brooks, 126.
69 “J&L has been brought to its knees” . . . : Pacchioli, David, “Forged in Steel”, Penn State News, January 1, 1999, http://news.psu.edu/story/141007/1999/01/01/research/forged-steel.
69 “Let us forget the tension of the past few weeks” . . . : Inman, Wollman, 114., cit. The J&L Steel Employes Journal 2, no. 9, May 26, 1937: 1.
70 A recession in 1938 . . . : Harvard Business School, Lehman Brothers Collection-Contemporary Business Archives, “Jones & Laughlin Industries, Inc.”, http://www.library.hbs.edu/hc/lehman/company.html?company=jones_laughlin_industries_inc.
70 “Very, very hard” . . . : Letteri, Joe, author interview, May 11, 2012
72 No one, of course, would have predicted that Suder . . . : “Aliquippa Star Played 13 Years in the Majors”, Bires, Mike, Beaver County Times, November 15, 2006; Elias Sports Bureau.
72 “From a total disaster into a busy little town” . . . : Steinfeld, author interview, October 14, 2012.
72 “That’s eight Oscars” . . . : Piroli, Gino, author interview, May 11, 2012.
74 Steam whistles . . . : “New Year Brings Back Memories of Past Celebrations”, Piroli, Gino, Beaver County Times, January 11, 2016.
74 Three men a year . . . : Estimate based off author interview with Piroli, Gino, May 11, 2012.
74 “Our sport consisted of turning off the lights” . . . : Zernich, 6.
75 “Rockne is dead” . . . : “Speaking of Sports”, Bickford, Peter, The Daily Republican, Monongahela, Pa., February 28, 1941: 2.
75 “The varsity grid cupboard is bare” . . . : Amper, Richard, Aliquippa Gazette, February 21, 1941.
76 The team local papers dubbed the “Steelers” . . . : “Steelers Open Season with 39-0 Victory Over Freedom”, The Daily Times, September 6, 1941, pg. 7.
76 He worked as a “burner” . . . : Ditka, Mike, author interview, November 16, 2010.
77 J&L logged a $10.3 million profit in ’40 . . . : Inman, Wollman, 116.
77 1,279 pupils . . . : The Daily Times, Beaver, Pa., April 18, 1941, page 2, column 3.
77 407 students dropped out . . . : “Aliquippa”, The History of Beaver County Schools, Volume 1. Adams, Belle, ed. Beaver County Historical Research & Landmarks Foundation, printed by Closson Press, Apollo, Pa., 1982.
77 J&L’s furnaces . . . : “Army-Navy ‘E’ Is Presented in Aliquippa”, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 7, 1943: 16.
77 Over the next four years . . . : B.F. Jones Library Holding: “General Marshall’s Victory Report on the Winning of World War II in Europe and the Pacific”, “Added Section Featuring the Contributions made by our Community toward the Winning of the War”, 1945, U.S. Department of War, distributed by Aliquippa VFW Post # 3577.
77 “The men would congregate” . . . : Letteri, Gilda, author interview, May 11, 2012.
77 “Power by Jesse Gunn” . . . : “Too Much ‘General’ Lee-New Castle Easily Wins Class AA Title”, Kurtz, Paul, Pittsburgh Press, November 27, 1942: 38.
78 “There was no warning” . . . : “22 Killed When Bus Is Crushed by Avalanche”, United Press, Shamokin News-Dispatch, Shamokin, Pa., December 23, 1942.
79 “Watched him play all the time” . . . : Letteri, Joe, author interview, August 2012.
79 In December of ’43 . . . : The Evening Times, February 9, 1945.
79 “He never made it back” . . . : Suder, George “Juke”, author interview, June 6, 2012.
80 In March 1943 . . . : Inman, Wollman, 124.
80 But only the Aliquippa Works . . . : ibid, 127.
80 “Distinguished service” . . . : “Army-Navy ‘E’ is Presented in Aliquippa”, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 7, 1943: 16.
80 “This war is not merely the army’s war” . . . : ibid.
81 “Don’t worry about us” . . . : Piroli, Gino, Beaver County Times, July 22, 2002.
82 “He didn’t get in the war” . . . : Ditka, Charlotte, author interview, November 5, 2010.
82 “You ever pitch before?” . . . : Suder, George “Juke”, author interview, June 6, 2012.
83 In most other years, that would’ve ended Aliquippa’s shot at a sectional title . . . : “Coaches’ Rivalry Began in College Days”, Piroli, Gino, Beaver County Times, January 15, 2001, page A2.
84 “The only insignificant phase of the proceedings” . . . : “Quips Win First WPIAL Title,” Wallace, Nick, Aliquippa Evening Times, June 6, 1944.
84 “First guy up” . . . : Suder, George “Juke”, author interview.
85 That afternoon’s Evening Times . . . : The Evening Times, Aliquippa, June 6, 1944, page 1.
85 The only mention . . . : The Evening Times, June 6, 1944, page 1.
85 John Kaurich . . . : Omaha Beach Memorial, http://www.omaha-beach-memorial.org/public/kia.php.
85 Ninnie Vuich . . . : The Evening Times, June 25, 1944.
85 Toats DiNardo . . . : The Evening Times, February 9, 1945.
86 In July of ’44 . . . : The Evening Times, July 17, 1944.
PART TWO
96 “You accepted those things” . . . : Frank, James, author interview, May 14, 2012.
96 By 1940, some 3,200 blacks . . . : 1940 Census of Population and Housing: Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., 1940.
96 “I never grew up prejudiced” . . . : Ditka, Mike, author interview, November 16, 2010.
96 “Everybody was equal” . . . : Zmijanac, Mike, author interview, September 23, 2010.
96 “Very prejudiced” . . . : Ditka, Mike, with Pierson, Don. Ditka: An Autobiography. Chicago: Bonus Books, Inc., 1986: 47.
97 “Each of the plans had a gang” . . . : Crile, George. Charlie Wilson’s War. New York: Grove Press, 2003: 43.
97 Until the mid-1950’s . . . : “Black Workers at the Aliquippa Works”, Beaver Valley Labor History Journal, September 1979: pg. 5; Dickerson, Dennis C. Out of the Crucible: Black Steelworkers in Western Pennsylvania, 1875-1980. Albany: N.Y.: State University of New York Press, 1986: 52–53.
97 “I knew there was no future” . . . : Smith, Eugene “Salt”, author interview, November 28, 2011.
98 35,329 others . . . : Baseball Reference box score, “Brooklyn Dodgers at Pittsburgh Pirates, June 24, 1947”, http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PIT/PIT194706240.shtml; Piroli, Gino, “Robinson’s First Pittsburgh Game A Momentous Occasion”, Beaver County Times, May 6, 2007.
98 “He was the crack” . . . : Frank, author interview.
99 “Five white boys” . . . : Smith, author interview.
100 “My father thought I played in the band” . . . : Marocco, Frank, author interview, January 4, 2012.
100 “My dad wasn’t too much on us playing ball” . . . : Frank, Jimmy, author interview.
100 Led by Frank . . . : Piroli, Gino, “Aliquippa’s Run Brought Back Memories of 1949 Basketball Team”, Beaver County Times, March 29, 2015.
101 Nate Lippe just missed out . . . : Piroli, Gino, “Coaches’ Rivalry Began in College Days”, Beaver County Times, January 15, 2001: A2.
101 The Beaver County Times . . . : Bires, Mike, “Quips Rekindling Memories of 1949 State Champs”, Beaver County Times, March 20, 2015; Piroli, Gino, “Aliquippa’s Run Brought Back Memories of 1949 Basketball Team”, Beaver County Times, March 29, 2015.
101 “Let me tell you, friends of mine” . . . : Piroli, ibid.
101 30,000 people: ibid.
101 “My father wouldn’t let me go” . . . : Letteri, Joe, author interview, May 11, 2012.
102 “We didn’t expect that kind of turnout” . . . : Frank, author interview.
102 “They were going to fire him” . . . : Piroli, Gino, author interview, January 4, 2012.
103 “They called us into a room in study hall” . . . : Mott, Lou, author interview, February 17, 2013.
103 “He never discussed things like that” . . . : Aschman, Carl, Jr., author interview, February 28, 2012.
103 Played well enough . . . : Beaver County Hall of Fame, “Carl Aschman”, http://www.bcshof.org/halloffamers/aschman1976.htm.
103 “Paper heart” . . . : Aschman, Carl, Jr., author interview.
103 “Some people thought he was nuts” . . . : Yannessa, Don, author interview, March 29, 2012.
104 “Crewcut Club” . . . : Kriegel, Mark. Pistol: The Life Of Pete Maravich. New York: Free Press, 2007: 48.
104 “Come here, you!” . . . : Marocco, author interview.
104 “Today’s football is a war game” . . . : Aliquippa Gazette, February 1, 1945, Section 7, pg. 5.
105 “When I was a kid, you had to be tough” . . . : Marocco, author interview.
106 “He didn’t push me” . . . : Aschman, Carl, Jr., author interview.
106 “I didn’t think he was the greatest guy” . . . : Frank, Jimmy, author interview.
106 “I gave my dad my paycheck” . . . : Frank, Willie, author interview, October 31, 2011.
106 “Like Stalag 17” . . . : Evasovich, John, author interview, November 6, 2011.
107 “Aschman served breakfast” . . . : Marocco, author interview, November 12, 2010.
107 “Come and get me, I’m finished” . . . : Frank, Willie, author interview.
108 “He was a good teacher” . . . : Aschman, Carl, Jr., author interview.
108 “Black players under Carl Aschman” . . . : Frank, Willie, author interview.
108 “I played my whole life” . . . : Ditka, Mike, author interview, November 16, 2010.
109 “They’re comparable” . . . : Evasovich, author interview.
109 The Quips rolled Erie Tech . . . : Aliquippa Quips 1910–2010: Football History, Aliquippa High School, Aliquippa, Pa., 2010.
109 “Son, you can run!” . . . : Frank, Willie, author interview.
109 “Once we got to high school” . . . : ibid.
109 Late in October . . . : “The Sport-Lite With Wally Fausti”, Fausti, Wally, Beaver Valley Times, November 5, 1952.
110 Nine thousand people crowded into Aliquippas stadium to see him open the scoring . . . : “Aliquippa whips Beaver Falls, 28-7”, Fausti, Wally, Beaver Valley Times, November 1, 1952, page 10.
110 The next week, Frank rushed for 102 yards . . . : “Quips Come From Behind To Whip New Castle, 18-7; For Ninth Straight Win”, Fausti, Wally, Beaver Valley Times, November 8, 1952, page 8; “Two Die, Eleven Hurt In Crash”, Beaver Valley Times, November 8, 1952, page 1.
110 An estimated 12,000 . . . : “Quips Earn Chance At Class AA Title”, Perrotta, Sal, Beaver Valley Times, November 15, 1952, page 6.
110 Aschman had his superstitions . . . : Aschman, Carl, Jr., author interview.
110 Some 8,000 showed up . . . : “Extra Point Gives Quips AA Title”, Anderson, Bill, Beaver Valley Times, November 30, 1952.
111 “On film, I saw eight guys absolutely make solid contact” . . . : Evasovich, author interview.
111 “That one year turned it all around” . . . : Mott, author interview.
111 “He was untouchable after that” . . . : Yannessa, author interview.
111 Dressed him like a little lord . . . : Ditka, Ditka: An Autobiography: 46.
112 “I didn’t even know him until I was five years old” . . . : Ditka, author interview.
112 Big Mike . . . : Ditka, Ditka: An Autobiography: 50–51.
112 “When he got done, he got up” . . . : Ditka, author interview.
112 He went to St. Titus for elementary school . . . : Ditka, author interview; Ditka: An Autobiography: 48–49.
113 “Nearly burned the woods down” . . . : Ditka, author interview.
113 “I tell you: It was bad” . . . : ibid.
114 “Why? Because that was a part of what you were” . . . : Evasovich, author interview.
114–115 Sophomore year, he was one of the last players . . . : Ditka, author interview.
115 “He cried a lot” . . . : Marocco, author interview, January 4, 2012.
115 “You can play” . . . : Ditka, Ditka: An Autobiography: 53.
115 Ditka worked out endlessly . . . : ibid; Ditka, author interview.
115 “Tough with my mom” . . . : Ditka, Mike, Telander, Rick. The ’85 Bears: We Were The Greatest. Chicago: Triumph Books, 2015.
115 “I would’ve stopped it more if I could” . . . : Ditka, Charlotte, author interview, November 5, 2010.
116 “It was all him” . . . : Ditka, Mike, author interview.
116 Weighed 160 pounds . . . : Ditka, Mike, Ditka: An Autobiography: 53.
116 The star receiver . . . : ibid, 52.
117 “They haven’t the desire” . . . : “Quip Cleaters Set for Opener”, Beaver Valley Times, September 14, 1955, page 12.
117 Aliquippa tore Westinghouse apart . . . : Aliquippa Quips 1910–2010.
117 Then beat McKeesport in the rain . . . : “Aliquippa Eliminates McKeesport in AA, 18-12”, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 24, 1955, page 15.
117 32–6 over Ellwood City . . . : Aliquippa Quips 1910–2010.
117 23-6 over unbeaten Rochester . . . : “Aliquippa Ousts Rochester Gridders, 23-6”, Beaver Valley Times, October 8, 1955, page 6.
117 Easy wins . . . : Aliquippa Quips 1910-2010.
117 Ambridge came to Aliquippa Stadium . . . : “Quips Bump Bridgers In Thriller, 26 to 12”, Fausti, Wally, Beaver Valley Times, November 12, 1955, page 6.
117 A three-inch snowfall . . . : “Aliquippa-Mt. Lebanon Game Postponed”, Beaver Valley Times, November 19, 1955, page 7.
117 Aliquippa was named 13½-point favorites . . . : “Quips Favored over Mounties”, Beaver Valley Times, November 25, 1955, page 8.
117 But Jimmy D’Antonio grabbed that prize . . . : “Wild Finish Beats Mounties and Gives Aliquippa High its Second Class AA Grid Crown”, Mitchell, Jack, Beaver Valley Times, November 28, 1955, page 4.
117 “Why didn’t you score?” . . . : Ditka, Mike, author interview.
118 “This is the time for the ‘Crossfire’ pass” . . . : “Milanovich Calls Touchdown Play”, Beaver Valley Times, November 28, 1955, page 4.
118 “I don’t think I have a fonder memory of high school” . . . : Ditka, Mike, author interview.
118 Students from next door . . . : “Aliquippa Cheers Gridders”, Beaver Valley Times, November 28, 1955, page 1.
118 “Even with the victory celebration” . . . : ibid.
119 Sacrifices like Johnny Reft . . . : “Obituaries”, Beaver Valley Times, January 25, 1949, pg. 14
119 37,000 more . . . : “The Ghosts of No Gun Ri”, Chicago Tribune, October 3, 1999.
120 With J&L its fourth-largest producer . . . : “CIO, Steel Only Six Cents Apart”, United Press, Madera Tribune, Madera, Calif., May 15, 1953.
120 Employed 650,000 . . . : American Iron and Steel Institute. Annual Statistical Report. New York, 1954: 24.
120 J&L was spending $676 million . . . : Beaver County Times, July 23, 1959; Hogan, William. Economic History of the Iron and Steel Industry in the United States. Lexington, Mass.: D.C. Heath and Company, 1972: 1,749.
120 By the end of the ’50s . . . : “Rise and Fall—The Death of a Steel Union”, Bauder, Bob, Beaver County Times, December 21, 2003; Inman, Wollman, 171.
120 Aliquippa’s population . . . : “Census of 1950”, U.S. Census Bureau.
120 “The customs and ideals of a new land” . . . : “Aliquippa”, The History of Beaver County Schools, Volume 1. Adams, Belle, ed. Beaver County Historical Research & Landmarks Foundation, printed by Closson Press, Apollo, Pa., 1982.
120 “Between 1946 and 1950” . . . : “Aliquippa”, The History of Beaver County Schools, Volume 1. Adams, Belle, ed. Beaver County Historical Research & Landmarks Foundation, printed by Closson Press, Apollo, Pa., 1982.
121 “The days when J&L would build swimming pools” . . . : “No ‘Ghost Town’ Likely Here—Aliquippa’s Future Bright Says Jones & Laughlin’s President”, Tilton, Al, drafts in Inman Collection; Inman, Donald R., Wollman, David H. Portraits in Steel: An Illustrated History of Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation. Kent, Ohio: The Kent State University Press, 1999: 128.
121 In January 1946 . . . : “Locals Call Immediate Walkout”, Fisher, C. Edmund, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 19, 1946, page 4, col. 1.
121 “Slave-labor law” . . . : “National Affairs: Barrel No. 2”, Time, June 23, 1947.
122 For steelworkers the end of every three-year contract . . . : Inman, Wollman, 157–159.
122 Its new chairman . . . : Inman, Wollman, 134.
122 “A true friend” . . . : Moreell, Ben, Men and Steel 6, no. 1, November 1952, page 7; Inman, Wollman, 148.
122 “So bad that we must experiment” . . . : Hoerr, John. And The Wolf Finally Came: The Decline of the American Steel Industry. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1988: 287; Inman, Wollman, 148.
123 “J&L made us all middle class” . . . : Piroli, author interview.
123 Pushed by the indefatigable Nick DeSalle . . . : Murphy, Cindy, Murphy, Ed. Images of America: Aliquippa. Charleston, S.C.: Arcadia Publishing, 2013: 106; “Residents, Businesses Band Together to Help Build, Maintain Community Hospitals in Beaver County”, Snedden, Jeffrey, Beaver County Times, May 19, 2015; “Mills Built Pennsylvania Towns, Fostered Families”, Davidson, Tom, Beaver County Times, February 22, 2014.
124 In the late 50s Franklin Avenue . . . : “Aliquippa, J&L Steel, and the National Immigrant Movement: A History Lesson for Beaver County”, The Bridge, page 14.
124 “That drive down there was pretty nice” . . . : Ditka, Mike, author interview.
124–125 A workingman could make enough now to buy a four-bedroom house for $12,500 . . . : Casp, Joe, author interview, October 14, 2011.
125 “You have a job with A&S” . . . : Ditka, Mike, author interview.
125 A high school tour of J&L killed any interest in a job there . . . : Ditka, Mike, Ditka: An Autobiography, 50.
125 “My dad was what they called a scarfer” . . . : Evasovich, author interview.
126 In the summer of ’55 . . . : Marocco, author interview.
127 “Boy, Mom, one of these days I’m going to have four cars” . . . : Ditka, Charlotte, author interview.
127 “Ditka set all the standards” . . . : Yannessa, author interview, October 8, 2010.
128 “A little shit” . . . : Ditka, Mike, author interview.
128 “Did you ever see a lion jump through a hoop of flames?” . . . : “Coach: Ditka’s Talent Showed”, Mule, Marty, New Orleans Times-Picayune, January 21, 1986, page 24.
128 But now he’d grown two inches . . . : Ditka, Ditka: An Autobiography, 53.
128 “I didn’t think he was very good until his senior year” . . . : Evasovich, author interview.
128 But already Ditka . . . : “Iron Mike: From Aliquippa to Chicago, Bears’ Ditka All Business”, Prisuta, Mike, Beaver County Times, January 10, 1986, page C1.
128 In the second game of the ’56 season . . . : Aliquippa Quips 1910–2010.
129 “I didn’t do a good job” . . . : Yannessa, author interview, October 8, 2010 .
129 “Oh, my God” . . . : ibid.
129 Down 20-19 to Sharon . . . : Aliquippa Quips 1910-2010; Yannessa, author interview, October 8, 2010.
129 Ditka was named Most Popular . . . : Prisuta.
129 As a student he got Bs in English . . . : ibid.
129 Two weeks later . . . : Evasovich, author interview; Aliquippa Quips 1910-2010.
130 An embarrassing 55-13 finale . . . : Ditka, Mike, author interview, Aliquippa Quips 1910-2010.
130 “I was okay” . . . : Ditka, author interview.
130 “I was there the day” . . . : Zmijanac, Mike, author interview, September 23, 2010.
131 Ditka’s parents loved Penn State . . . : Ditka, Mike, Ditka: An Autobiography, 58; interview.
131 “Mike Ditka as a fucking dentist?” . . . : Yannessa, author interview, October 8, 2010.
131 “And guess what?” . . . : ibid.
132 After all, in 1944 . . . : Piroli, author interview.
133 Vince Calipari . . . : Calipari, John, author interview, February 9, 2011.
134 Starting in 1950 . . . : Jackson, Kenneth T. Crabgrass Frontier: The Suburbanization of the United States. New York: Oxford University Press, 1985: 4.
134 U.S. suburbs, meanwhile . . . : Miller, D. Quentin. John Updike and the Cold War: Drawing the Iron Curtain. Columbia, Mo., University of Missouri Press, 2001: 43.
134 “Nobody blames them” . . . : Zmijanac, author interview.
134 The whole family went back for big days . . . : “Immigrant Workers Sought New Beginning in Area’s Burgeoning Steel Industry”, Cubbal, Kayleen, Beaver County Times, February 25, 2015.
134 “In later years, you went to Villa’s” . . . : Zernich, Steve, Dr. Dr. Steve. Pittsburgh: self-published, 1992: 28.
134 “Those were the wild days” . . . : Letteri, Joe, author interview, May 11, 2012.
134–135 “Only five, six years of schooling” . . . : ibid.
135 “It wasn’t a perfect eden” . . . : Letteri, Gilda, author interview, May 11, 2012.
135 America accounted for 64 percent of the planet’s steel production . . . : “World’s Steel Output Drops 8 Million Tons”, United Press International, Pittsburgh Press, January 2, 1947, page 24. From American Iron and Steel Institute, Raw Steel Production Annual (Net Tons), 1860-2011.
135 By 1950 . . . : “Fortunes of the Steel Industry”, CQ Researcher, December 27, 1962.
135 “Malaise” . . . : Geneen, Harold, with Moscow, Alvin. Managing. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday and Company, 1984: 72.
136 “The handwriting was on the wall” . . . : ibid.
136 “To the other extreme” . . . : Radatovich, Paul, author interview, March 29, 2012.
137 “The biggest concern for unions in those days” . . . : Piroli, author interview.
137 “And I wanted to do more work” . . . : Evasovich, author interview.
138 “The union had very much power” . . . : Vukmir, Rade B. The Mill. Lanham, Md.: University Press of America, Inc., 2011: 357.
138 And in 1959 set new records . . . : “J&L, Crucible Steel Set Income Records”, Beaver Valley Times, July 23, 1959, page 1.
138 “You know what?” . . . : Yannessa, author interview.
138 At 11:25 p.m. . . . : “Big Mills Close Quietly: Pickets March In County”, Beaver Valley Times, July 15, 1959, page 1.
139 “I didn’t have a problem with it” . . . : Letteri, Joe, author interview.
139 Aliquippa’s local was flush enough . . . : “Strike Losses Keep Climbing Despite Reopening of Mills”, Beaver Valley Times, November 9, 1959, page 1.
139 A November 7 decision . . . : “County Steel Mills Reopen”, Beaver County Times, November 9, 1959, page 1.
139 Came within two points . . . : Aliquippa Quips 1910–2010.
140 “Best we’ve ever gotten” . . . : “Steel Firms Sign Up”, Beaver Valley Times, January 11, 1960, page 1.
140 U.S. steelworkers averaging $3.10 an hour . . . : Survey of Current Business, U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Business Economics, December 1959.
140 In 1959, for the first time . . . : “International Competition in the American Steel Market”, Revis, Joseph S., Hardy, Rudolph W., Business Horizons, Volume 3, Issue 4, Winter 1960, pages 30–37.
141 “If you aren’t from here, you can’t understand” . . . : Zmijanac, author interview.
142 “The single greatest thing that ever happened to me” . . . : ibid.
142 “School’s down there” . . . : ibid.
144 “Mike was one of the best sandlot shooters I ever saw” . . . : Pipkin, Robert, author interview, February 9, 2013.
144 “Look at you” . . . : Zmijanac, author interview, March 26, 2012.
144 “I remember punching him right in the mouth” . . . : Pipkin, author interview.
145 “We don’t stab you in the back here” . . . : Zmijanac, author interview, March 26, 2012.
145 “My current wife” . . . : ibid.
145 “That piece of shit!” . . . : ibid.
146 “Yeah”, she said. “For them” . . . : Browder, Carolyn, author interview, February 4, 2013.
146 “It was terrible” . . . : Vukmir, 406.
147 In 1946 the school board . . . : “Aliquippa”, The History of Beaver County Schools, Volume 1. Adams, Belle, ed. Beaver County Historical Research & Landmarks Foundation, printed by Closson Press, Apollo, Pa., 1982.
147 The town’s small—4,175; 15.9 percent—black population . . . : United States Census Bureau, 1950 Census of Population and Housing: Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., 1950.
147 “So my mother would beat me” . . . : Steals, Melvin, author interview, February 1, 2013.
148 “You could see the economics of racism as well” . . . : Harvey, Barron, author interview, February 14, 2013.
148 “It was brewing” . . . : Smith, Eugene “Salt”, author interview, November 28, 2011.
148 Black steelworker Matthew Strong . . . : “Worker: Aliquippa Mill in 1950s was Segregated”, Cubbal, Kayleen, Beaver County Times, August 31, 2014.
149 “It wouldn’t be all the whites and blacks” . . . : Yannessa, author interview.
149 Now the percentage of blacks in Aliquippa had risen to 21 percent . . . : 1960 Census of Population and Housing: Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., 1960.
149 Aliquippa’s population held steady . . . : ibid; U.S. Census Bureau, “Census of 1960.”
149 On July 4th weekend, 1960 . . . : Mancini, Henry, with Lees, Gene. Did They Mention the Music? Chicago: Contemporary Books, Inc., 1989: 221–222; “Mancini Worried About His Ride”, Legge, Norma, Beaver County Times, July 5, 1960, pages 1 and 4.
150 “I just can’t believe it” . . . : “Mancini Worried About His Ride”, Legge, Norma, Beaver County Times, July 5, 1960, page 4.
150 “Everybody wanted to play for Carl Aschman” . . . : Pipkin, author interview.
150 “Aschman had had disastrous seasons” . . . : Aliquippa Quips 1910–2010.
151 “We always had other people to fight with after the game” . . . : Harvey, author interview.
151 A clutch of Aliquippa teenagers . . . : “Fights Break Out After Grid Game”, Beaver County Times, September 8, 1962, page 1.
151 After the next game at Aliquippa Stadium . . . : “Quips Switch 3 More Games”, Beaver County Times, September 26, 1962, page 19.
151 “A rowdy minority group” . . . : “Aliquippa Abolishes Night Grid Games”, Kramer, Brute, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 26, 1962, page 27.
151 The Quips’ first win . . . : “Passes Conquer Ellwood, 13-7”, Rose, Ed, Beaver County Times, October 1, 1962, page 15.
151 “I talked to all the black football players” . . . : Pipkin, author interview.
152 “Some of us went to the coach” . . . : Yannessa, Gene, author interview, February 17, 2013.
152 For weeks, the national news . . . : “Meredith Registers at Bayonet Point”, Kuettner, Al, United Press International, Beaver County Times, October 1, 1962, page 1.
153 “On both sides, man” . . . : Mann, Richard, author interview, February 25, 2013.
153 “She really gave me hope” . . . : Pipkin, author interview.
153 “Kindergarten up through twelfth grade” . . . : Steals, author interview.
153 “Three years I went up there” . . . : Battalini, Anthony, author interview, October 12, 2011.
154 “He was a good man” . . . : Pipkin, author interview.
154 “But you were fearful of saying anything to him” . . . : Yannessa, Gene, author interview.
155 Though the Quips suffered humiliating losses . . . : Aliquippa Quips 1910–2010.
155 “He wasn’t going to budge” . . . : Aschman, Carl, Jr., author interview.
155 Just days after the walkout . . . : “Fighting Quips Stop New Castle, 19 to 19”, Schley, Tom, Beaver County Times, October 8, 1962, page 15.
155 Aschman eventually finished with 189 wins in all . . . : Beaver County Hall of Fame, “Carl Aschman”, http://www.bcshof.org/halloffamers/aschman1976.htm.
155 “We really jelled” . . . : Yannessa, Gene, author interview.
155 Surprisingly, news of Pipkin’s walkout . . . : Pipkin, author interview.
156 “He played basketball” . . . : Stokes, Larry, author interview, February 8, 2013.
156 Such ambivalence . . . : Pipkin, author interview.
156 Went on to score 27 points in the loss . . . : “Quips Best, Big John Says”, Mitchell, Jack, Beaver County Times, March 13, 1963, page 1.
156 “He’s great” . . . : ibid.
157 “I was the leading scorer” . . . : Pipkin, author interview.
157 In late ’62 . . . : Inman, Wollman, 289-292.
157 About half the town . . . : “They Came: They Saw the President”, Holovach, Nadine, Beaver County Times, October 13, 1962, page 1.
158 “Recipes and pictures” . . . : ibid.
158 The Beaver County Times’ photo . . . : “Hands and Hellos”, Shunk, Rudy, Beaver County Times, October 13, 1962, page 1.
158 “The crowd loved him” . . . : “Visit Came Off Without a Hitch”, Rose, Ed, Beaver County Times, October 13, 1962, page 3, col. 8.
158 “This country has many responsibilities” . . . : Kennedy, John F., “Remarks at a Rally in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania.,” October 12, 1962. Online by Peters, Gerhard and Woolley, John T. The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=8949.
159 Four Casp brothers . . . : Casp, author interview.
160 “Can you tell me how we can put them back to work” . . . : Kennedy, John F., “Remarks at a Rally in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania.,” October 12, 1962. Online by Peters, Gerhard and Woolley, John T. The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=8949.
160 “No arrests were made” . . . : “Visit Came Off Without a Hitch”, Rose, Ed, Beaver County Times, October 13, 1962, page 3, col. 8.
161 “Who was that man?” . . . : “They Came: They Saw The President”, Holovach, Nadine, Beaver County Times, October 13, 1962, page 3, col. 8.
161 “What a glorious moment” . . . : Piroli, author interview.
162 “Guys from Aliquippa” . . . : Yannessa, Don, author interview.
163 “I’m going to Canada” . . . : Marocco, author interview.
163 “Teams of maybe thirty on one side” . . . : David, George, author interview, January 6, 2012.
164 “Very sarcastic” . . . : Mann, author interview.
164 “He was very humble” . . . : Marocco, author interview.
164 “I look back and whatever respect I had for him diminished” . . . : Yannessa, Gene, author interview.
164 “Took her to a party” . . . : Marocco, author interview.
165 Aliquippa opened the ’63 season . . . : “Aliquippa Team Easily Clobbers Steubenville, 32–0”, Schley, Tom, Beaver County Times, September 7, 1963, page 11.
166 “I got nervous” . . . : Marocco, author interview.
166 Finished 8-1 . . . : Aliquippa Quips 1910–2010.
166 “He didn’t do nothing” . . . : Marocco, author interview.
166 His son noticed too . . . : Aschman, Carl, Jr., author interview.
167 “We girls who kept trying out for cheerleading” . . . : Browder, author interview.
167 “Brown-Bag Brigade” . . . : “Residents Relate Their Struggle to Overcome Racial Prejudice”, Bauder, Bob, Beaver County Times, November 8, 2002.
168 “It was not until 1966” . . . : Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, Investigatory Hearing Report, Aliquippa, May 24–26, 1971.
168 Blacks at the Aliquippa Works . . . : ibid, page 31; Dickerson, 241.
168 “Reflect a rejection” . . . : Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, Investigatory Hearing Report, Aliquippa, May 24–26, 1971.
168 “We have been referred to and treated like objects” . . . : ibid.
169 “It caused the entire community to start looking” . . . : Harvey, author interview.
169 “We had one meeting” . . . : Browder, author interview.
170 Richard Mann felt the chill on his neck . . . : Mann, author interview.
171 “If I didn’t play the rest of the year” . . . : ibid.
171 He once took a box of M&M’s candies as payment for surgery . . . : “Dr. Michael Zernich; Aug. 5, 1931–June 1, 2011; Orthopedic Surgeon Once Basketball Star for Aliquippa, Pitt”, Butterfield, Sam, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 4, 2011, page A11.
172 “How’s it feel?” . . . : Mann, author interview.
172 Mann came back . . . : “Aliquippa Stuns Farrell, 16 to 0”, Schley, Tom, Beaver County Times, September 19, 1964, page 13.
172 The next week, Mann . . . : “Aliquippa Tops Ellwood, 13 to 7, On Touchdown in Closing Seconds”, Schley, Tom, Beaver County Times, October 3, 1964, page 11.
172 The next week against New Castle . . . : “Strong Defensive Play Keeps Quips in WPIAL Race”, Schley, Tom, Beaver County Times, October 10, 1964, page 11.
172 “Eventually, I just learned to deal with the pain” . . . : Mann, author interview.
172 On October 23 . . . : “Aliquippa Ousts Butler High, 41 to 21”, Schley, Tom, Beaver County Times, October 24, 1964, page 13.
173 Two weeks later . . . : “Tight Aliquippa Defense Stymies Sharon, 7 to 0”, Schley, Tom, Beaver County Times, September 26, 1964, page 13.
173 But on November 7 . . . : “Hopewell Upsets Aliquippa, 6 to 0”, Schley, Tom, Beaver County Times, November 9, 1964, page 17.
173 “We had nothing to lose” . . . : Medich, George, author interview, May 2, 2013.
173 “I thought we held him out of there, man” . . . : Mann, Richard, author interview.
174 “Doc” Medich . . . : Baseball Reference, “Doc Medich”, http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/medicdo01.shtml.
174 Twice went into the stands . . . : “Pittsburgh Pitcher ‘Doc’ Medich Battles to Save a Cardiac Victim’s Life”, People, vol. 5, no. 17, May 3, 1976; “How I Spent My Summer Vacation”, Wulf, Steve, Sports Illustrated, June 29, 1981.
174 Ended up going into practice . . . : Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame, “George ‘Doc’ Medich”, http://www.bcshof.org/halloffamers/medich1987.htm.
174 Eventually, an addiction to painkillers . . . : “Medich in Drug Program”, United Press International, New York Times, November 17, 1983.
174 “It was a big deal” . . . : Medich, author interview.
174 “In the annals of Beaver County football” . . . : “Hopewell’s Vikings Pull Greatest Upset”, Beaver County Times, November 9, 1964, page 1.
174 The following week the team zigged again . . . : “Quips to Play For ‘AA’ Title”, Thompson, Don, Beaver County Times, November 14, 1964, page 1.
174 Aliquippa, with a league-high 146 points . . . : “Quips Battle Wildcats Saturday”, Beaver County Times, November 17, 1964, page 15.
175 Supreme distillation . . . : “Quips Stymie Wildcats For AA Title”, Schley, Tom, Beaver County Times, November 23, 1964, page 21.
176 “Let ’em look that up in the records” . . . : “The Defense Did it For New AA Champs”, Thompson, Don, Beaver County Times, November 23, 1964, page 1.
176 “Rocking-chair coach” . . . : ibid, page 4, col. 7.
176 “To this day, it sticks up” . . . : Mann, author interview.
176 Went on to coach receivers . . . : “Coach Richard Mann Returns to Pittsburgh”, United Press International, February 14, 2013, http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2013/02/14/Coach-Richard-Mann-returns-to-Pittsburgh/42551360872528/; Mann, interview.
177 “You grow up in Aliquippa” . . . : Mann, author interview.
178 “I am forced to take this action” . . . : “Fuderich Tapped for Quip Post”, Patton, O.K., Beaver County Times, July 21, 1965, page 4, col. 3.
178 Two days later . . . : “Aschman Resignation Marks End of An Era”, Beaver County Times, July 20, 1965, page A6.
PART THREE
187 Thirteen weeks of vacation . . . : Inman, Donald R., Wollman, David H. Portraits in Steel: An Illustrated History of Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation. Kent, Ohio: The Kent State University Press, 1999: 172.
188 “The above-average man” . . . : “The Emptiness of Too Much Leisure”, Haveman, Ernest, Life Magazine, February 14, 1964, page 76.
188 Joe Letteri built his dream house . . . : Letteri, Joe, author interview, May 11, 2012.
189 “The house I grew up in” . . . : Medich, George, author interview, February 2, 2013.
189 “It was time” . . . : Letteri, Joe, author interview.
190 “I know these people didn’t like it” . . . : Letteri, Gilda, author interview, May 11, 2012.
190 When Joey later saw fraudulence . . . : ibid.
191 “They’re going to give the job to Pete Fuderich” . . . : Marocco, Frank, author interview, January 4, 2012.
191 When he resigned . . . : “Fuderich Tapped for Quip Post”, Patton, O.K., Beaver County Times, July 21, 1965, page 4, col. 3.
191 Fuderich was given a one-year deal . . . : ibid, page 1.
191 He went 1-8 . . . : Aliquippa Quips 1910–2010.
191 He went 2-7 . . . : ibid.
191 “It was a closed shop” . . . : Yannessa, Don, author interview, March 29, 2012.
192 “You still want to coach football?” . . . : ibid.
192 The board cycled through three more hapless coaches . . . : Aliquippa Quips 1910-2010.
192 Aliquippa’s population shrank . . . : 1970 Census of Population: Characteristics of the Population, Volume 1, Part 40, United States Bureau of the Census, 1970.
193 “It was the funniest thing” . . . : Yannessa, author interview.
194 In November of 1964, Pete was named deputy warden there . . . : “Suder Named New Deputy Warden”, Beaver County Times, November 5, 1964, pg. 4.
194 When some hotshot home for the summer would show up at the Morrell Park game . . . : Zmijanac, Mike, author interview, September 23, 2010.
194 “One of the greatest athletes I’ve ever seen” . . . : Ibid.
194 “I’d go along with that” . . . : Suder, George “Juke”, author interview, June 6, 2012.
194 “He’ll keep the name of Suder” . . . : “Aliquippa Still Cheers Suders: Pete Jr., George Hold Spotlight”, Kramer, Brute, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 29, 1961, page 26.
195 “George Suder Is Star at Maryland” . . . : “George Suder Is Star at Maryland”, Beaver County Times, January 7, 1964, page 13.
195 Georgie led Maryland . . . : 2012–13 Maryland Men’s Basketball Record Book, University of Maryland, College Park, Md., 2013, pages 2, 24.
195 “Was going to start” . . . : Zmijanac, author interview.
195 “Either that” . . . : ibid.
195 Kennedy’s escalation . . . : “Papers Reveal JFK Efforts on Vietnam”, Bender, Bryan, Boston Globe, June 6, 2005.
195 By the end of 1965 . . . : “What Led the US to the Vietnam War?”, Reid, Robert H., Stars and Stripes, November 10, 2015.
196 In May 1965 . . . : “County Navy Pilot Killed”, Beaver Valley Times, May 27, 1965, page 1.
196 Fourteen Aliquippans . . . : Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, “The Wall of Faces”, http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/search/results/HOME_RECRD/ALIQUIPPA.
196 “Had it all” . . . : Smith, Eugene, author interview, November 28, 2011.
196 Drafted into the Army . . . : “Edward Surratt: A Man No One Really Knew”, Beaver County Times, February 25, 2007, page 6.
196 “You have to get out of there” . . . : Zmijanac, author interview.
197 One summer night . . . : ibid.
197 Went on to lead the league . . . : Basketball Reference, http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/ABA_1968.html.
197 “I got you a tryout with the Pipers” . . . : Zmijanac, author interview.
198 “It was like Gunsmoke” . . . : Smith, author interview.
198 On the first working day . . . : “‘Valley Terrace’ Office to Open”, Beaver County Times, December 30, 1967, page A1.
198 Within a month . . . : “230 Families in Terrace Affected”, Beaver County Times, February 8, 1968, page 1.
199 “We couldn’t buy a house anywhere” . . . : Steals, Melvin, author interview, February 1, 2013.
199 “At that time, if you were black” . . . : Smith, author interview.
199 As an open practice . . . : Jackson, Kenneth T. Crabgrass Frontier: The Suburbanization of the United States. New York: Oxford University Press, 1985: 197-218.
199 “Because now all the blacks got this money” . . . : Smith, author interview.
200 “A corrosive and inequitable learning environment” . . . : “Not at Fault, Aliquippa Teacher Says”, Beaver County Times, May 5, 1970, page A6.
200 “It was the 1960s” . . . : Steals, author interview.
201 “I wasn’t involved in anything” . . . : Suder, George “Juke”, author interview.
202 “You sat in a bar with Mike” . . . : Piroli, Gino, author interview, January 4, 2012.
203 “My fellow Americans, we live in an age of anarchy” . . . : Nixon, Richard M., “Address to the Nation on the Situation in Southeast Asia”, April 30, 1970, American Presidency Project, University of California at Santa Barbara, compiled by Peters, Gerhard, Wooley, John T., http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=2490.
204 Stark reversal of a pledge . . . : Nixon, Richard M., “Address to the Nation on Progress Toward Peace in Vietnam”, April 20, 1970, American Presidency Project, University of California at Santa Barbara, compiled by Peters, Gerhard, Wooley, John T., http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=2476.
204 One June 1970 poll . . . : “Nixon’s Support Grows After Cambodian Move”, Lawrence, David, Spokane Daily Chronicle, June 10, 1970, page 4.
205 Some 100,000 protesters . . . : “Nixon Up Early, Sees Protesters”, United Press International, Beaver County Times, May 9, 1970, page 1.
205 “This can’t be the United States of America” . . . : Nixon: A Presidency Revealed, directed by Angio, Joe, History Channel, February 15, 2007.
205 On May 8, construction workers in New York City . . . : “War Foes Here Attacked By Construction Workers; City Hall Is Stormed”, Bigart, Homer, New York Times, May 9, 1970.
205 Just before dawn on May 9 . . . : “I Am Not A Kook: Richard Nixon’s Bizarre Visit to the Lincoln Memorial”, McNichol, Tom, The Atlantic, November 14, 2011.
205 “Look at the situation” . . . : “What the Nation Learned at Kent State in 1970”, Nolan, Martin F., Boston Globe, May 2, 2000.
206 Of the 174 Aliquippa junior and senior high school students suspended . . . : Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, Investigatory Hearing Report, Aliquippa, May 24–26, 1971.
206 “I remember you getting around a group of ’em” . . . : Walker, Chuckie, author interview, October 13, 2011.
206 “We used to have meetings” . . . : Steals, author interview.
207 “Obviously the students attending this showing” . . . : “Not at Fault, Aliquippa Teacher Says”, Beaver County Times, May 5, 1970, page A6.
207 “We went to the show” . . . : Casterlow Walker, Sharon, author interview, October 13, 2011.
208 “The white parents began to take their kids out of the school” . . . : Steals, author interview.
208 “Utter chaos at the junior high” . . . : “Reel Life to Real Life”, Beaver County Times, May 2, 1970, page 3, col. 6.
208 “It happened in this hallway” . . . : Zmijanac, author interview.
208 “We got to get out of here” . . . : Peake, Fred, author interview, May 7, 2013.
209 A group of forty high school “youths” . . . : “Situation Calms, Suspect Is Held”, Beaver County Times, May 2, 1970, page 1.
209 “It started as a sit-down situation” . . . : Walker, author interview.
209 More than 270 students . . . : “Officials Hopeful of Solution”, Beaver County Times, May 7, 1970.
209 “Then it went from the lunchroom” . . . : Walker, author interview.
209 “The kids finally exploded” . . . : “Racial Tension Closes Schools”, Beaver County Times, May 6, 1970, page 4, col. 3.
210 Blacks accounted for 42 percent . . . : Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, Investigatory Hearing Report, Aliquippa, May 24–26, 1971.
210 Sherriff’s deputies . . . : “School Calm Upset Again”, Beaver County Times, May 14, 1970, page 1.
210 “They tried to keep the school going” . . . : Zmijanac, author interview.
211 “It was tough” . . . : Legge, Carl, author interview, November 8, 2011.
211 “White student threw an apple” . . . : Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, Investigatory Hearing Report, Aliquippa, May 24–26, 1971.
212 “He was a bigger-than-life figure” . . . : Yannessa, author interview.
212 “It was one of those days” . . . : Peake, author interview.
212 The Quips won just six games . . . : Aliquippa Quips 1910–2010.
212 Everybody beat up on Aliquippa . . . : ibid.
213 That “paper heart” . . . : Aschman, Carl Jr., author interview, February 28, 2012.
213 “He was the first one down the steps” . . . : ibid.
213 “I happened to be white” . . . : Aschman, Harald, author interview, May 8, 2013.
214 “I took off like a rabbit” . . . : Dorsett, Tony, author interview, September 24, 2010.
215 “Make sure you’re at the game” . . . : Dorsett, author interview, September 24, 2010.
215 Late in his career . . . : “Gaston Green Makes Debut as a Ram Tonight: He Will Be on Same Field as His Longtime Hero, New Bronco Tony Dorsett”, Dufresne, Chris, Los Angeles Times, August 3, 1988.
215 “He used to take their money” . . . : McBride, Sherman, author interview, November 20, 2011.
215 “Talk about speed?” . . . : Dorsett, author interview.
215 After Melvin died . . . : Dorsett, Tony, Frommer, Harvey. Running Tough: Memoirs of a Football Maverick. New York: Doubleday, 1989: 9.
216 “People always say they see visions” . . . : Dorsett, author interview.
216 Hopewell Senior High beat their counterparts . . . : Aliquippa Quips 1910–2010.
216 The boundary between Aliquippa and Hopewell . . . : “Another Kind of Golf Scramble”, Piroli, Gino, Beaver County Times, October 8, 2001, page 20.
216 “Whiteyland” . . . : Dorsett, author interview.
216 Mount Vernon had been one of the first places to feel the effect of school busing . . . : Dorsett, Frommer, 8.
217 His father worked the open hearth at J&L . . . : Millman, Chad, Coyne, Shawn. The Ones Who Hit The Hardest: The Steelers, The Cowboys, The ’70s, And The Fight For America’s Soul. New York: Gotham Books, 2010: 171. Dorsett, author interview.
217 His older brothers were part of a local gang . . . : Dorsett, author interview.
217 And when it came to playing Midget League football . . . : “You Need a T.D. in South Bend”, Underwood, John, Sports Illustrated, September 20, 1976.
217 He and his best friend, Mike Kimbrough, played instead for the Aliquippa Little Steelers . . . : Dorsett, Frommer, 8; “King of the Hill: Tony Dorsett Talks of Where He’s Been, Where He’s Going”, Churovia, Bob, Beaver County Times, September 17, 1976, page 7.
217 Even so, his mother, Myrtle . . . : Dorsett, author interview.
217 “You didn’t want to go to Aliquippa” . . . : Zmijanac, author interview.
217 “I almost attempted to do the same thing” . . . : Peake, author interview.
217 “I never would’ve let him play for Hopewell” . . . : Yannessa, author interview.
218 Juke Suder was pouring drinks . . . : Suder, George “Juke”, author interview.
218 “Had invaded the area and started a fight” . . . : “Racial Unrest Turns Violent”, Evushak, Ron, Beaver County Times, May 22, 1970, page 1.
218 “How else”, he asked . . . : ibid.
218 “They were going to clean out the white people” . . . : Ditka, Charlotte, author interview, November 5, 2010.
218 “They were going to burn his bar down” . . . : Battalini, Anthony, author interview, October 12, 2011.
219 A swelling group of Linmar residents . . . : “Racial Unrest Turns Violent”, Evushak, Ron, Beaver County Times, May 22, 1970, page 4, col. 2.
219 The following day . . . : “School, NAACP Meeting on Tense Racial Issue”, Beaver County Times, May 25, 1970, page 1.
220 “The only time you were allowed up in the school” . . . : McBride, Sherman, author interview, September 25, 2010.
220 “Both white and black citizens” . . . : Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, Investigatory Hearing Report and Recommendations: Aliquippa, Aliquippa, May 24-26, 1971.
220 “All these neighbors were getting real radical” . . . : Aschman, Harald, author interview.
220 Vigilante whites . . . : Battalini, author interview.
220 “Because our houses were so close together” . . . : ibid.
221 “Hand grenades and shotguns” . . . : Stokes, Larry, author interview, February 8, 2013.
221 “12-gauge shotgun” . . . : “Law Slams Lid on Tense Town”, Evushak, Ron, Beaver County Times, May 22, 1970, page 26.
221 “I was preparing myself to kill somebody” . . . : Stokes, author interview.
221 “They always wanted me hanging around the ER” . . . : Medich, George, author interview, May 2, 2013.
221 “Everybody was a nervous wreck” . . . : Betters, Mark, author interview, November 19, 2011.
222 “Pistol” . . . : Betters, C.J., “Chuck”, author interview, November 19, 2011.
222 On June 11 . . . : “Aliquippa School Bells Ignored”, Beaver County Times, June 12, 1970, page 1.
222 “The worst time” . . . : Suder, George “Juke”, author interview.
223 One Plan 7 house . . . : “Quiet Night Marred by Minor Incidents”, Beaver County Times, June 13, 1970, page 1.
223 Just three months later . . . : “Beaver County Mall”, Beaver County Chamber of Commerce, Beaver County Times, December 1, 2005, page 47 (page 3 of advertising section).
223 “It calmed down” . . . : Steals, author interview.
224 When Mann came home . . . : Mann, Richard, author interview, February 25, 2013.
224 When students returned . . . : “Aliquippa Enrollment Off, Following Recent Patterns”, Beaver County Times, September 2, 1970, page 1.
225 “My first day on the job” . . . : Mann, author interview.
225 “Eventually they ended up getting there” . . . : Peake, author interview.
225 Only twenty-nine boys . . . : “Aliquippa Stuns Central, 14–12: Quips Win After 15 Straight Losses”, Evushak, Ron, Beaver County Times, September 14, 1970, page B4.
225 And by late October . . . : Yannessa, author interview.
225 “He goes 2-7-1” . . . : Yannessa, ibid.
225 The just-reported 1970 census results . . . : 1970 Census of Population, United States Census Bureau, Washington, D.C., 1970.
225 On September 25 . . . : “Ernie Pitts Shot Fatally”, Beaver County Times, September 26, 1970, page 1.
225 “We were real close” . . . : Frank, Willie, author interview, October 31, 2011.
226 “It was heartbreaking” . . . : Yanessa, author interview.
226 In the summer of 1972 . . . : Steals, Mervin, author interview, May 6, 2013.
229 “A lot of my friends used to fly around the country” . . . : ibid.
230 “A small riot” . . . : Dorsett, author interview.
230 “I could always see it coming down” . . . : ibid.
231 Dorsett played his first Hopewell season . . . : Dorsett, Frommer, 10.
231 His senior year, the Quips’ only consolation . . . : “Strength, Ball Control Produce Viking Win: A Typical Quip-Hopewell Game”, Rose, Ed, Jr., Beaver County Times, October 16, 1972, page C3.
231 “I put a defense on him” . . . : Yannessa, author interview.
232 “Come in this place” . . . : Dorsett, author interview.
232 “I wanted that money” . . . : ibid.
232 While a freshman at Pitt . . . : Millman, Coyne, 183.
232 “He was the brother that I always wanted to be like” . . . : Dorsett, author interview.
233 First college running back to amass 6,000 . . . : Millman, Coyne, 186.
233 Pitt media official . . . : ibid, 183.
233 He finished his twelve-year pro career . . . : “Tony Dorsett”, Pro Football Hall of Fame, http://www.profootballhof.com/players/tony-dorsett/stats/.
233 “My older brothers” . . . : Dorsett, author interview.
234 When it came time for the annual team banquet . . . : “Sports Bound Aliquippa Wounds”, Cook, Ron, Beaver County Times, February 22, 1981, page A10.
234 And the players were no different . . . : Yannessa, author interview.
235 But on August 24, 1972 . . . : “Aliquippa Grid Star Larry Jones Dies”, Beaver County Times, August 25, 1972, page 1.
235 The Quips went 2-8 that year . . . : Aliquippa Quips 1910-2010.
235 “You win the coin toss” . . . : “Aliquippa Turns Red Hurricanes Blue”, Rose, Ed, Jr., Beaver County Times, October 12, 1974, A8.
235 But he had been telling his team all week . . . : ibid.
236 “We came home” . . . : Yannessa, author interview.
236 In 1968, James Ling . . . : Inman, Wollman, 172–178.
237 “The best in the world” . . . : Central Intelligence Agency, World Steel Market: Continued Trouble Ahead, Washington, D.C., 1977, page 10.
237 Fresh off a 1973 agreement . . . : Inman, Wollman, 186; Hoerr, John P. And The Wolf Finally Came: The Decline of the American Steel Industry. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1988, chapter 12.
237 “Stuff started to happen” . . . : Betters, Mark, author interview.
237 “The Aliquippa plant seemed impregnable” . . . : Hoerr, 479.
238 “That place was his life” . . . : Battalini, author interview.
238 But in Aliquippa, this was masked by plans for another capital expansion . . . : Inman, Wollman, 190.
238 “Let’s face it, men” . . . : ibid, 187–188; JALTeam Almanac 27, no. 4, Winter 1974, page 3.
239 “And they called me to work” . . . : Gilbert, Aileen, author interview, September 22, 2010.
240 The football stadium was renamed . . . : “Disappointed . . . But Not Discouraged”, Emert, Rich, Beaver County Times, September 23, 1972, B3.
241 “You should hear what the whites are saying” . . . : Yannessa, author interview.
241 “It was tremendous” . . . : “Sports Bound Aliquippa Wounds”, Cook, Ron, Beaver County Times, February 22, 1981, page A10.
241 “We used to have so many meetings” . . . : Yannessa, author interview.
242 Before pancreatic cancer killed him . . . : “Sports Bound Aliquippa Wounds”, Cook, Ron, Beaver County Times, February 22, 1981, page A1.
242 “Just a wonderful human being” . . . : Yannessa, author interview.
242 “People rioting” . . . : “Will Aliquippa Get Last Chance?”, Bechtel, Sam, Beaver County Times, February 20, 1976, page B1.
242 The school’s reputation in the region . . . : “Aliquippa Denies Version of Melee”, Beaver County Times, February 11, 1976, page A3.
243 “I’ve got to have the most difficult job” . . . : “Will Aliquippa Get Last Chance?”, Bechtel, Sam, Beaver County Times, February 20, 1976, page B1.
243 In October of 1976, Aliquippa High forfeited . . . : “Quips Found Guilty in PIAA Investigation”, Beaver County Times, October 27, 1976, page D1.
243 Steadily improving . . . : Aliquippa Quips 1910–2010.
243 “Yeah, Don Juan would recruit kids” . . . : Steals, author interview.
243 The Beaver County Times had one version . . . : “Classes Back in Session at Aliquippa”, Beaver County Times, March 1, 1977, page A3.
243 “I was there” . . . : Short, Dan, author interview, October 13, 2011.
244 “The next thing you know” . . . : Wytiaz, Dave, author interview, November 11, 2011.
245 “Every day we’d come to work” . . . : Yannessa, author interview.
245 The projects of Valley Terrace . . . : “Project Problems Many, Obvious”, Walker, Joe, Beaver County Times, March 12, 1977, page A1.
245 “We had some selfish sons of bitches on that team” . . . : Short, author interview.
246 After the Quips suffered a gutting 20-19 loss . . . : “Cougars Dunk Quips, Hamilton”, Beaver County Times, November 5, 1977, page B2.
246 “This is not my team” . . . : Yannessa, author interview.
246 “A lot of us” . . . : Short, author interview.
247 “All you knew” . . . : McBride, author interview.
247 Starting in October 1977 . . . : “Police Comb Woods for Date of Slain Youth”, Beaver County Times, October 24, 1977, page A3.
247 A series of what would amount to eighteen murders . . . : “Serial Killer Admits to 2 Findlay Deaths in 1977”, Harlan, Chico, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, February 27, 2007.
247 “I had a gun shop” . . . : David, George, author interview, January 6, 2012.
247 Yet Aliquippa remained spared . . . : “State Police Hope Faint for Nabbing Slippery Suspect”, Grotevant, Bob, Beaver County Times, June 8, 1978, page 1; “The Crimes and the Capture”, Beaver County Times, February 24, 2007.
248 Three weeks later . . . : “The Crimes and the Capture”, Beaver County Times, February 24, 2007.
248 “Uncle Sam trained him” . . . : Smith, author interview.
248 Stories he told . . . : “Edward Surratt: A Man No One Really Knew”, Beaver County Times, February 25, 2007, page A11.
248 “He was good friends with the family” . . . : Patrick, Timmie, author interview, November 27, 2011.
248 “A very liked gentleman” . . . : Marocco, author interview.
249 “He could’ve cut you up” . . . : Patrick, author interview.
249 “Sometimes people just take a turn” . . . : ibid.
250 “This has got to stop somewhere” . . . : Short, author interview.
250 “No one left that gym” . . . : McBride, author interview.
250 And as the season unrolled . . . : Aliquippa Quips 1910-2010.
251 “Everything became a lot easier” . . . : Yannessa, author interview, October 8, 2010.
251 To “its super-sparkling best” . . . : “Aliquippa Plans Giant Presidential Welcome”, Leherr, Dave, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 23, 1978, page 3.
251 “Anybody who cares about sports” . . . : “Crowd Cheers Carter on Aliquippa Visit”, Grotevant, Bob, Beaver County Times, September 24, 1978, page 1.
252 It didn’t hurt that Aliquippa High had crushed Moon . . . : “Aliquippa Emerging as Title Contender”, Cosgrove, Randy, Beaver County Times, September 24, 1978.
253 “I dropped the ball” . . . : Short, author interview, September 25, 2010.
253 “When we lost that game” . . . : Yannessa, author interview, October 8, 2010.
255 “He was already married” . . . : Baldwin, Delois, author interview, March 3, 2012.
255 “They used to always beat me up” . . . : Baldwin, Jeff, author interview, November 1, 2011.
256 “My daddy was in an accident” . . . : ibid.
257 “Who? No, Henry” . . . : Baldwin, Delois, author interview.
257 “The November 29, 1978, edition of the Beaver County Times . . . : “Aliquippa Woman Held in Husband’s Death”, Beaver County Times, November 29, 1978, page A3.
257 A death certificate . . . : Beaver County Register of Wills, death certificate for Baldwin, Henry, December 4, 1978.
257 Apparent contravention . . . : Pennsylvania Slayer’s Act, http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/LI/consCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&ttl=20&div=0&chpt=88.
258 “Football and basketball are the same thing” . . . : Zmijanac, author interview.
259 “Have you lost your fuckin’ mind?” . . . : Zmijanac, author interview, March 26, 2012.
259 “Mike was a good teacher” . . . : Yannessa, author interview, March 29, 2012.
259 “If I’m not going to move up to varsity” . . . : Zmijanac, author interview.
260 “Punching . . . kicking and stomping” . . . : “What Now? Dome Brawl Leaves McNie Seeing Red”, Vranes, Marc, Beaver County Times, December 31, 1978, page C6.
260 “On the floor” . . . : Zmijanac, author interview.
261 Things’ve gotten bad there . . . : Evasovich, John, author interview, November 6, 2011.
261 “I was in a black neighborhood” . . . : Leighton, Chris, Reverend, author interview, February 17, 2014.
262 “Good news, Ma” . . . : Pollock, Jonha, author interview, July 7, 2013.
262 “I don’t think I hit the ground with my feet” . . . : ibid.
263 “It’s crazy” . . . : ibid.
263 “All five” . . . : Baldwin, Jeff, author interview.
263 The doctor at Aliquippa Hospital . . . : “Ex-Area Grid Star Wounded”, Beaver County Times, June 15, 1981, page A5; Baldwin, Jeff, interview.
263 “You know what actually saved me?” . . . : Baldwin, Jeff, author interview.
263 The class of ’81 had gone 12-1 . . . : Aliquippa Quips 1910-2010.
263 Lost the ’80 WPIAL final . . . : “Last Lesson Painful One for Aliquippa”, Bires, Mike, Beaver County Times, November 23, 1980, page C1.
263 First-team All-State . . . : “All-Staters; Quips’ Baldwin, Shannon on UPI First Team”, United Press International, Beaver County Times, December 11, 1980, page C1.
264 “The problem with Jeff Baldwin” . . . : Yannessa, author interview.
264 “I just lost the desire” . . . : Baldwin, Jeff, author interview.
264 “He put so much in me” . . . : Brown, Jamie, author interview, April 28, 2012.
265 There on page one . . . : “Reagan Firing Controllers; Union Claims Strength”, United Press International, Beaver County Times, August 6, 1981, page A1.
265 And inside . . . : “A Good Omen for the Future at J&L Steel”, Beaver County Times, August 6, 1981, page A6.
266 From 151 million . . . : Hoerr, 606.
266 The loss of 337,552 jobs . . . : ibid.
266 “Ling’s goal in doing this” . . . : Inman, Wollman, 309.
266 “They thought I was crazy” . . . : Suder, George “Juke”, author interview, June 6, 2012.
266 24,000 jobs . . . : Carter, Jimmy, news conference, September 24, 1978, Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, Jimmy Carter, 1978, Book 2: June 30 to December 31, 1978, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1978, page 1,661.
266 “It was a workman’s paradise” . . . : Grandstaff, Gary, author interview, August 26, 2013.
267 “Collapsing assumptions” . . . : Tuchman, Barbara. A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1978: xiii.
267 “We also lost a lot of competition” . . . : Briem, Chris, author interview, October 11, 2010.
268 “People would work for six hours” . . . : Grandstaff, author interview.
269 “The union would defend everybody” . . . : Macroglou, Bill, author interview, August 16, 2013.
269 “We’ve defended some people” . . . : Eritano, Pete, author interview, January 6, 2012.
270 “We feel the impact is going to be minimal” . . . : “J&L to Shut Down Rod and Wire Mill”, Beaver County Times, September 15, 1981, page A1.
270 In March 1982 . . . : “J&L Work Force Slashed”, Wasko, Rick, Mayfield, Dave, Beaver County Times, March 18, 1982, page A1.
270 Grandstaff . . . : Grandstaff, author interview.
270 The White House was calling . . . : “Union Begs Reagan for Help”, Musala, Jane C., Beaver County Times, September 14, 1983, page 28 (page 1 of Moon Township-Coraopolis Area section).
271 Crime in Aliquippa . . . : “Old Steel Town Hopes to Survive Recession”, Robbins, William, New York Times, August 23, 1984.
271 “They’d put in a new round caster” . . . : Malesky, Jerry, author interview, September 24, 2010.
272 On January 3, 1985 . . . : “LTV Idling 500 at Aliquippa Works”, Bickert, Tom, Beaver County Times, January 4, 1985, page A1.
272 “I shut the welded tube down” . . . : Suder, George “Juke”, author interview.
272 On May 17, 1985 . . . : “LTV: Death of a Mill; Workers, Union Officials Bitter”, Bickert, Tom, Beaver County Times, May 18, 1985, page A1.
272 Only 13,374 Aliquippans . . . : Census of 1990, United States Census Bureau, Washington, D.C.
272 “Who cries when I cry” . . . : Walker, author interview.
PART FOUR
279 By 1980 Aliquippa’s population was down to 17,094 . . . : Census of 1980, United States Census Bureau, Washington, D.C.
279 By ’90 . . . : Census of 1990, United States Census Bureau, Washington, D.C.
279 Official capacity, 5,500 . . . : “Top Quip; Yannessa Brings Football to Life in Aliquippa”, White, Mike, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 25, 1985, page 16.
280 “Johnny, you got to get more involved in the program” . . . : Evasovich, John, author interview, November 6, 2011.
280 Three of the four previous WPIAL . . . : Aliquippa Quips 1910-2010.
280 National Public Radio . . . : “NBC Show to Highlight Aliquippa High School”, Xander, Rick, Beaver County Times, October 8, 1985, page C5.
281 “Ain’t you fuckin’ somethin’” . . . : Zmijanac, Mike, author interview, September 23, 2010.
281 In the fall of 1983 . . . : “Yannessa Decides to Retire”, White, Mike, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 31, 2008.
282 “Craig T” . . . : Yannessa, Don, author interview, March 29, 2012.
283 “Just something for coming” . . . : ibid.
283 Yes, its tenth-to-twelfth grade enrollment of 449 students . . . : “WPIAL Realigns Football Classes, Conferences”, Dulac, Gerry, Pittsburgh Press, December 23, 1981, page B-5.
283 The Quips kept losing . . . : Aliquippa Quips 1910–2010.
283 “We’ve got the copper trophy” . . . : “Mt. Pleasant Pulls a Surprise”, White, Mike, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 28, 1983, page 20.
283 660 jobs . . . : “More Employees Furloughed at Aliquippa Works”, Swauger, Bill, Beaver County Times, September 23, 1984, page A1.
283 A 5-foot-5 butterball . . . : “Ex-Quips’ Star Looks to Impress Gladiators”, Neupauer, Nick, Beaver County Times, May 13, 1990, page C1.
284 The ’84 Quips bulled through the regular season . . . : Aliquippa Quips 1910–2010.
284 In the WPIAL AAA title game . . . : “Aliquippa Trades Silver for Gold”, Perrotto, John, Beaver County Times, November 23, 1984, page C1.
284 “Hey”, he screamed . . . : Yannessa, author interview.
284 Still, some five hundred fans . . . : “The Victors: Quips Bring Home the Gold”, Weiss, Steve, Beaver County Times, November 25, 1984, page A1.
284 Two days later, Sunday’s Beaver County Times . . . : ibid.
285 The next September . . . : “Top Quip: Yannessa Brings Football to Life in Aliquippa”, White, Mike, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 25, 1985, page 16.
285 “I want to get the Indian and the horse to parachute out of a helicopter” . . . : ibid.
286 He promised his players . . . : America’s Game: The Super Bowl Champions, “#2. 1985 Chicago Bears”, CBS, February 3, 2007.
286 “Go out and win one for Lefty” . . . : “Ditka: ‘Basic Guy’ Molds Uncommon Team”, Berkow, Ira, New York Times, January 20, 1986.
286 Lost the ’84 NFC title game . . . : Ditka, Mike, with Telander, Rick. In Life, First You Kick Ass: Reflections on the 1985 Bears and Wisdom from Da Coach. Champaign, Ill.: Sports Publishing LLC, 2005: 6-9.
286 Came back the next season . . . : “Ditka Convicted of Drunk Driving”, Los Angeles Times, November 9, 1985.
286 Steel blocking sled . . . : “Ditka Made It with Intensity: ‘Iron Mike’ Image Suits Hall of Famer”, Parascenzo, Marino, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 28, 1988, page 27.
286 Punched out two teammates . . . : “Ditka Huffs and Puffs and Creates a Monster”, Schmitz, Brian, Orlando Sentinel, December 2, 1985.
286 And in his spare time . . . : Ditka, Mike, with Pierson, Don. Ditka: An Autobiography. Chicago: Bonus Books, Inc., 1986: 65.
286 “Get the lead out” . . . : “Ditka: The Mentor of the Midway Has Mellowed Some but Inside, He’s Still Aliquippa Steel”, Downey, Mike, Los Angeles Times, December 30, 1985.
286 Won NFL Rookie of the Year . . . : Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame, “Mike Ditka”, http://www.bcshof.org/halloffamers/ditka1977.htm.
286 “Halas throws nickels around like manhole covers” . . . : “Batting the Breeze with Buttram”, The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, Va., March 15, 1967, page 26.
287 He caught a touchdown pass . . . : “Super Bowl VI: Dallas Finally Lands Big One; Super Defense Dooms Dolphs”, Miller, Norm, New York Daily News, January 17, 1972.
287 “And it killed Ditka” . . . : Brandt, Gil, author interview, November 2010.
287 “Coach Landry had us rooming together” . . . : Reeves, Dan, author interview, November 2010.
287 “You ever do that again” . . . : Ditka, Mike, author interview, November 16, 2010.
287 Shotgun formation . . . : Ditka with Pierson, 148.
287 “His IQ was off the chart” . . . : Reeves, author interview.
287 “Exactly right” . . . : Staubach, Roger, author interview, October 25, 2013.
288 8-win club . . . : Pro Football Reference, “1974 NFL Standings, Team & Offensive Statistics”, http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1974/.
288 First wild-card team . . . : Pro Football Hall of Fame, “History of the Wild Card”, http://www.profootballhof.com/news/history-of-the-wild-card/.
288 That they lost to Ditka’s hometown Steelers . . . : “King Steeler II”, Bechtel, Sam, Beaver County Times, January 19, 1976, page A1.
288 “Ditka’s got a subtleness about him” . . . : Staubach, author interview.
288 “I wish”, Reeves said . . . : Reeves, author interview.
289 In 1987, he fired a wad of green gum . . . : “In California, It’s a Sticky Situation”, Royko, Mike, Chicago Tribune, December 17, 1987.
289 “Mellow Mike” . . . : “Really, It Is Almost Too Much to Bear: Mellow Mike Ditka”, Wojciechowski, Gene, Washington Post, December 4, 1988.
289 “You know, I did calm down for a while” . . . : Ditka, author interview.
290 “What? Are they gonna be able to get Aliquippa High School?” . . . : Footballnation.com interview, January 30, 2014, “NFL Playoff Expansion Is Stupid”, http://legacy.footballnation.com/video/nfl-playoff-expansion-mike-ditka-and-others-hate-i/1376/.
290 In 1986 . . . : “Annual Ditka Benefit Tournament Set for Beaver Lakes”, Bires, Mike, Beaver County Times, June 23, 2002.
290 Well over $200,000 . . . : “The NFL’s Forgotten Players”, Murray, Ken, Baltimore Sun, July 2, 2006.
290 “In excess of $50,000” . . . : Mansueti, James B., City of Aliquippa proclamation, May 7, 2000.
290 “I can account for—out of his pocket” . . . : Evasovich, author interview.
290 One year, Aliquippa High graduated covaledictorians . . . : ibid.
290 “Do I have the greatest respect for him?” . . . : ibid.
291 “That’s why I like it here” . . . : Ditka, Charlotte, author interview, November 5, 2010.
291 “Tough times don’t last” . . . : ibid.
292 “There was nothing here” . . . : Gilbert, Aileen, author interview, September 22, 2010.
292 “She was horrible” . . . : Zmijanac, author interview.
292 Only her mom knew why she was so mad . . . : “Mother’s Love, Delivered Without Hug”, Crouse, Karen, New York Times, September 9, 2007.
292 “I’m going to write a book and tell about it” . . . : Gilbert, Diana, author interview, September 22, 2010.
293 6-foot-5 . . . : “Gilbert Receives Top Honor, Shows Skill as Running Back”, Perrotto, John, Wolverton, Lee, Beaver County Times, December 4, 1988, page C4.
293 Able to sprint 40 yards . . . : “Star Linebacker Feels the Recruiting Blitz”, Caldwell, Dave, Philly Inquirer, January 23, 1989.
293 “I love Sean Gilbert” . . . : Yannessa, author interview.
293 “A Cadillac in a lot full of Volkswagens” . . . : “Pick Play: Recruiting War Leaves Quips’ Gilbert with Battle Fatigue”, White, Mike, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, February 8, 1989, page 13.
293 Recruiters began their siege . . . : Aliquippa Quips 1910–2010.
293 Yannessa declared . . . : “Pick Play: Recruiting War Leaves Quips’ Gilbert with Battle Fatigue”, White, Mike, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, February 8, 1989, page 13.
293 Ditka, after winning his Super Bowl with the ’85 Bears, had even promised to donate $5,000 a year . . . : “Aliquippa Crowns Ditka King for a Day”, Bires, Mike, Beaver County Times, March 9, 1986, page C1.
293 91 solo tackles . . . : “Star Linebacker Feels the Recruiting Blitz”, Caldwell, Dave, Philly Inquirer, January 23, 1989.
293 Picked up a fumble . . . : “Rams and Raiders Make It a Big Day”, Downey, Mike, Los Angeles Times, April 27, 1992.
293 The Quips won their first fourteen games . . . : Aliquippa Quips 1910–2010.
293 Found themselves ranked No. 2 . . . : “Quips Have Company in Best All-Time Debate”, Equels, Jim, Jr., Ellwood City Ledger, December 12, 2012.
293 The paper also named Gilbert . . . : “Quips’ Gilbert Honored for Defense”, White, Mike, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 22, 1988, page 26.
294 The Quips’ arrival for games at predominantly white Montour . . . : “Cross Burning at Montour High Is Branded Racial Intimidation”, Rishell, Grace, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 7, 1986, page 23.
294 Aliquippa’s population . . . : Census of 1980, United States Census Bureau, Washington, D.C., 1980.
294 And its football team’s 70 percent . . . : “Cross Burning at Montour High Is Branded Racial Intimidation”, Rishell, Grace, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 7, 1986, page 23.
294 “Growing up, we watched Pudgy Abercrombie” . . . : Gilbert, Sean, author interview, October 12, 2010.
294 “I’m waiting for Uncle Sean” . . . : Gilbert, Diana, author interview.
295 “I do think it’s special”, Aileen said of Aliquippa . . . : Gilbert, Aileen, author interview.
296 “It just wasn’t as noticeable” . . . : ibid.
296 “It snowballed” . . . : Walker, Donald, author interview, November 10, 2011.
296 “That’s when everybody gave up” . . . : Brown, author interview.
297 “I do think that history leaves its mark on a region” . . . : Leighton, Chris, Reverend, author interview, February 17, 2014.
297 “When that mill went down” . . . : Law, Ty, author interview, August 19, 2013.
298 In 1985, LTV’s tax assessment . . . : “Aliquippa’s Plight Mirrors That of Many Pa. Towns”, Davidson, Tom, Beaver County Times, September 19, 2015.
298 The 1988 budget . . . : “Better Budget: Aliquippa Sees Fiscal Recovery”, Rishell, Grace, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, April 8, 1989, page 4-B.
298 On December 23, 1987 . . . : “Aliquippa Distressed; Can Obtain State Help”, Byko, Jeff, Beaver County Times, December 24, 1987, page A1.
298 “The best Christmas present” . . . : ibid.
298 Weeks later . . . : “Aliquippa Adopts Two-Tiered Taxing Budget”, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, February 16, 1988, page 5-B.
298 February of 1988 . . . : “7 Arrested on Weapons Charges in Aliquippa Gave Fake Names”, Gigler, Rich, Pittsburgh Press, March 2, 1988, page B4.
299 A year later, an estimated 80 percent of crime in the borough . . . : “Officials Assess Status of Local Drug Trade”, Skowron, Sandra, Beaver County Times, October 1, 1989, page A8.
299 “You could see everything from Third Avenue” . . . : Brown, author interview.
300 But he missed four weeks that season . . . : Baldwin, author interview.
301 “Matter of fact, we started out, got hired part-time as Aliquippa police together” . . . : Davis, Andre, author interview, November 7, 2011.
301 Baldwin wasn’t much of a cop . . . : “Informed me that he had a drug-dependency problem” . . . : “Naim Case Headed to Jury: Suspects in Police Killing Decline to Testify; Closing Arguments Next”, Simonovich, Milan, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 7, 2002.
301 Baldwin denied that on the stand . . . : “Taylor, Brown Won’t Testify”, Vidonic, Bill, Beaver County Times, May 7, 2002. P.1.
301 One night in 1986 . . . : Yannessa, author interview.
302 “He got laid off” . . . : McBride, Sherman, author interview, November 20, 2011.
303 “I ate over there” . . . : Short, Daniel, author interview, October 13, 2011.
303 Two weeks later . . . : Short, Daniel, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania criminal complaint against Grover McBride, Jr., August 6, 1988.
303 One month later . . . : Short, Daniel, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania criminal complaint against Grover McBride, Jr., September 6, 1988.
303 “His first offense” . . . : McBride, Sherman, author interview.
303 All-American at Pitt . . . : Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame, “Sean Gilbert”, http://www.bcshof.org/halloffamers/gilbert2009.htm.
304 That 13-0 defeat . . . : “Beast of the East Berwick Knocks Off Best in West”, Perrotto, John, Beaver County Times, December 11, 1988, page C1.
304 USA Today had ranked Florida’s Pine Forest . . . : “Aliquippa Is No. 2 in National Poll”, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 2, 1988, page 20.
304 Even the Berwick coach . . . : “PIAA Dream Game Pits Aliquippa vs. Berwick”, Perrotto, John, Beaver County Times, December 8, 1988, page C1.
304 “Don’t ever mention that one to him” . . . : Gilbert, Diana, author interview.
304 “You can’t walk out here with no bullshit team” . . . : Short, author interview.
305 Little Mike Warfield . . . : Warfield, Mike, author interview, October 12, 2011.
305 “Art, hurry up!” . . . : Patrick, Timmie, author interview, November 27, 2011.
306 “The group of steel workers were arrested by local police” . . . : “History of Aliquippa”, Ireton, Gabriel, City of Aliquippa History Page, http://www.aliquippapa.gov/aliquippa_history.php.
307 “It’s just the way it is” . . . : Yannessa, author interview.
308 But now with that semifinal win . . . : “Yannessa Reaches Milestone by Tying Aschman Win Mark”, Perrotto, John, Beaver County Times, November 20, 1988, page C4.
308 “You have to question the educational priorities at Baldwin High” . . . : “Scorecard”, Sports Illustrated, June 26, 1989.
308 When Yannessa took the job . . . : “‘It’s Time to Move On’: Yannessa Era Ends in Aliquippa”, Wolverton, Lee, Beaver County Times, June 4, 1989, page C1.
308 “This is almost as big as J&L closing” . . . : “Emotions High as Fans, Friends, Discuss Decision”, Bires, Mike, Beaver County Times, June 4, 1989, page C1.
308 “As far as having a good rapport with the blacks” . . . : ibid, page C4.
309 “Had a Sol’s sporting goods downtown” . . . : Walker, Dwan, author interview, September 24, 2010.
310 “The first time I had sex: fourteen” . . . : Baldwin, Tezmalita, author interview, November 10, 2011.
311 Cleats got stuck in the mud . . . : Law, author interview.
311 And new head coach Frank Marocco . . . : “Aliquippa’s Football Team Wins Another WPIAL Title”, Perrotto, John, Beaver County Times, November 26, 1989, page A1.
311 Where Ty lived with his grandfather, Ray . . . : Law, author interview.
314 Named the city’s Teacher of the Year . . . : “Dedication-It Produces Results”, Musala, Jane C., Beaver County Times, May 14, 1984, page A3.
314 “I solved the major mystery” . . . : Steals, Melvin, author interview, February 1, 2013.
314 “By the time the kids had reached tenth grade” . . . : ibid.
315 Ty Law would go on to play big-time college ball . . . : Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame, “Ty Law”, http://www.bcshof.org/halloffamers/law2011.htm.
315 “It’s like you’ve lost everything” . . . : Law, author interview.
316 Law was named a Parade All-American . . . : “Launching Pad: Quip Ty Law Makes Parade All-American”, Starkey, Joe, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 26, 1991, page W-7.
316 First-ever state title . . . : “A Shutout for Aliquippa; Rochester Falls Short”, Beaver County Times, December 15, 1991, page A1.
316 Marocco’s boys avenged an early-season loss . . . : “Looking at Quips Football, 1991: Ty Law & Co. Brought Home Aliquippa’s First State Title”, Barrickman, Bob, Beaver County Times, December 8, 2003, page B9.
316 Rolled over Forest Hills . . . : ibid.
316 “I had to make it on this one” . . . : Law, author interview.
316 Law never had a chance to stretch . . . : “STATE CHAMPS! Aliquippa Becomes King of the Hill in Class AA”, Perrotto, John, Beaver County Times, December 15, 1991, page B1.
317 “Crazy, crazy day” . . . : ibid.
317 “When we went to football games, we were going to wars” . . . : Walker, Donald, author interview.
317 “A ‘Quip’ is the heart of Aliquippa” . . . : Marocco, Frank, author interview, January 4, 2012.
318 “The coach for Hanover, he was very bitter about Aliquippa” . . . : ibid.
318 Having passed for nearly 7,000 yards . . . : Catawba College Athletics, “Athletic Department: Mike Warfield”, http://gocatawbaindians.com/profile.asp?playerID=1636.
318 “Get in” . . . : Short, author interview.
318 “You would hear things” . . . : Warfield, author interview.
319 Another story Short tells himself . . . : Short, author interview.
320 The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette declared Short “Campbell’s father” . . . : “Quips’ Campbell Was Best Among the Best”, Adamski, Chris, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 14, 2005, page W-9.
320 “I don’t know” . . . : Campbell, Della Rae, author interview, February 24, 2014.
321 “And if he wasn’t crying he was fighting” . . . : Short, author interview.
321 “He thought I was going to do something with myself” . . . : Law, author interview.
323 But at 7:03 the night before . . . : “USAirJet Crashes: 131 Aboard Die as Plane Goes Down Near Airport”, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 9, 1994, page 1.
323 “I can’t think of one accident” . . . : Ivory, Karen. Pennsylvania Disasters: True Stories of Tragedy and Survival. Guilford, Conn.: Globe Pequot, 2007: 175.
324 “The most horrible scene I’ve ever seen in my life” . . . : “CRASH OF FLIGHT 427: THE CRASH SITE; ‘A Horrifying Scene of Destruction’ Leaves Emergency Crews Shaken”, Kifner, John, New York Times, September 10, 1994.
324 “We really needed this to take our minds off it” . . . : “‘We’re All Looking for a Diversion’: Despite Tragedy Nearby, the Game Goes on for Hopewell, Aliquippa”, Allmann, Bill, Beaver County Times, September 11, 1994, page B8.
324 “There’s nothing here for them” . . . : “Hard-Pressed Town Didn’t Need Tragedy”, Schaefer, Jim, Detroit Free Press, September 10, 1994, page 8.
324 Aliquippa beat Hopewell that night . . . : “Smashmouth Football: Quips Grind Out Marocco’s 100th Victory”, Allmann, Bill, Beaver County Times, September 11, 1994, page B8.
324 Less than three miles away . . . : “Yannessa Gets Happy Homecoming with a Win In Ambridge”, Equels, Jim, Jr., Beaver County Times, September 11, 1994, page B11.
326 On April 22, 1995 . . . : “Patriots Get Quips’ No. 1 Man: Ty Law Ready to Go to Work for Parcells”, Allmann, Bill, Beaver County Times, April 23, 1995, page B1.
327 “I just made up my mind” . . . : Walker, Chedda, author interview, October 13, 2011.
327 “I thought about it a thousand times” . . . : Walker, Chuckie, author interview, October 13, 2011.
327 Between 1945 and 1978 . . . : Gordon, Colin. Growing Apart: A Political History of American Inequality. Washington, D.C.: Institute for Policy Studies, 2013.
327 By 2002, 72 percent of men over twenty-five with a diploma . . . : “American Manufacturing Is Coming Back. Manufacturing Jobs Aren’t”, Irwin, Neil, Washington Post, November 19, 2012.
327 The family got by for a time . . . : Walker, Chuckie, author interview.
327 Then Rockwell closed up . . . : “Rockwell Closing New Castle Plant; 530 Losing Jobs”, Associated Press, Beaver County Times, October 16, 1991, page A5.
327 And moved the plant to Mexico . . . : “Rockwell to Build Auto Parts Plant in Mexico: Expansion: Seal Beach Firm Cites a Growing Demand in That Country. It Says That No Jobs Will Be Lost at North American Factories.”, Takahashi, Dean, Los Angeles Times, August 25, 1993.
328 Together the two shops . . . : “J&L Deal Collapses; 115 Jobs Lost”, Boselovic, Len, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 9, 2002; “U.S. Steel ‘Buys’ LTV Tin Mill”, The Times of Northwest Indiana, October 6, 2000.
328 Chapter 11 bankruptcy . . . : “120-Year-Old North Side Company Dawar Changes with the Times”, Reeves, Frank, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 4, 2003.
328 New, $112 million U.S. Gypsum plant . . . : “A Steel Town Finds Lost Jobs Tough to Replace”, Ansberry, Claire, Wall Street Journal, May 27, 2004.
328 George W. Bush, then running for president . . . : “Bush Outlines Environmental Cleanup Ideas”, Mook, Jennifer, Beaver County Times, April 4, 2000, page A1.
328 U.S. Steel shuttered the tin mill . . . : “U.S. Steel-LTV Deal Will Shutter Aliquippa Plant”, Lott, Ethan, Pittsburgh Business Times, October 6, 2000.
328 “God blessed me” . . . : Walker, Chuckie, author interview.
328 In 1971 . . . : The Lost Decade of the Middle Class: Fewer, Poorer, Gloomier, Pew Research Center, August 22, 2012.
329 “Where I’m at?” . . . : Walker, Chuckie, author interview.
329 Then, just before 10 p.m. . . . : “Police: Debt Led to Twin Murders”, Ove, Torsten, Beaver County Times, April 14, 1996, page A1.
330 And the outgoing “Hackensack” . . . : “A Teen with Everything, Now Accused of Parents’ Contract Hit: When an Outstate Pa. Couple Were Killed by Two Gunmen, Their Son’s Reaction Was a Shopping Spree”, Stark, Karl, Philadelphia Inquirer, April 21, 1996.
330 “Friends, everybody, tried their best to break me” . . . : Brown, author interview.
330 But the arrests didn’t hold . . . : “Slain Parents’ Son, Two Others Charged”, Bauder, Bob, Beaver County Times, April 16, 1996, page A1.
331 “I think why he told me what he told me is because of that relationship” . . . : Short, author interview.
331 As gruesome as the murder had been . . . : “Murders: A Town in Shock”, Ove, Torsten, Beaver County Times, April 18, 1996, page A1.
331 “The father was like, You can’t be one of them motherfuckers” . . . : Short, author interview.
332 “We forgive you, Brian” . . . : David, George, author interview, January 6, 2012; Short, author interview.
332 “We have been violated” . . . : “A Teen with Everything, Now Accused of Parents’ Contract Hit: When an Outstate Pa. Couple Were Killed by Two Gunmen, Their Son’s Reaction Was a Shopping Spree”, Stark, Karl, Philadelphia Inquirer, April 21, 1996.
332 “I’m sixty-four years old” . . . : ibid.
332 At 7:51 p.m. . . . : “Quips’ Coach: Marocco’s Out, Zmijanac Is In”, Utterback, Bill, Beaver County Times, June 17, 1997, page A1.
332 “It was the most ugly thing in the world” . . . : Marocco, author interview.
333 A week later, on June 27, he had a heart attack . . . : ibid; “Dominic A. Iacobucci”, Beaver Valley Times, June 29, 1997, page A5.
333 “I hate a lot of people for that” . . . : Marocco, author interview.
333 To make the Aliquippa job more attractive . . . : “Hiring, Not Firing, Time for Skepticism”, Beaver County Times, June 19, 1997, page A6.
333 “What’s getting misinterpreted” . . . : “Board, Marocco at Odds over Exit: Ex-Aliquippa Football Coach Calls It a Setup”, White, Mike, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 18, 1997, page C-1.
334 Marocco’s 73-25 record . . . : “Players Irate, Confused by Marocco Ouster: School Board Releases Coach of Aliquippa Football Program”, Fittipaldo, Ray, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 19, 1997, page W-13.
334 “We had a lot of gang activity” . . . : Wytiaz, author interview.
334 On April 2, 1998 . . . : “Woman, 45, Dies Trying to Get Away from Robber”, Ehlers, Matt, April 3, 1998, page A1.
335 “We saw young dudes walking around smoking weed” . . . : Walker, Donald, author interview.
335 In 1990 . . . : “Aliquippa Suspends Four Football Players After Fight”, White, Mike, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 13, 1990, page 19.
335 “One of the most disgusting scenes you ever saw” . . . : Wytiaz, author interview.
336 “He’d gotten fired at Ambridge” . . . : Zmijanac, Mike, author interview, September 23, 2010.
336 “He was one of the few coaches who cared” . . . : Law, author interview.
336 “In my first year on the job” . . . : Steals, Melvin. Put Some Salt in the Water. Baden, Pa.: Interlocking Visions, 2000: 1.
337 “I told him that if man was going to be serving in that position” . . . : Steals, author interview.
337 “Remember, you’re in a suburban inner city right here” . . . : Zmijanac, author interview.
337 “They didn’t like him” . . . : Yannessa, author interview.
337 “From the outset they screwed Frank” . . . : Short, author interview.
337 “I loved that job” . . . : Marocco, author interview.
338 “That’s not my domain” . . . : Zmijanac, author interview.
339 Aliquippa was facing $12 million in bond debts . . . : “Learning a Lesson from Aliquippa Schools”, Simonich, Milan, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 21, 1997, page A-14.
339 “They think they’re better than we are” . . . : LeDonne, Jon, author interview, November 18, 2011.
340 Shutout loss . . . : “Pendulum Swings Toward Jeannette at the Pit”, Utterback, Bill, Beaver County Times, November 2, 1997, page B5.
340 The next two years . . . : Aliquippa Quips 1910-2010.
340 “Well, this is my comeback for that” . . . : Zmijanac, author interview.
341 He brings up his basketball predecessor . . . : “Aliquippa Hires Zmijanac as Boys’ Basketball Coach”, Perrotto, John, Beaver County Times, April 23, 1996, page B1.
341 “Jimmy Deep won here” . . . : Zmijanac, author interview.
342 “And I mean aggressive tag” . . . : Patrick, author interview.
343 “That kid came back maybe a week later” . . . : LeDonne, author interview.
344 “Like watching two pit bulls go at it” . . . : Patrick, author interview.
345 “Words were exchanged” . . . : Brown, author interview. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, criminal complaint against Jeffrey Baldwin, June 28, 1999.
345 “Oh, yeah!” . . . : Baldwin, Jeff, author interview, November 1, 2011.
345 “He was doing what I was selling” . . . : Brown, author interview.
345. Later that fall, Jeff was arrested and faced charges . . . : Court of Common Pleas of Beaver County, Pennsylvania Criminal Division, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vs. Jeffrey Baldwin, Case #1999-2353, December 15, 1999/January 10, 2000.
345 “Yeah, they got the guy” . . . : Baldwin, Jeff, author interview.
346 “It was so emotional” . . . : LeDonne, author interview.
347 The Quips steamrolled the competition . . . : Aliquippa Quips 1910–2010.
347 As a senior Weekley was listed at 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds . . . : “Quips’ Weekley Poised for Title Run”, Equels, Jim, Jr., Beaver County Times, November 30, 2000, page B2.
348 “A number one draft pick” . . . : LeDonne, author interview.
348 “Mo-Mo was unbelievable” . . . : Peluso, Anthony, author interview, November 20, 2011.
348 “I love hitting people” . . . : “High School Athletes of the Week: Monroe Weekley/Aliquippa ~ Tanya McAnally/North Allegheny”, White, Mike, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 2, 2000.
348 After Pitt flushed him . . . : “Oh No, Monroe: Weekley Booted: Pitt’s Harris Dismisses Ex-Quips Star”, Beaver County Times, May 26, 2002, page B3.
348 After the University of Kansas flushed him . . . : “Jones, Weekley Leave KU”, Caywood, Kurt, Topeka Capital-Journal, December 21, 2003.
348 Killed a twenty-four-year-old . . . : “Aliquippa Man Sentenced in Third-Degree Murder”, O’Shea, Patrick, Beaver County Times, October 3, 2012.
348 Avenged themselves on Washington . . . : “Quips Lay It On: Nifty QB Leads Way as Aliquippa Advances to WPIAL AA Final with 43-28 Victory”, White, Mike, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 18, 2000, page 33.
349 Held off Waynesburg . . . : “Quips’ Gaskin Tosses Winning Touchdown in Emergency QB Role”, Utterback, Bill, Beaver County Times, November 26, 2000, page B1.
349 When LeDonne’s basketball Quips . . . : “Quips Falter Again: Poor Shooting Costly in 79-65 Loss to Trinity”, White, Mike, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 25, 2001.
349 But when, three months earlier . . . : “Mount Carmel Tops Aliquippa”, Utterback, Bill, Beaver County Times, December 10, 2000, page B1.
349 A photo of him . . . : Beaver County Times, December 10, 2000, page A1.
349 “Tears were coming down” . . . : LeDonne, author interview.
350 Then, just after 8:14 p.m . . . : “Aliquippa Policeman Shot to Death”, Rosenblatt, Joel, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 16, 2001, page 1.
350 Earlier that afternoon . . . : Pennsylvania State Police Homicide Investigation Action Report, June 20, 2001, interview of Lee, Rayetta Jo, by Radatovich, Sgt. Paul on March 15, 2001.
351 “They told us to be extra careful” . . . : Carter, Sonya, author interview, March 25, 2012.
351 On February 16 . . . : “Suspect issued police ‘hit list’: Patterson, Scott A., Trooper, Homicide Investigation Action Report interview with J.D. Prose, April 1, 2001; “Second Man Arraigned in Police Killing”, Musala, Jane C., Prose, J.D., Vidonic, Bill, Beaver County Times, March 18, 2001, page A1; “Slain Policeman Feared Killing Was Coming”, Prose, J.D., Beaver County Times, March 18, 2001, page A1.
351 Naim also told his mother and brother . . . : Radatovich, Sgt. Paul, Homicide Investigation Action Report interview with Paul Naim, April 11, 2001.
352 William Alston . . . : “Naim’s Killer Faces Life in Prison: Death, Probation Violation Could Bring Up to 60 Years”, Simonich, Milan, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 28, 2002.
352 “I got rid of six policemen” . . . : Battalini, Anthony, author interview, October 12, 2011.
352 “This is one day before he got killed” . . . : David, author interview.
353 Average monthly rent . . . : “Linmar Terrace Quiet in Wake of Killing”, Ferguson-Tinley, M., Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, April 1, 2001.
353 “My theory: Jamie Brown did do the shooting” . . . : David, author interview.
353 The second bullet . . . : External examination by Pathologist James W. Smith, M.D., The Medical Center, Beaver, Pa., March 30, 2001.
353 Naim was sprawled facedown . . . : officer statement by Young, Officer Shawn, Cassidy, Sgt. Daniel G., City of Aliquippa Bureau of Police.
354 At one point . . . : Carter, author interview.
354 “Do you know how many people called 911?” . . . : Radatovich, author interview.
354 The narrative later proved less provocative . . . : “The Kitty Genovese Murder and the Social Psychology of Helping: The Parable of the 38 Witnesses”, Manning, Rachel, Levine, Mark, Collins, Alan, American Psychologist, vol. 62 (6), September 2007, pages 555-562.
354 “We’re knocking at doors” . . . : Radatovich, author interview.
355 A manhunt was under way, too . . . : “Suspect Questioned in Officer’s Slaying”, Vidonic, Bill, Beaver County Times, March 29, 2001, page A1.
355 Once seventeen-year-old Acey Taylor was picked up on April 20 . . . : “Student, 17, Charged in Naim’s Killing”, Vidonic, Bill, Prose, J.D., Beaver County Times, April 22, 2001, page A1.
355 “I thought this town was going to fall apart” . . . : McBride, author interview.
355 On the Saturday after . . . : “Zmijanac Copes with Aliquippa’s Perception, Pain”, Cook, Ron, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 21, 2001.
355 “I’m sure there are people who think all of us are like the lowlifes” . . . : ibid.
356 On the morning of Tuesday, March 20, “Jimmy’s Last Patrol” . . . : “‘Jimmy’s Last Patrol’: Law Enforcers Bade Farewell to Slain Officer”, Prose, J.D., Beaver County Times, March 21, 2001, page A1.
356 “His funeral was beautiful” . . . : Carter, author interview.
356 The first to raise an alarm about Brown’s hit list . . . : Pennsylvania State Police Homicide Investigation Action Report, interview of Carter, Sonya Lynn, by Kokoski, Tpr. Michael L., June 28, 2001, page 410.
356–357 Because Naim wasn’t originally scheduled to work Linmar that Thursday night . . . : Pennsylvania State Police Homicide Investigation Action Report, interview of Carter, Officer Sonya Lynn, Patrolman, by Melder, Raymond J., Cpl., March 19, 2001, page 121; . . . : Pennsylvania State Police Homicide Investigation Action Report, March 29, 2001, polygraph examination of Carter, Sonya Lynn, by Sherwin, Tpr. Thomas H. on March 22, 2001, pages 172-173.
357 Seven days after the killing . . . : Pennsylvania State Police Homicide Investigation Action Report, March 29, 2001, polygraph examination of Carter, Sonya Lynn, by Sherwin, Tpr. Thomas H. on March 22, 2001, pages 172-173.
357 “I tried to do my job” . . . : Carter, author interview.
357 “It was crushing” . . . : Patrick, author interview.
358 “He’s going to be an All-American” . . . : Zmijanac, author interview.
358 “My uncle was older” . . . : Revis, Darrelle, author interview, October 21, 2010.
359 “You don’t know me well” . . . : ibid; Zmijanac, author interview, September 23, 2010.
360 “He’s innocent and it’s political” . . . : Baldwin, Jeff, author interview.
361 Police say they found a crack pipe . . . : Receipt Inventory of Seized Property, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, March 19, 2001.
361 “Aww”, Jeff said, when he recognized Radatovich . . . : Radatovich, author interview.
362 Nearly five months later . . . : Short, Daniel, letter to Barr, Linda, August 2, 2001.
362 Investigators doubled back . . . : Pennsylvania State Police Homicide Investigation Action Report, Epps, Trp. Paul, August 7, 2001, pages 491–493.
362 “I think they had to discredit what I wrote in that report” . . . : Short, author interview.
362 “I never seen a guy with a ponytail” . . . : Walker, Connie, author interview, February 26, 2014.
363 “They had to make someone the scapegoat” . . . : Patrick, author interview.
363 One fresh—and reported—allegation was a 1995 incident . . . : “Eight Nabbed in Pittsburgh Probe of Prison Guards/Sheriffs”, Bello, Marisol, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, February 5, 2003.
364 “Rick Hill is my father” . . . : Campbell, Tommie, Jr., author interview, May 10, 2012.
364 “With him getting me out of the way” . . . : Hill, Rick, author interview, February 24, 2014.
364 “Nothing that Rick and Della are saying” . . . : Short, author interview.
364 “Oh, yeah” . . . : McBride, author interview.
365 “Flip this” . . . : Short, author interview.
365 “I didn’t want to lose Peep’s friendship” . . . : Warfield, Mike, author interview, October 12, 2011.
366 “He loved that job” . . . : Patrick, author interview.
366 “Yeah,” Tommie said . . . : Campbell, author interview.
368 “All those examples helped me” . . . : Revis, author interview.
368 The Quips went 8-3 . . . : Aliquippa Quips 1910–2010.
368 “Quiet, always worked hard” . . . : Zmijanac, author interview.
369 In the state championship final . . . : “Kings of the Hill: Quips Come from Behind to Reach Summit of PIAA”, Utterback, Bill, Beaver County Times, December 8, 2003, page D1; “Revis’ Performance One for the History Books”, Perrotto, John, Beaver County Times, December 8, 2003, page D1.
369 “He played like Jim Thorpe” . . . : “Revis’ Performance One for the History Books”, Perrotto, John, Beaver County Times, December 8, 2003, page D1.
369 “I don’t know how I did that” . . . : Revis, author interview.
370 And despite just one basketball practice . . . : “Having a Ball: Quips’ Revis Scores 30 in Hoops, Too”, Hall, Eric, Beaver County Times, December 10, 2003, page D1.
370 “I remember telling my mom one time, ‘We’re going to make it out of here’” . . . : Revis, author interview.
371 Total population was heading south of 10,000 . . . : Census of 2000, United States Census Bureau, Washington, D.C.
371 The Aliquippa school system . . . : Pennsylvania Department of Education Bureau of Special Education, Aliquippa School District Special Education Data Report 2010, December 2010.
371 “It’s a national issue” . . . : Wytiaz, author interview.
372 “Half of them make it” . . . : Zmijanac, author interview.
372 “If he wants to come back” . . . : McBride, author interview.
372 More than 80 percent . . . : Klink, Ron, child nutrition hearing, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C., March 22, 1995.
372 “The football field was my sanctuary” . . . : Walker, Willie, author interview, October 13, 2010.
374 “Mike Lowe” . . . : Peluso, author interview.
374 “I still feel that sense of pride” . . . : LeDonne, author interview.
375 “Other than that? It’s these hills” . . . : McBride, author interview.
376 Academic troubles and distractions . . . : “Aliquippa Track Team Finds Way to Win, Even with Less Than Adequate Facilities”, Emert, Rich, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 17, 2005.
376 WPIAL gold . . . : “Quips’ Star Is on Roll: Campbell Captures 100, 200 Crowns”, White, Mike, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 18, 2005, page F-8.
376 “We didn’t know how he was going to do” . . . : Washington, Mike, author interview, September 25, 2010.
376 “I ain’t going to lie” . . . : Campbell, author interview.
376 “Quiet kid. Well dressed” . . . : Davis, Andre, author interview, October 12, 2010.
377 “It wasn’t like Byron had technique” . . . : Washington, author interview.
377 Westmont Hilltop’s Brad Kanuch . . . : Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 29, 2005, page D-5.
377 “The prettiest jump” . . . : McBride, author interview.
377 “If it wasn’t for Byron winning that long jump” . . . : Campbell, author interview.
377 At 12:15 p.m . . . : ibid; “Souped-Up Quips Win AA Title; Pitt-Bound Campbell Becomes Aliquippa’s First Individual Winner in PIAA Running Event”, White, Mike, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 29, 2005, page D-4.
378 “I ended up catching everybody” . . . : Campbell, author interview.
378 “If we had to run five more meters” . . . : “Souped-Up Quips Win AA Title; Pitt-Bound Campbell Becomes Aliquippa’s First Individual Winner in PIAA Running Event”, White, Mike, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 29, 2005, page D-4.
378 “Byron’s really why we won gold” . . . : Washington, author interview.
378 “It just showed us” . . . : Campbell, author interview.
378 “He couldn’t believe it” . . . : Davis, author interview.
378 Now he’d just finished his freshman year at Pitt . . . : “Darrelle Revis”, Pitt Football, http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/revis_darrelle00.html.
379 “He never got in trouble in high school” . . . : Revis, author interview.
381 Had been publicly honored . . . : “Area Women Make the Grade from Welfare to Job Market”, Ross, Virginia, Beaver County Times, June 5, 2002.
381 “Forty inmates to one guard in the pod” . . . : Gilbert, Diana, author interview, June 20, 2014.
381 In 2005, Gilbert resigned . . . : “Jail Report Revealed”, Prose, J.D., Beaver County Times, February 28, 2007.
381 “Expressed concern that the matter was not pursued criminally” . . . : Gentile, Louis, Gentile-Meinert and Associates, Monaca, Pa., “Report of Investigation, Beaver County Jail, Conducted 2006”, Beaver County Commissioners, 2007, page 75.
381 “She was a good guard though” . . . : David, author interview.
381 “What Georgie David put out” . . . : Gilbert, Diana, author interview.
381 The 141–page report . . . : “Jail Report Revealed”, Prose, J.D., Beaver County Times, February 28, 2007.
382 In 2007, he ran for sheriff . . . : “Camp Holds Thin Lead for 3rd Seat”, Silver, Jonathan D., Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 7, 2007, page A-12.
382 “Me and her got along very well” . . . : David, author interview.
382 Years later . . . : “Beaver County Sheriff George David Indicted on 11 Charges”, Doerschner, Kristin, Beaver County Times, March 25, 2013.
382 “Karma is a mother” . . . : Gilbert, Diana, author interview.
384 “When we first moved up here” . . . : Baldwin, Tezmalita, author interview.
384 “Someone drove past me and just started shooting recklessly” . . . : Johnson, Kevin, author interview, November 9, 2010.
385 On May 22 of that year . . . : “Car Jumps Curb Killing 1; School Athlete Surrenders”, Smydo, Joe, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 24, 2009.
385 “The car hit him straight-on” . . . : Campbell, Della Rae, author interview.
385 Immensely popular in Plan 12 . . . : “Car Jumps Curb Killing 1; School Athlete Surrenders”, Smydo, Joe, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 24, 2009.
386 “That one-block section by the high school where Plan 12 Market is?” . . . : Walker, Donald, author interview.
386 “Go ahead”, she said . . . : Walker, Dwan, author interview, October 1, 2011.
387 Wide receiver Deon Johnson . . . : “Driver Named in Aliquippa Shooting Now Faces Homicide Charge”, Vidonic, Bill, Beaver County Times, June 11, 2005.
387 Defensive end Jordan “Ricky” Cain . . . : “3 Inmates Charged in Aliquippa Slaying: Victim Shot Multiple Times in ’06 Attack”, Ove, Torsten, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 2, 2011.
387 Backup running back Darius Odom . . . : “Aliquippa Man Convicted of Fatally Shooting Cousin”, Associated Press, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 1, 2010.
387 Quarterback Stephen Hardy . . . : “Murder Suspect Caught”, O’Shea, Patrick, Ellwood City Ledger, September 1, 2010.
388 Marquay Riggins . . . : “Man, 18, Wanted in Aliquippa Killing”, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 31, 2012.
388 Eddie Carter . . . : “Eddie B. Carter III (Weedy)”, Beaver County Times, September 14, 2012.
388 “Seven of my high school teammates have died” . . . : Revis, author interview, June 19, 2013.
388 “He was sincerely apologetic” . . . : Zmijanac, author interview.
388 “What stopped me playing” . . . : Gaskins, Tony, author interview, November 21, 2011.
389 Gaskins, then eighteen . . . : “Aliquippa Shootings: No One’s Talking”, Fontaine, Tom, Beaver County Times, November 21, 2009.
389 “If I would’ve killed him” . . . : Gaskins, author interview.
389 Four years later . . . : “Murder-Suicide Reported in Aliquippa”, Bauder, Bob, Beaver Valley Times, September 5, 2009.
390 “That’s when the world opened up to me” . . . : Walker, Dwan, author interview.
391 And the other was a 6-foot-5 receiver . . . : “Jon (yes, Jon) Baldwin Will Have Pitt Fans Dreaming and NFL Scouts Drooling This Fall”, Fittipaldo, Ray, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 15, 2010.
391 “Every day we’d basically see each other” . . . : Brown, author interview.
391 “He started taking things more seriously” . . . : Baldwin, Tezmalita, author interview.
391 When, in May 2002, a jury convicted his half-brother . . . : “Cop Killer to Prison: Judge Vows That He’ll Serve the Maximum”, Bauder, Bob, Beaver County Times, May 30, 2002, page A1.
392 Seven months earlier . . . : “Man Going to Prison for Attempted Robbery”, Vidonic, Bill, Beaver County Times, October 24, 2002.
392 “Mistaken identity” . . . : Baldwin, Jeff, author interview.
392 “First-degree miscalculation” . . . : “A First-Degree Miscalculation”, Roddy, Dennis, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 11, 2002.
392 “Innocent: a hundred percent” . . . : Brown, author interview.
393. Monica Horton faxed in a recantation . . . In 2005, Rayetta Lee . . . : Horton, Monica L., letter to the attention of O’Neill, Trooper Donald, April 20, 2001. Notarized statement by Lee Green, Rayetta to Beaver County attorney Jeffrey Small, December 23, 2005.
393 A staff psychologist at Aliquippa Middle School placed his reading . . . : Pennsylvania State Police Homicide Investigation Action Report, interview of Walkney, Sarah Beth, by Lewis, Robert I., Tpr. on January 10, 2002.
393 Heard and saw nothing that night . . . : Pennsylvania State Police Homicide Investigation Action Report, interview of Hines, Darnell by Patterson, Tpr. Scott A., Melder, Raymond, Cpl. on March 16, 2001, pages 29–30.
393 Just heard the gunshots . . . : Pennsylvania State Police Homicide Investigation Action Report, interview of Hines, Darnell by Lewis, Robert I., Tpr. on March 16, 2001, page 31; “Witness: Suspect Pulled Trigger; Informant Testifies About Police Slaying”, Simonich, Milan, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 3, 2002.
393 Complained that he was being pressured . . . : Beaver County Department of Corrections Statement of Facts, April 6, 2001.
393 He then passed a polygraph examination . . . : Pennsylvania State Police Homicide Investigation Action Report, polygraph examination of Hines, Darnell by Sherwin, Thomas H., Tpr. on April 11, 2001, page 339.
393 “I don’t care what anybody says” . . . : Hines, Darnell, author interview, March 29, 2012.
394 “And it’s going to be a wound” . . . : Patrick, author interview.
394 “Whether we got the right guy?” . . . : Davis, author interview.
394 “No”, said Quips offensive coordinator Sherman McBride . . . : McBride, author interview.
394 “I just know the wrong guy’s in jail” . . . : Walker, Dwan, author interview.
394 “Jamie Brown was involved with some real heavy hitters” . . . : Short, author interview.
394 Acey Taylor . . . : “Cop Killer to Prison: Judge Vows That He’ll Serve the Maximum”, Bauder, Bob, Beaver County Times, May 30, 2002, page A1.
395 “Can I rationally explain” . . . : ibid, A6.
395 “Great for me” . . . : Baldwin, Jeff, author interview.
395 Jonathan never played a proper game in pads . . . : Baldwin, Jonathan, author interview, October 18, 2011.
396 “The way I was raised” . . . : Baldwin, Tezmalita, author interview.
396 Jonathan became an All-State basketball star . . . : “Chiefs Select WR Jonathan Baldwin with 1st Round Pick”, Chiefs.com, http://www.chiefs.com/news/article-2/Chiefs-Select-WR-Jonathan-Baldwin-with-1st-Round-Pick/c94f740f-e362-4fa7-a08a-74425e4a051a.
396 In any other game . . . : “Jeannette Beats Quips, 70-48”, White, Mike, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 17, 2007.
397 Followed his dad’s trail . . . : “Jonathan Baldwin”, Pitt Football, http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/baldwin_jon00.html.
397 Groping a girl’s buttocks on a bus . . . : “Pitt’s Baldwin Cleared of Charges”, Kerlik, Bobby, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, January 12, 2010.
397 “Purposely trying to disrupt my draft stock” . . . : “Baldwin Works on ‘Attitude’”, Gorman, Kevin, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, February 18, 2011.
397 “That’s why, when I’m in Aliquippa” . . . : Baldwin, Jonathan, author interview.
398 In 1980 . . . : “Myths of Post-Industrial America”, Samuelson, Robert J., Washington Post, April 7, 2013.
399 Manufacturing’s . . . : “A Revolution in the Making”, Koten, John, Wall Street Journal, June 11, 2013, page R1.
399 “Those types of jobs” . . . : Briem, author interview.
399 “I always think about: if the mill was still going” . . . : Letteri, Gilda, author interview, May 11, 2012.
400 “You came to the country with a brown bag with your clothes in it” . . . : Betters, C.J. “Chuck”, author interview, November 19, 2011.
400 Long before his own grown sons, Mike and Mark began piling up drunk-driving arrests in Illinois . . . : “Prosecutors: Ditka’s Son Tests Positive for Opiates”, Fuller, Ruth, Chicago Tribune, November 16, 2012; “Another of Mike Ditka’s Sons Charged with DUI”, Chicago Tribune, September 30, 2011; “Prosecutors Drop Felony DUI Case Against Son of Former Bears Coach Mike Ditka”, Chicago Tribune, February 24, 2012; “Mike Ditka’s Son Claims His Name Spurred DUI Charge”, Ter Maat, Sue, Chiacgo Tribune, April 27, 2011.
400 “I’ve had a big house and a lot of cars” . . . : Ditka, Mike, author interview.
402 “Aliquippa’s in a weird place” . . . : Briem, author interview.
402 Gilbert started . . . : “Amen! Sean Gilbert”, ESPN: The Magazine, July 10, 2012.
402 Law funded a Head Start program in Plan 12 . . . : “Sports Stars Come Out to Support Head Start”, Beaver County Times, May 29, 1998.
402 And ran a charity golf tournament and basketball game . . . : “Ty Law”, Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame, http://www.bcshof.org/halloffamers/law2011.htm.
402 Revis holds an occasional football camp . . . : “Relaxed Revis Camps in Aliquippa on Way to Tampa”, Chiapazzi, Andrew, Beaver County Times, June 20, 2013.
402 “What are you going to do for us here in Aliquippa, Mr. Law?” . . . : Law, author interview.
403 “I love it to the utmost” . . . : Revis, author interview.
403 “Sit quiet, son” . . . : Walker, Chuckie, author interview.
404 “And I said ‘I don’t want you to give me anything’” . . . : Walker, Dwan, author interview.
405 “The selfish person’s out there supporting himself” . . . : Smith, Eugene “Salt”, author interview, November 28, 2011.
405 “Okay, Mr. Smith” . . . : Walker, Dwan, author interview.
405 “They’re so fucking green” . . . : Betters, author interview.
406 “Like a lost little boy” . . . : Campbell, Tommie, author interview.
406 “Some of our guys have been struggling” . . . : Wytiaz, author interview.
407 Was arrested after being stopped near Sixth Avenue . . . : “Former Aliquippa Football Star Facing Drug Charges”, Utterback, Bill, Ellwood City Ledger, April 8, 2011.
407 “He’s as good or better than Revis” . . . : Evasovich, author interview.
407 Jonathan Baldwin became a first-round draft pick . . . : “Pitt Standout WR Baldwin Signs with Chiefs”, Associated Press, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, July 30, 2011.
407 “He was over some girl’s house and they stuck a gun to his head” . . . : Campbell, Della Rae, author interview.
408 “It was a real scary moment, man” . . . : Campbell, Tommie, author interview.
408 By 2010, he had been kicked off the team . . . : “Pitt Dismisses Fields from Team”, Bennett, Brian, ESPN.com, February 19, 2010, http://espn.go.com/college-football/news/story?id=4921565.
409 “There’s a lot of time to think while you’re mopping that floor” . . . : Campbell, Tommie, author interview.
409 Pulling up next to his Linmar enemies . . . : “Two Charged in Aliquippa Shooting”, Pound, Michael, Beaver County Times, September 4, 2007; Davis, Andre, author interview.
409 In August 2009 . . . : “Ambridge Man Wanted in Aliquippa Bar Shooting”, Vidonic, Bill, Beaver County Times, August 22, 2009.
409 “He helped me in every aspect possible” . . . : Campbell, Tommie, author interview.
410 Finished with 29 tackles . . . : “Tommie Campbell”, Tennessee Titans, http://www.titansonline.com/team/roster/tommie-campbell/c9212fbc-6fba-4fdd-8015-064cb1c71b28/.
410 “I quit putting blame on everything around me” . . . : Campbell, Tommie, author interview.
410 Lit up NFL scouts’ eyes and stopwatches . . . : “Campbell Isn’t Going to Waste NFL Chance”, Associated Press, Paris Post-Intelligencer, Paris, Tenn., August 30, 2011.
410 He signed a four-year, $2.09 million contract . . . : Spotrac, http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/jacksonville-jaguars/tommie-campbell/.
411 On June 6, 2010 . . . : “Saving Steel: Salvagers Scoop Up What’s Left to Tell Industry’s Story”, Nelson Jones, Diana, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 6, 2010, page A-1.
411 What remains on the seven-and-a-half-mile stretch . . . : “USG Aliquippa Gives Tribute to Mill That Once Stood in Its Place”, Cubbal, Kayleen, Beaver County Times, May 24, 2015.
411 200 million tons of slag . . . : Betters, author interview.
412 “We bring ’em, we break ’em” . . . : Betters, author interview.
413 When, in 2008, bankruptcy claimed Aliquippa Community Hospital . . . : “For Aliquippa Community Hospital, a ‘Green’ Demolition”, Twedt, Steve, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 15, 2011.
413 “There’s something relative to my legacy” . . . : Betters, author interview.
414 The six-hundred-acre site . . . : “DEP Begins 90-Day Review of Remediation of Old J&L Tin Mill Site”, Stonesifer, Jared, Beaver County Times, January 20, 2015; Betters, author interview.
415 “I’ve thought about it, don’t get me wrong” . . . : Gaskins, author interview.
415 “It took a year to beat that jive-ass shit out of him” . . . : Betters, author interview.
415 “I stay there because I got things now in life that I thought I would never have” . . . : Gaskins, author interview.
416 The stadium in Hopewell that was renamed, in 2001, in his honor . . . : “Hopewell Renaming Stadium for Dorsett”, White, Mike, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 6, 2001, page F-2.
416 “The thing I’m disappointed in?” . . . : Dorsett, Tony, author interview, September 24, 2010.
417 The death at sixty-one . . . : ibid.
417 “Okay”, Tony said . . . : ibid.
418 9,438 people still living there . . . : “QuickFacts: Aliquippa City, Pennsylvania”, United States Census Bureau, Washington, D.C., http://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/4200820.
418 “To the workers of the Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation” . . . : “Memories of Steel”, Theodore, Larissa, Beaver County Times, June 23, 2010.
418 “Every time I come back” . . . : Dorsett, author interview.
419 “I did not contribute one cent to that campaign” . . . : Betters, author interview.
419 On May 17, 2011 . . . : “One Aliquippa Slate Surprises Incumbents”, Prose, J.D., Beaver County Times, May 18, 2011.
419 “This kid: I give him credit” . . . : Battalini, author interview.
419 It wasn’t until election night . . . : Walker, Dwan, author interview, November 8, 2011.
420 “Twenty-five years?” . . . : Battalini, author interview.
420 Rejected by Royal Dutch Shell . . . : “Aliquippa’s First Black Mayor Walker Fights City’s Stigma”, Vidonic, Bill, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, April 2, 2012.
421 “I still think we’re going to get some bounce-back” . . . : Walker, Dwan, author interview, March 27, 2012.
421 Meanwhile came this cosmic slap . . . : “Instant Tickets Also Winning in the Region”, O’Shea, Patrick, Ellwood City Ledger, December 26, 2012.
422 “I was winning and he was getting mad” . . . : Henry, Dravon, author interview, November 6, 2011.
422 Aliquippa High would go on to win its fourteenth WPIAL football championship later that month . . . : “Aliquippa Adds Another AA Crown to Collection”, Schofield, Paul, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, November 27, 2011.
422 As Dravon racked up 5,454 career yards rushing . . . : “Aliquippa’s Henry Picks West Virginia over Pitt”, DiPaola, Jerry, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, December 9, 2013.
422 Dravon’s dad . . . : Henry, Roland, author interview, November 6, 2011.
423 “I didn’t know what else to do” . . . : Askew, Shanell, author interview, November 6, 2011.
423 “I just stood there” . . . : Henry, Dravon, author interview.
423 Their grandfather, Ossie Foster . . . : “Quips Could Be Too Hot for Seneca to Handle”, Hecht, Steve, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 4, 1979, page 12; “Mt. Lebo Rides KO to Title, Playoffs”, Cuddy, Jim, Jr., Pittsburgh Press, November 2, 1979, page A-7.
423 “No no”, he laughed . . . : Askew, David, author interview, November 6, 2011.
424 In December 2002 . . . : “Two Confess to ’99 Killings”, Vidonic, Bill, Beaver County Times, December 19, 2002.
424 “George . . . David” . . . : David, author interview.
424 “When the Naim case happened” . . . : Patrick, author interview.
424 “At first I tried blocking it out” . . . : Askew, David, author interview.
425 “He was different” . . . : Gilbert, Diana, author interview, June 20, 2014.
425 “Got caught in that spiderweb” . . . : McBride, author interview.
425 “The only thing I ask” . . . : Gilbert, Diana, author interview.
425 “Born with one foot to success and one in turmoil” . . . : Askew, David, Askew, Shanell, Henry, Dravon, author interviews.
426 “Franklin Avenue” . . . : Betters, author interview.
427 “I always tell people” . . . : Walker, Dwan, author interview.
428 160 boys . . . : Jeter, Rod, author interview, September 25, 2010.
428 40 percent of the boys . . . : Gipson, Alvin B., author interview, October 1, 2015.
429 “This is why I do what I do” . . . : Zmijanac, author interview.
429 Then again in 2012 . . . : “Aliquippa Routs Washington 34-7, for Class AA Crown”, Wunderley, Ken, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 24, 2012.
429 “Football caused this” . . . : “Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett Says Settlement Is a Start, but Future Health Costs Still a Concern”, Red, Christian, New York Daily News, August 31, 2013; “Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett, former NY Giants DT Leonard Marshall Diagnosed with CTE”, Red, Christian, New York Daily News, November 8, 2013.
429 A week later . . . : “Youth Football Participation Drops”, Fainaru, Steve, Fainaru-Wada, Mark, ESPN.com, November 14, 2013, http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/page/popwarner/pop-warner-youth-football-participation-drops-nfl-concussion-crisis-seen-causal-factor.
429 “I wouldn’t”, Ditka said . . . : “Monsters No More”, Real Sports with Bryan Gumbel, Kronick, Jordan, produced by, HBO, January 20, 2015.
430 People began carping again . . . : “Quips Left to Wonder What Went Wrong”, Bires, Mike, Beaver County Times, December 16, 2012.
430 Then came back-to-back defeats . . . : “South Fayette Beats Aliquippa, 34-28, in WPIAL Class AA Title Game”, Everett, Brad, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 23, 2013; “South Fayette Tops Aliquippa for WPIAL Class AA Football Title”, Everett, Brad, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 21, 2014.
430 138 boys . . . : “School Details: Aliquippa Senior High School”, Pennsylvania Interscholatic Athletic Association, last updated on October 1, 2013, http://www.piaa.org/schools/directory/details.aspx?ID=11284.
430 “I guarantee you” . . . : Walker, Dwan, author interview.
431 “They think they’re fuckin’ Vince Lombardi” . . . : Zmijanac, author interview.
431 In 2014, Henry was named a freshman all-American . . . : “Trio of Big 12 Freshmen Earn Freshman All-American Honors”, Chatmon, Brandon, ESPN.com, December 15, 2014, http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/105651/trio-of-big-12-freshmen-earn-freshman-all-american-honors.
431 Swanson rushed for 732 yards . . . : “Terry Swanson-2015 Football”, University of Toledo Athletics, http://utrockets.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=4420.
431 Darrelle Revis was back in uniform . . . : “Darrelle Revis, New York Jets Agree to Terms on Deal”, Rosenthal, Greg, NFL.com, March 10, 2015, http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000477937/article/darrelle-revis-new-york-jets-agree-to-terms-on-deal.
432 “I guess I have a golden ticket” . . . : Pugh, Kaezon, author interview, October 1, 2015.
432 Pugh, a senior now, had rushed for 313 yards . . . : “Aliquippa Survives Scare from Quaker Valley, Wins 35-14”, Equels, Jim, Beaver Valley Times, September 25, 2015.
432 At 6-foot-3 . . . : “100 Players in 100 Days-Day 91-Kaezon Pugh, Aliquippa”, Splain, Billy, WesternPAFootball.net, August 26, 2015, http://www.westernpafootball.net/news/100-players-in-100-days-day-91-kaezon-pugh-aliquippa/.
432 And though Pugh would soon become the fifth back in Aliquippa history to gain more than 4,000 yards . . . : “WPIAL’s 4,000-Yard Rushing Club Grows by Three”, “from local dispatches”, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 31, 2015.
432 “To be honest, I’m only in love with football because I think that’s my only way out” . . . : Pugh, author interview.
433 Amassing 1,626 yards . . . : “Goin’ Campin’ Stops at Aliquippa and Beaver Falls”, White, Mike, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 18, 2015.
434 The Beaver County Times published a story . . . : “Parents Accuse Quips Coach of Stalling Recruitment”, Chiapazzi, Andrew, Beaver County Times, January 30, 2015.
434 “That guy don’t like me” . . . : Askew, David, author interview.
434 “Mike had been under fire” . . . : Wytiaz, author interview, December 19, 2015.
434 Four months later . . . : “Goin’ Campin’ Stops at Aliquippa and Beaver Falls”, White, Mike, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 18, 2015.
435 Then, a week before the first game . . . : “Aliquippa RB Bronaugh to Miss Season After Cancer Diagnosis”, Harlan, Chris, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, August 31, 2015.
435 Blood drives were held . . . : Gordon, Anita, author interview, December 29, 2015.
435 “The support has been overwhelming” . . . : ibid.
435 Romped for 253 yards . . . : “Pugh, Quips Steamroll Seton-La Salle”, Chiapazzi, Andrew, Beaver County Times, November 16, 2015.
435 Ran for 237 . . . : “Aliquippa Routs Freeport to Return to Heinz Field”, Beckner, Bill, Jr., Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, November 20, 2015.
436 Pugh ground out another 179 yards . . . : “Aliquippa Wins 16th WPIAL Title, Ends South Fayette’s 44-Game Winning Streak”, Price, Karen, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, November 28, 2015.
436 “Those are the kind of plays where if they don’t work you look stupid” . . . : ibid.
436 The Quips came from behind in the fourth quarter . . . : “Aliquippa Comes from Behind to Beat Karns City, Advances to PIAA Semifinals”, Price, Karen, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, December 4, 2015.
436 Then trailed Central Martinsburg in the fourth in the semis . . . : “Pugh’s 3 Touchdowns Carry Aliquippa Back to PIAA Final”, Harlan, Chris, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, December 11, 2015.
436 A bit below his playoff average of 192 yards per game . . . : “Times Football Player of the Year: Kaezon Pugh Understands Place in Quips’ History”, Bires, Mike, Beaver County Times, December 13, 2015.
436 “This is not a giving-up team” . . . : “Pugh Pushes Through, Lifts Aliquippa to Hershey for First Time Since 2012”, Chiappazzi, Andrew, Beaver County Times, December 11, 2015.
437 “My plans?” . . . : Pugh, author interview.