January 11, 2019 Program
Bill Priatko
Former Pitt and Pro-football Linebacker
and retired U.S. Air Force Officer
Following graduation from Scott High School in 1949, Priatko earned a football scholarship to Pitt, where he was a two-way starter and team captain on an undefeated freshman team. He continued his varsity career as a three-year lineman. Following his 1957 graduation from Pitt and commissioning as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force, he played center and linebacker for the National Service Champion Bolling Air Force Team, in Washington, D.C., and garnered All-Service Team honors. When discharged from active duty, Bill commenced a three-season NFL career with the Packers, Steelers, and Browns, which ended due to a leg injury. He had a 25-year career as a coach and athletic director at California University of Pennsylvania, Robert Morris, and Swissvale and Yough High Schools.
As a career active-duty Air Force Reservist, Bill served as Aerial Port Commander at the 911th Airlift Wing at Greater Pittsburgh Airport until his retirement in the late seventies as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Priatko has been well-received with his past presentations to the Senior Men’s Club. Always entertaining with his humorous anecdotal stories about the many well-known sports notables he has known – and about some of his amusing military experiences – we can look forward to an entertaining on Friday, January 11.
