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Holtz banquet crowd urged to strive to make difference

RETURNING TO HIS ROOTS — Legendary college football coach Lou Holtz, a Follansbee native, was in Wintersville Monday to celebrate the accomplishments of Upper Ohio Valley residents who serve as an inspiration to those around them. The Lou Holtz Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019 — Steelers great Rocky Bleier, longtime ESPN President George Bodenheimer, Chester Fire Chief John Hissam, the Frank LaNeve family of Newell and Communicyle founder Lee Montanari — were feted at the group’s annual banquet, held at St. Florian Event Center. -- Linda Harris

WINTERSVILLE — Being the 417th pick in the 1968 National Football League draft meant he had to “run harder and play smarter,” former Pittsburgh Steeler running back Rocky Bleier told the crowd gathered Monday at the St. Florian Event Center for the 2019 Lou Holtz Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame banquet.

“Football is a lot like life,” Bleier said. “There’s a beginning, there’s a middle, there’s an end. And, depending how your team performs, there may be a mourning period. Then there’s renewal.”

Bleier said he was thrilled to be the Steelers’ 16th round draft pick.

“You have to understand it from my perspective — the draft was 17 rounds and I was not drafted in the 17th round,” he said, pointing out when you’re “the 417th draft pick on a losing team, no one knows you exist.”

But his football career had barely begun before he was drafted again — this time, by Uncle Sam — and was sent to Vietnam. Seriously wounded by rifle fire and grenade fragments in the same day, he would have to fight his way back to football.

“Sometimes in life things start to change and they weigh on you,” said Bleier, who received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star in recognition of his service. “I did come back, I did make the team and I had a chance to prove myself.”

An active supporter of causes related to military veterans for many years, Bleier said it’s important to “define what your talent is, hone it to the best of your ability, so you can give back to family and community,.”

“That’s the power we have, the power to make a difference, the power to make change, the power to impact” people and communities.

Bleier was recipient of the hall’s Distinguished American Award for 2019. Others honored were Lifetime Achievement Award winner George Bodenheimer, who worked his way up the ladder from mail clerk to become ESPN’s long-tenured president, overseeing “unprecedented growth” at the network during his 13 years at the helm; longtime Chester Fire Chief John Hissam; the Frank LaNeve family of Newell, recognized as the family heritage honoree; and Lee Montanari, founder of Communicyle, an outreach ministry, presented the 2019 MVP award.

Bleier, who was the guest speaker, reminded the crowd the Steelers picked him in the 16th round of the 1968 NFL draft.

In accepting his award, Bodenheimer reminded the crowd Holtz had appeared on set the very first time “College Game Day” went on the road in 1993.

“Whatever Game Day’s success is now, it wasn’t a slam dunk at the time,” he said. “It was expensive to take the show on the road.

“Really, we have Coach Holtz to thank for getting us off on the right foot.”

A tearful Hissam said he’d spent 50 years serving the people of Chester “and didn’t think this day would ever come, but it did,” while Linda LaNeve Wickstrom recalled for the crowd how her grandfather had love for education and how his faith had shaped the family’s legacy. Montanari said he “greatly appreciated” the opportunity to help those in need through his outreach ministry

The hall also presented 10 recent graduates — Megan Cusick, Harley Kidder and Somer Madden, all of Southern Local; Kayla Habbit and Joshua Knight, Beaver Local; Ronald Hooper, Katie Roberts, Cory Weyand and Noah Wheaton, East Liverpool High School; and Clayton Timmons, East Liverpool Christian — with $5,000 scholarships, each good for two years provided they maintain their grades

The scholarships have been matched by the trade schools they’ll be attending — Ohio Valley College of Technology, New Castle School of Trades and Pittsburgh Technical College.

Holtz, who was born in Follansbee and grew up in East Liverpool, said he’s been blessed, not just in his coaching and television careers but also with his family, and told the crowd it’s important to remind young people, “You can do great things if you believe.”

“You have no chance if you don’t believe in yourself,” he said.

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