Gateway Class of 1967
Paul’s passion for sports began at an early age. Growing up in his Monroeville neighborhood with his many sports enthusiastic friends, Paul’s summer days were filled with playing baseball, football and basketball. His first experience at organized sports was playing midget football for the ”Pitcairn Mohawks”. When Paul entered Monroeville Junior High under the tutelage of Mr. Anthony Forte (basketball and track), and Mr. Jack Lieb (football) he was many times highlighted for outstanding play.
While at Gateway Paul was an active player in three sports. Football, coached by Pete Antimarino, basketball, coached by Rege Laughlin, and track, coached by Walter Donnellan kept him well focused in his athletic performance. Paul was part of the Gator’s first undefeated football season in 1966. During his senior year as co-captain with John Sattler (2004 inductee) , Paul was supported by a stellar backfield where they ended the year with a winning season of 7-2. Paul’s outstanding track records include holding the high school time record of 19.8 seconds for the 180 yard low hurdles and winning the 1967 title of Allegheny County High Hurdle Champion. Because of his many successes at Gateway it lead Paul to his crowning accomplishment of an offer to play football at Bethany College in West Virginia. In 2017 Paul was inducted into The Bethany College Sports Hall of Fame.
At Bethany College, Paul was a four year starter, and during the first three games of his sophomore year had four punt returns for touchdowns. He is credited in the 1969 edition of “Outstanding College Athletes of America” for leading the nation in punt return average yardage. During his sophomore and junior year Paul was voted “All Conference” and in his senior year Paul had the honor of being appointed co-captain of the “Bethany College Bisons” football team.
After Paul’s graduation from Bethany College, he taught at Gateway for a couple of years as a substitute teacher and helped coach the football team under Coach Antimarino as his way of giving back to the community where he grew up. Paul married his loving wife and former Gator class of 1970 Rosemarie Cecere (Jan) on August 2, 1975. They have one son Matt Krusey. Matt was also an athlete for Gateway, class of 2001, played hockey and was inducted into the 2009 Hockey Hall of Fame. Matt and his beautiful wife Jessica currently live in California. Paul and Jan reside in Monroeville where Paul has been a successful business owner in the community for over 30 years.
Special thanks to Paul’s brother-in-law Joseph Cecere, Gateway class of 1968, for nominating Paul and to the Gateway Sports Hall of Fame. Additional thank you to the Gateway Sports Hall of Fame for honoring him with this award.
Paul dedicates this honor to his devoted parents, Kathryn and Gaylord Krusey who never missed any of his high school and college sports activities. They were truly unselfish and loving parents who gave Paul everything they had to make Paul the man he is today.