Gateway Career Coach and Teacher Russ grew up in Greenfield the middle son of Bill and Evaline Gratton with 2 brothers, Bill and Bob. At Allderdice High School, Russ played basketball and football. After graduating from Allderdice, Russ went on to play 4 years of football at Slippery Rock, lettering 3 years as corner and [more…]
GALAGAZA, JOHN
Beloved, Respected Coach & Teacher Feb. 15, 1925 – October 21, 1962 On behalf of the Galagaza family, we are truly honored to be here today to recognize a miraculous husband, father, friend and coach. Mr. John Galagaza was the youngest of ten boys; a first generation Serbian American. He watched his father and older [more…]
LAUGHLIN, REGE
1934-2020 Respected & Beloved Coach Gateway Head Basketball Coach Rege Laughlin was an integral part in the very beginnings of Gateway Basketball. His Gator teams in the 1960’s were competitive, successful and extremely well coached. Under his guidance, the Gator basketball program achieved much success and set the tone for all the future Gator players. [more…]
LABUFF, TOM
Well Respected & Beloved Coach & Teacher Not surprisingly, one of Tom LaBuff’s favorite poems is Marge Piercy’s “To Be of Use.” In it she extols the virtues of those people who “jump into work head first” immersing themselves to the extent that they become natives of that world who enjoy what they do. She [more…]
MURPHY, BILL
Well Respected and Dedicated Coach and Teacher Bill Murphy was born in Pittsburgh on July 15, 1937. He attended school in the Port Vue and McKeesport School Districts, graduating in 1955. Upon graduation, Bill entered the Army for a three-year enlistment. While in the Army, he played basketball for the Fort Meade ASA team, who [more…]
DeMAO, HERMAN
Well Respected And Beloved Coach And Teacher For 17 years the Gator Swim program was very fortunate to have such a dedicated coach as Herman DeMao. The swimmers, both boys and girls, greatly benefited from his strict and measured weight circuit training program. As his knowledge of swim training and technique increased, his motivation and [more…]
LUKITSCH, BILL “LUKE”
Well Respected Coach And Teacher Bill is a highly respected football and wrestling coach. He devoted thirty years to teaching and coaching the youth of Monroeville and Pitcairn. He is known for the encouragement and discipline he extended to both the students and the athletes with whom he worked. Coach Bill Lukitsch grew up [more…]
GILES, REGIS
1940-2017 Dedicated and Respected Teacher, Coach, Sports Official, and long-time “Voice of the Gators.” Regis Giles graduated from McKeesport High School in 1958 and later attended Indiana State College (now Indiana University of Pennsylvania) where he participated in both the football and baseball programs. After graduating from Indiana in 1962, Reg was hired as [more…]
ZACCARI, JOE
1943-2009 Beloved And Respected Coach And Teacher The ultimate success of any program or organization goes far beyond what we see as the “finished product”. There are many individuals who make vital and long-lasting contributions to these successes but somehow go unnoticed. Joe Zaccari is most assuredly one of these individuals. His contributions to the [more…]
DAVIS, RON
Extremely Talented And Respected Coach Ron Davis was dedicated to the game of basketball. He was not only dedicated to the game; he was dedicated to his players. He had a passion for the sport. He coached the talent out of his girls. He had an unconditional love for the game. He was a no-nonsense [more…]