New Kensington celebrating 70th anniversary of Willie Thrower's '1st Snap'

In the world of sports, New Kensington’s Willie Thrower cemented his place in history when he became the first Black quarterback to take a snap in the NFL in 1953.

In his hometown, he was known as a humble, hardworking and family-oriented man, said Melvyn Smith, a longtime friend of the late Thrower and his family.

“He’s like a glue or something that everybody can touch and be connected to. He just means something to almost every family in town,” said Smith, 76. “It started with his football experiences, but then his personality was such that people just enjoyed knowing him.

“Most of the old-time families in New Kensington can tell you stories about what their father or grandfather told them about Willie: the size of his hands, how far he could throw a pass and what a nice person he was.”

New Kensington will celebrate the 70th anniversary of Thrower’s “1st Snap” with events beginning Thursday, Oct. 12, continuing through the weekend of Oct. 14-15 and culminating with the observance of the anniversary Oct. 18.

Thrower was 71 when he died Feb. 20, 2002, in New Kensington.

After helping to lead New Kensington to WPIAL football titles in 1946 and 1947, Thrower went to Michigan State, where he was part of the Spartans’ 1952 national championship team.

He was drafted by the Chicago Bears and broke the color barrier for NFL signal-­callers on Oct. 18, 1953, at Wrigley Field against the San Francisco 49ers during his only season in the league. After leaving the Bears, he played several seasons in the Canadian Football League.

Thrower and his legacy mean a great deal to the city, Mayor Tom Guzzo said.

“As the first African American quarterback to take a snap, Willie should be hailed as a pioneer,” Guzzo said. “The historical significance of this is that it took 15 years for the next African American quarterback to take a snap.

“We want not only our generation but younger generations of people growing up and living in New Kensington to know this story and be proud of it. If we come full circle to today, there were 14 African American quarterbacks who started the 2023 season.”

Thrower’s widow and his three sons unveiled his statue at Valley High School’s Memorial Stadium in 2006. The bronze monument was made by 1979 Valley High School graduate Steve Paulovich.

The Willie Thrower Memorial Foundation has been recognizing top high school quarterbacks from Southwestern Pennsylvania with the Willie Thrower Award since 2020. The recipient receives a 29-pound miniature replica of the statue.

As part of the anniversary celebration, Valley High’s homecoming parade on Thursday has been named the first Willie Thrower Homecoming Parade. It will include students from Burrell School District, as most students in that district attended Ken Hi in Thrower’s time, school board member Sarah Yurga said.

“Willie was a gentle giant and a trailblazer,” said Yurga, a 1991 Valley graduate who remembers seeing Thrower at her grandparents’ restaurant, where she waitressed as a teen.

“Willie would come in for coffee. He would say, ‘Give me a high-five.’ I put my hand up, and his hand was nearly twice my size. He would bend his fingers over and squeeze me a little bit,” she said. “He was always a very nice, kind man who means a lot to the community.

“He stood up when it was difficult to be an African American player at that time. He overcame adversity and succeeded.”

While Thrower’s professional football career was limited, what he could have accomplished in another time can only be imagined, Smith said. He never heard Thrower dwell on it. He moved on with his life, married and had a family.

The anniversary of Thrower’s first snap is something the entire community should celebrate, Smith said.

“We hope that the whole town turns out,” he said. “We’re looking forward to seeing a whole lot of citizens down there.”

In addition to scheduled events, ongoing activities include exhibits at Peoples Library, 880 Barnes St.; the New Kensington Arts Center, 950 Fifth Ave.; and the Tri-City Historical Society, 1013 Fifth Ave.

Schedule of events

Thursday, Oct. 12

• 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.: First Willie Thrower Homecoming Parade, Fifth Avenue and Drey Street, Arnold, to Fifth Avenue and 10th Street, New Kensington

• 7 p.m.: Willie Thrower Homecoming Festival and Senior Recognition Night, Valley High School

Saturday, Oct. 14

• 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Community Day and Cook-Out, Peoples Library parking lot, Barnes Street

• 11 a.m.: Kids Korner — pony rides, face painting and coloring, bounce and play slides, balloon twisting, games, prizes

• Noon: Willie Thrower 1st Snap essay contest readings and announcement of winners, Peoples Library, 880 Barnes St.

• 1 to 2 p.m.: Strolling magic with Weird Eric

• 1 to 3 p.m.: Children’s tables hosted by community organizations, science and art project displays

• 1 to 3 p.m.: 1st Snap dogs and burgers, community cookout hosted by Sticky Mickey’s barbecue

• 2 to 4 p.m.: Baron “BB” Flenory Skills and Drills basketball camp, ages 6-12; registration required

Sunday, Oct. 15

• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Willie Thrower 1st Snap Neighborhood 5K Walkathon benefiting the American Heart Association; check-in begins at 10 a.m.; walkathon begins and ends at Feldarelli Square, 2300 Freeport Road

• 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.: Penn State student athlete skills demonstrations, ages 6-12, at Valley High School; registration required

• 3 to 4:30 p.m.: Football skills camp, ages 6-12, at Valley High School; registration required

Wednesday, Oct. 18

• 10 a.m to 2 p.m.: Live radio broadcast hosted by Pittsburgh Sports Radio 93.7 The Fan with Ron Cook and Joe Starkey, Valley High School

• 3 to 4 p.m.: Livestream broadcast “The Evolution of the Black Quarterback Podcast,” hosted by the Willie Thrower Award Foundation, at Strange Roots, 977 Fifth Ave., New Kensington.