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Donora Historical Society Program Will Document History of Local Football Team

Due to the enthusiasm generated from their ongoing game film project and last year’s successful “Game Film Event” at the Donora Croation Club, The Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum will host another football event titled “Donora Football Dragons – 1904 to 1968” to present.

Donora Dragons

The article will present a comprehensive history of Donora Dragons football from the opening kickoff in 1904 to the final whistle in 1968.

Because of the volume of historical information, this event will be presented in two parts. ‘Part One’ will include the years 1904 to 1945. ‘Part Two’ will include the remaining years from 1946 to 1968 and will be held on a future date.

The event will consist of a presentation using numerous photos, newspaper articles and film footage, most of which came from the archives of the Donora Historical Society, as well as the Coach Jimmy Russell collection donated by his daughter in 2013. It will include stories told by Smog Museum archivist and curator Brian Charlton, who will take you all the way back in time to 1904 when Donora was known as the Orange and Black, wore leather helmets and played by the Mon River on Gilmore Field, when organized football wasn’t so organized. Hear stories about Coach Russell and players Jake Kovalcik, Arnold “Pope” Galiffa, “Deacon” Dan Towler, Lou “Bimbo”Cecconi, Bob Rosborough, Bill Urbanik, Larry Crawford, Malcolm Lomax and many others, that made Donora the “Home of Champions,” as well as Donora’s football ties to the likes of Knute Rockne and Vince Lombardi.

“Donora Football Dragons – 1904 to 1945’ – (Part One) is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Saturday evening, October 20 at the Croatian Club (Cro Club) in Donora located at 329 Castner Avenue. Food and drinks will be available for purchase from the Cro Club. The event is free but donations will be gladly accepted. “Donora – Forged in 1901” T-shirts will be sold, along with select football game film DVDs from the 1960s.

Former coaches, players, cheerleaders, band members and fans from any era are encouraged to attend. We encourage audience participation by sharing your stories or memorabilia. Please RSVP for the Game Film Event by contacting the Donora Historical Society by phone 724-823-0364, or email donorahistoricalsociety@gmail.com. Follow news about the “Donora Historical Society and Smog Museum” in this newspaper, on our website www.Donorahistoricalsociety.org, or on Facebook for future updates.

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