In the late 1930's and early 1940's, the football program at then Youngstown College was just getting underway and it was through the work and efforts of many of those players and coaches that today's teams are enjoying the success that they are.
Tony Aiello was one of those early stars and for his efforts on the gridiron during the early days of the sport at YC, he is being honored tonight as he joins four other ex-football greats in this years Hall of Fame class to be so honored.
Born in Monongahela, Pa., on April 28, 1921, he was one of nine children (four brothers and four sisters), raised in nearby Masury, Ohio, when the family relocated at an early age.
He played scholastically both football and basketball at Brookfield High School, and in the summer time participated in baseball. Yet when he entered college, he put everything else aside to concentrate on the grid sport and was a major factor in the success of the program during its early years under the direction of the late Dwight "Dike" Beede.
He was a Physical Education major while in college, and had a burning desire to coach some day upon graduation. He was the only child in his family to receive an education beyond high school and along with his sister, were the only two in the family to graduate from high school.
His college education was financed by working at the A&P Warehouse in Youngstown while receiving a small stipend to play athletics. He helped the Penguins to a three-year combined record of 20-4-2 (they were 7-1-1 in 1940,7-0-1 in 1941 and 6-3-0 in 1942), three of their greatest years consecutively before the program was discontinued from 1943-45 due to World War II.
He entered the United States Army in the fall of 1943, and was discharged in 1944. In 1944, he tried out with the Pittsburgh Cardinals (a club composed of players from both the Pittsburgh and Chicago entries of the National Football League), then was traded to the Detroit Lions. He was later traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers and released on waivers.
He returned to Youngstown College in 1945 to finish his degree, and when the football program was reinstituted, was denied a chance to play due to his professional affiliation during 1943-45.
Upon receiving his diploma, he began his teaching career at Norwalk High School in 1946, directing the entire grade school athletic program while assisting in football on the varsity level
His myriad of duties and coaching assignments along the way included stops along the way at Steuben, OH, Western Reserve High School in Wakeman, Ohio, and his alma mater Brookfield High School.
It was as the head coach of Western Reserve that they won their first ever Firelands Conference title (1951), quite an accomplishment since the school has only turned the trick once ever since.
He returned to Norwalk in 1962 to finish his teaching/coaching careers, retiring from the active ranks in 1982.
He is a well respected official, having served as a basketball mediator for 51 years, doing baseball/softball for 29 years and serving the football ranks for another 31 years.
His true love for sports is reflected in his still being physically fit and his being active during his daily round of golf when weather permits.
He is married to the former Marie Zaken, and they are the proud parents of daughters Toni and Kathleen, and son John. They have five grandchildren (two grandsons and three granddaughters).
