09/10/2000

Skyy Moore was born in New Kensington, Pennsylvania. He is a wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs and has been making headlines recently. On March 16, 2023, the Westmoreland County Commissioners declared it Skyy Moore Day in honor of his achievements. Moore was given this honor after winning the Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs and becoming a role model for many young people in his hometown. He is a graduate of Shady Side Academy and went on to play at Western Michigan University before being drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022.

Moore’s success has been an inspiration to many young people in Westmoreland County. He has shown that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible. His achievements have been recognized by his hometown, and he has become a symbol of hope for many young people who aspire to achieve great things. Skyy Moore Day is a testament to his hard work and dedication, and it is a reminder that anything is possible if you set your mind to it.

Photo Credit: Westmoreland County

09/17/1927-09/27/2010

George Blanda was born in Youngwood. He played as a placekicker and quarterback in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). George played 26 seasons of professional football, the most in the sport’s history, and had scored more points than anyone in history at the time of his retirement. Blanda was signed by the Chicago Bears for $600 in 1949 and spent four seasons with them, where he established himself as a talented quarterback and kicker. He then played for several teams including the Baltimore Colts, Houston Oilers, and Oakland Raiders.

Blanda was one of only two players to play in four different decades and holds several records including most extra points made (943) and attempted (959).  In 1970, at age 43, Blanda provided Oakland with four wins and one tie with last-second touchdown passes or field goals. This season is considered one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history.

Photo Credit: Jay Publishing

09/19/1921-11/27/2000

Clara Chiano was an infielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She was born in Arnold.  Chiano played semiprofessional softball in Racine, Wisconsin and Boston in the early 1940s before joining the league with the Racine Belles club in its 1944 season. She was listed at 5’ 0" and 108 lb. and batted and threw right-handed. After baseball, Chiano worked as an associate for the electronics industry in Dorchester, Massachusetts. The AAGPBL folded in 1954, but there is a permanent display at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at Cooperstown, New York. She retired in 1983 and moved to Orange City in Florida.  

Photo Credit: Florida Memory

03/01/1933

Joanne McComb was a professional baseball player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She was born on March 1, 1933, in Avonmore, and was nicknamed Jo by her teammates. She both threw and batted right-handed. Jo’s father taught her to play baseball when she was young, and she remembers playing ball on the street with the boys. She played first base for the Springfield Sallies in 1950, and this was her favorite position. 

After retiring from baseball, Joanne McComb served Bloomsburg University in numerous capacities for 26 years before retiring in 1986. She was one of the pioneers in the formation of women’s varsity athletics at the school and was named the school’s first women’s basketball coach in 1970 – guiding the program for six years. Joanne McComb earned herself a reputation throughout her life as being a supportive and helpful individual. 

Photo credit: Florida Memory