California University of Pennsylvania Athletics

Strong-armed Bill Lee was Cal’s starting quarterback from the end of his 1963 freshman season into 1966. He becomes the first quarterback in 10 years to receive Cal U’s most prestigious athletic honor.

“I am very honored and humbled,” Lee said. “When you take a look at some off the quarterbacks that have preceded me into the Hall of Fame it’s quite something to be in with that elite company. This is special.”

Lee guided the Vulcans to a 21-14 victory over Edinboro in his first collegiate start, the season finale of 1963. Two years later the Vulcans and innovative head coach Bill Hepner ranked among the nation’s top 10 in passing offense, and the 1965 team produced the program’s eighth winning season in nine years.

“I don’t know if I could have played at many colleges other then California because Bill Hepner had an offense I could fit into,” said Lee. “He developed the insight in me to read defenses and we were way ahead of the curve with the passing game for that era.”

During his 1966 senior season Lee passed for 367 yards, then a school record, and he earned PSAC Player of the Week honors in a 27-20 home victory over Lock Haven. (The previous school record was set by Ed Zielenski, who threw for 353 yards in 1953 against W&J.)

At that time Lee ranked second in total offense among all NAIA players but suffered a season ending separated shoulder the following week at Waynesburg. He was replaced at quarterback that season by Cal U Hall of Fame inductee, Jeff Petrucci ‘69.

Petrucci, who went on to be an All-American and later coach the Vulcans for 12 years, credits Lee for changing the attitude of the team. The two were also high school teammates.

“To me he brought stability to the program and was very sincere,” said Petrucci. “He was an exceptional thrower if not the most mobile person and always got the job done.”

Petrucci said Lee could have held a grudge but was his mentor, the consummate team player and a very important figure in his personal life.

“I would have never played as a sophomore if ‘Wort” had never gotten hurt,” Petrucci said. “He took me under his wing and was very supportive. When I would come off the field he would come up to me and tell me what the defenses were doing because quite frankly I was a clueless young kid just trying to get things done. I never forgot that and have always valued our friendship.”

Lee, who was given his nickname by the paperboy at age five, watched Petrucci lead the NAIA in total offense in both 1967 and 1968.

“He broke all my records including interceptions,” Lee joked. “God gave me a pretty good arm but also very slow feet.  I would run sprints with the tackles and half of them would beat me. Jeff was so fast and defenses could no longer just stay in a zone. I have the utmost respect for him.”

Lee’s primary receiver was another Hall of Fame inductee, Ettore Perri ‘66, who scored 27 career touchdowns, another school standard at that time.

Cal won four of five divisional games in 1966 and finished second in the PSAC-West. In all, the Vulcans achieved three divisional winning seasons during Lee’s collegiate career.

Originally from Charleroi, Lee is a 1963 graduate of Charleroi High School. He was an all-conference quarterback under legendary coach Rab Currie and helped the 1962 squad win the section title with a final 8-1-1 overall record. Lee was also a pitcher for the Cougars’ baseball team. His father, the late Frank J. Lee ’24, played football and basketball at Cal and later was an assistant coach under Currie.

“I’ve been blessed to play for coaches like Rab Currie and Bill Hepner,” Lee said. “I always played with an intensity that Rab Currie instilled in me at Charleroi. I just played to the best of my abilities and expected everyone else to do so.”

During his undergraduate days, Lee became a PIAA licensed football official. After earning his bachelor’s degree in social studies and economics in 1967, he taught and coached football for nearly two years at Monongahela High School.

He enjoyed his time on campus as a commuter, hanging out in Vulcan Lounge.

“I got a well-rounded education that prepared me for the world and made a tremendous amount of lifelong friends,” Lee said.

He stopped coaching at Mon City and for 28 years officiated football at the high school, junior high and midget league levels. Lee officiated at numerous WPIAL playoff games.

After leaving the classroom Lee worked for 13 years in pharmaceutical sales and management before joining his cousins’ business, Lee Supply Co., a leader in the sale and installation of pipe and pumping systems. He worked for 30 years as the company’s environmental sales manager. Now semi-retired, he still serves as a consultant.

In 2009, Lee was inducted into the Solid Waste Association of North America’s “Hall of Flame” for his many years of dedication to the solid waste industry.

Lee is in his 11th year as the mayor of Speers, Pa. He previously served on the   Speers Borough Council and spent eight years on the Charleroi Area School Board.

“I was never in the service but I always felt if you’re not part of the solution then you’re part of the problem so I got involved politically,” he said.

A proud alumnus and benefactor, Lee has been a member of the Coach Joe Howard Memorial Golf Outing Committee since its inception in 2006. He is impressed by the remarkable success of Cal U’s current athletic teams and the many campus enhancements.

“Everyone loves a winner,” Lee said. “Successful athletics does build pride in the community and when I come in contact with someone I have not seen for a while I always take them for a ride through campus. They can’t believe it. I am a very proud alumnus.”

He resides in Speers with his wife, Mary Lou. The couple has three grown children—Billy, Michelle Schwerha, and Michael.

updated 10/26/11