JOSEPH S. RODJAM

From the playing fields of Donora, PA, to a naval team based on Saipan during World War II and back home to Washington and Jefferson College in Southwest Pennsylvania, Joe Rodjom has had an outstanding athletic career. A letterman in football, track and baseball, he was captain of the football team his senior year. Earning fame as a prep end under the tutelage of the coaching of Jimmy Russell, Rodjom was named to the All-Valley, All-Conference and All-WPIAL gridiron teams while at Donora.

He spent three years in the US Navy during the war, and was able to continue playing football while based at Naval Air base on Saipan. Following World War II, Rodjom became a four-year starter on Washington and Jefferson College teams in Washington. Averaging 58 minutes a game as an end on both offense and defense. he was named co-captain his freshman year, and named captain his remaining three years by Coach Heinie Leucht.

Joe was named to the All-District team in 1947, received honorable mention on the All-State team in 1948. and was named to the All-District Class B College team in 1949. A social studies teacher who received his Masters of Education from the University of Pittsburgh in 1953, Rodjom began teaching at Washington High School after graduating from W & J in 1950. At Wash High he coached football for 22 years, track for 15 years and baseball for 13 years. He retired from teaching in 1989.

Joe and his wife, Jane, reside in Washington. They are parents of two children, Tom and Kathy, and have four grandchildren.