Rocco A. Pirro (June 30, 1916 – January 26, 1995) was an American football player and politician.

Football career

He was a fullback for

The Catholic University of America The Catholic University of America (CUA) is a private Catholic research university in Washington, D.C., United States. It is one of two pontifical universities of the Catholic Church in the United States – the only one that is not primarily ...

and played in the 1940 Sun Bowl, where he was described as "5-foot 10-inch and 185-pound Arizona jackrabbit." Pirro was drafted in the 12th round of the 1940 NFL Draft. Pirro was a professional

American football American football, referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada and also known as gridiron football, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular American football field, field with goalposts at e ...

Guard Guard or guards may refer to: Professional occupations * Bodyguard, who protects an individual from personal assault * Crossing guard, who stops traffic so pedestrians can cross the street * Lifeguard, who rescues people from drowning * Prison gu ...

who played from 1940 to 1941 with the

Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. Founded in 1933 P ...

and from 1946 to 1949 with the

Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East div ...

Political and business career

During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Pirro served in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

. Pirro worked as executive director of the Solvay-Geddes Youth Center and the

Onondaga County, New York Onondaga County ( ) is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 476,516. The county seat is Syracuse, New York, Syracuse. The county i ...

Youth Board. Pirro served on the

Geddes, New York Geddes is a Administrative divisions of New York#Town, town in Onondaga County, New York, Onondaga County, New York (state), New York, United States. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 17,088. The Town of Geddes is west of the neighborhood ...

Town Board and as town supervisor. He was involved with the Republican Party. He was a member of the

New York State Assembly The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature, with the New York State Senate being the upper house. There are 150 seats in the Assembly. Assembly members serve two-year terms without term limits. The Ass ...

(120th D.) in

1974 Major events in 1974 include the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis and the resignation of United States President Richard Nixon following the Watergate scandal. In the Middle East, the aftermath of the 1973 Yom Kippur War determined politics; ...

. In November 1974, he ran for re-election, but was defeated by Democrat/Conservative Melvin N. Zimmer.

Death

Pirro died on January 26, 1995, in Syracuse, New York, at the Van Duyn Home and Hospital.'Rocco Pirro,' Syracuse Herald American, January 28, 1995

References

External links

Syracuse Hall of Fame Rocco "Rocky" Pirro
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pirro, Rocco 1916 births 1995 deaths Buffalo Bills (AAFC) players Catholic University Cardinals football players Catholic University of America alumni Pittsburgh Steelers players American football offensive guards Players of American football from Syracuse, New York Military personnel from New York (state) Town supervisors in New York (state) Republican Party members of the New York State Assembly Players of American football from Onondaga County, New York United States Navy personnel of World War II American athlete-politicians 20th-century members of the New York State Legislature