Antone Compagno (January 29, 1921 – April 8, 1971) was an American professional

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fullback who played three seasons 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 ...

of the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL). He was selected by the Steelers in the 21st round of the 1943 NFL draft after playing

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Saint Mary's College of California Saint Mary's College of California is a Private college, private Catholic college in Moraga, California, United States. Established in 1863, it is administered by the De La Salle Brothers. The college offers undergraduate and graduate programs w ...

Early life and college

Antone Compagno was born on January 29, 1921, in

San Francisco, California San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...

. He attended

Jefferson High School This is a list of memorials to Thomas Jefferson, Founding Father and third president of the United States and the author of the United States Declaration of Independence. Buildings Elementary schools *Jefferson Elementary School, in Cammack Villa ...

Daly City, California Daly City () is the second-most populous city in San Mateo County, California, United States. Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, and immediately south of San Francisco (sharing its northern border with almost all of San Francisco's southern ...

. He was the first person ever inducted into the Jefferson High School Sports Hall of Fame. Compagno was also inducted into the Daly City Sports Wall of Fame in 2005. Compagno was a member of the

Saint Mary's Gaels The Saint Mary's Gaels are the athletic teams that compete at Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, California. The nickname applies to the college's intercollegiate NCAA Division I teams and to the school's club sports teams. Most vars ...

from 1939 to 1942. He was invited to the

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after his senior season.

Professional career

Compagno was selected by the

in the 21st round, with the 197th overall pick, of the 1943 NFL draft. After serving in the

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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 ...

, he signed with the Steelers in 1946. He played in ten games, starting eight, during the 1946 season, totaling 67 carries for 217 yards and one touchdown, eight receptions for 101 yards, one interception, seven fumbles, and five fumble recoveries. Compagno appeared in all 12 games, starting four, in 1947, recording 34 rushing attempts for 126 yards and two touchdowns, nine catches for 190 yards and one touchdown, four interceptions for 163 yards and two touchdowns, and six fumbles. His two interception return touchdowns were the most in the NFL that season. He also played in, and started, one playoff game that year and rushed four times for nine yards. Compagno played in all 12 games for the second consecutive season, starting one, in 1948, totaling 24 carries for 101 yards, one reception for four yards, one interception for seven yards and a touchdown, five fumbles, and four fumble recoveries. Compagno signed with the

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in 1949. However, he was released on September 12, 1949.

Personal life

Compagno was a high school sports official after his NFL career. He died on April 8, 1971, in

San Mateo, California San Mateo ( ) is the most populous city in San Mateo County, California, United States, on the San Francisco Peninsula. It is part of the San Francisco Bay Area metropolitan region, and is located about south of San Francisco. San Mateo border ...

. He was inducted into the San Mateo County Sports Hall of Fame on May 28, 1991.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Compagno, Tony 1921 births 1971 deaths American football fullbacks Saint Mary's Gaels football players Pittsburgh Steelers players Washington Redskins players People from Daly City, California Players of American football from San Mateo County, California Jefferson High School (Daly City, California) alumni 20th-century American sportsmen Players of American football from San Francisco United States Army personnel of World War II