WQED Pittsburgh: Pittsburghers of the Century: December 1999

Latest Issues

Archives

Guides

Subscribe

Letters

Masthead

Membership

Shop WQED

Contact

Pittsburghers of the Century

T | U | V | W | Y | Z

T

Basil Takach:
First bishop of the Byzantine Exarchate of Pittsburgh, now celebrating its 75th anniversary. The establishment of the diocese in 1924 was a special milestone for Pittsburgh's large Eastern European population, which saw the first Byzantine Ruthenian Church organized in Freeland, Pa., in 1886. Today, the Byzantine Catholic Archdiocese of Pittsburgh, with headquarters on the North Side and a cathedral in Munhall, comprises four dioceses in the United States with 236,000 Byzantine Catholics. It is the only self-governing "eastern" Catholic Church in this country. These Catholics follow the traditions of Orthodoxy but give their allegiance to the pope in Rome.

Henry Ossawa Tanner:
Pittsburgh-born artist (in 1859) who in 1912 received recognition for his paintings at the Paris World Exhibition (first African American). Works hang in the Louvre. In 1996, his "Sand Dunes at Sunset, Atlantic City" (1886) hung in the White House.

The Rev. Augustus Taylor:
In 1970, he became the first African-American priest in the Pittsburgh (Roman Catholic) Diocese.

Paul Taylor:
We can claim both the mother and the father of modern dance. Acclaimed by critics as the world's greatest living choreographer, this Edgewood native was a soloist with the Martha Graham Dance Co. while at the same time presenting his own work in concerts in both the United States and Europe Paul Taylor was elected to knighthood by the French government as Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1969 and has since been elevated to the ranks of Officier (1984) and Commandeur (1990). Awards include a MacArthur Foundation "genius" Fellowship (often called the genius award) and a Guggenheim Fellowship. Elected one of 10 honorary American members of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, he was awarded a National Medal of Arts by President Clinton in a ceremony at the White House in 1993.

John Kinley Tener:
A thoroughly driven politician. In 1908, the Irish native (his family moved to Pittsburgh when he was 10) was elected to the 61st Congress, where he represented his Pittsburgh constituency until 1911, when he took over the governor's seat. When the automobile boom began, Tener started to update the state highway system, also setting new controls on public utilities and created a Department of Labor and Industries. He was a professional baseball player in his early years for the Pittsburgh National League club, as well as for clubs in Baltimore and Chicago, and became president of the National League in 1931. He was also head of an insurance company and another financial institution in Pittsburgh during his lifetime.

Tito Brothers:
Following Prohibitions, Latrobe Brewing was sold to the Tito Bothers, who ran the company until the 1980s. It was the Titos who, in 1939, created Rolling Rock beer, today one of the favorite adult beverages on college campuses and in sports bars around the country. They are also responsible for the cryptic, non-sequitorial "33" following the product description on the trademark green bottle's silk-screened label. The out-of-place number has been the topic of innumerable (and futile?) bar and dorm room debates concerning its origin, but seemingly the most reasonable is the one alleging that when writing the copy for the bottles' labels, the Titos counted 33 words, wrote that number on the copy and circled it for the printers, and the printers thought it was part of the copy. Have another one, and it'll all start to make sense.

Marie Torre:
When Marie Torre came to Pittsburgh in the early 1960s, she helped break gender barriers at a time when women typically were relegated to positions like "weathergirl." She infused local television with a journalistic professionalism with her serious, intelligent and no-nonsense delivery of the news. Torre became the first woman anchor on KDKA-TV and also hosted a local daily interview show. She continued in television in New York after leaving town in the late 1970s. Before coming to Pittsburgh, she had been a reporter on the New York World-Telegram and Sun, where she made headlines herself after being jailed for refusing to divulge a source for a story she had written. Carlow College has an annual lecture in her memory.

Jon-Michael Tebelak:
Working on his MFA in playwriting at then-Carnegie Tech, he wrote Godspell as his thesis. The play (on which many fellow grad students participated) ran for years off-Broadway and remains one of the most produced plays in American history.

Louise McPhetridge Thaden:
Mount Lebanon aviation pioneer (1909-79) was the first woman to simultaneously hold the records for altitude (20,680 feet), speed (156 mph) and solo endurance (122 hours). Set a refueling endurance record (196 hours) and was the first woman to win the Bendix Transcontinental Air Race, in 1936. Beat Amelia Earhart to win the first Women's Air Derby (1929) from Santa Monica to Cleveland. Also organized and taught in the Women's Division of the Penn School of Aviation (1929), worked for Pittsburgh Aviation Industries Inc., served on the U.S. Defense Department's Advisory Committee on Women in the Service (1959-61) and flew with the Civil Air Patrol (1949-70), eventually achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel in search-and-rescue mission.

Harry K. Thaw:
There have been other "crimes of the century," but his was the first, and at least as well remembered as the others. His shooting of Stanford White, his wife's former lover, in a crowded restaurant, and his subsequent trial, have been prominent plot points in many popular books, movies and plays, most recently the musical Ragtime. The steel heir got off in the first successful plea of "innocent by reason of temporary insanity." His "trial of the century" was also the first recorded use of the word "brainstorm," then used to describe that state of insanity that rendered him innocent. The word "playboy" was also coined to describe him.

DeLloyd Thompson:
Exhibition flier who "bombed" the U.S. Capitol in 1917. During WWI, the Washington (Pa.) resident warned that someone might bomb the Capitol, and when the Senate and President disbelieved (some even say laughed at) him, he did it himself—with bags of flour.

Harold Joseph "Pie" Traynor:
Legendary Pirate rated as one of the greatest third basemen of all time, both offensively and defensively. A consistent .300 batter and 100 RBI-man and the pride of the Pirates in the 1920s and 1930s. Considered by John McGraw as "the finest team player in the game." To a later generation, the Hall of Famer is chiefly remembered as an unlikely but memorable pitchman for a local building contractor on late-night television. Commemorated by local youth baseball fields in his name.

Walter Tucker:
Became the first African-American from this area elected to the state legislature.

Stanley Turrentine:
Mr. T, a Hill District native and world-famous saxophonist, has been knocking down audiences since he made his professional debut at the age of 13.

TOP

U

Thomas J. Usher:
Chairman of the board and CEO of USX Corp., a major producer of energy and metal products and the largest Fortune 500 company with headquarters in Pittsburgh. A Pitt grad (B.S. in industrial engineering, M.S. in operations research and Ph.D. in systems engineering), Usher was elected president and COO of USX in 1994, and to his current post the following year. Vice president of Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Usher is one of the leaders in regionalism and has headed such efforts as the Regional Renaissance Partnership. Also interested in international as well as regional growth, he is chairman of the U.S.-Korea Business Council, chairman of the International Iron and Steel Institute and director of the U.S.-Japan Business Council, among other posts.

Johnny Unitas:
Pittsburgh (East End)-born football great enshrined in Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979 (quarterback 6-1, 195). After being cut by 1955 Steelers, he was a free agent with 1956 Colts, and soon became legendary hero. Played for 1956-72 Baltimore Colts and 1973 San Diego Chargers. Led Colts to 1958, 1959 NFL crowns. MVP three times in 10 Pro Bowls, All-NFL five seasons, Player of Year three times. Exceptional field leader, thrived on pressure. Completed 2,830 passes for 40,239 yards, 290 TDs. Threw at least one TD pass in 47 straight games. Had 26 games over 300 yards passing.

TOP

V

A. J. "Rick" Vaccarelli:
In 1967 as president of Vote At 18, he led a statewide effort, and was vice president of a national organization, Make It Eighteen, to lower the voting age.

James D. Van Trump:
Pittsburgh historian, author, preservationist and a founder of Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. Helped to turn around the idea that the past was best discarded. He and Arthur Ziegler Jr. penned the first major survey of county architecture, Landmark Architecture of Allegheny (1967), which carried an early preservation-advocacy position.

Robert L. Vann:
Lawyer, diplomat, crusader, political statesman and publisher and Pitt grad who was one of the founders of landmark newspaper The Pittsburgh Courier. Acquired the Courier from Edwin Harleston in lieu of legal fees, and with Ira. F. Lewis developed the four-page newspaper (in 1910) into a national journal. He became editor in 1912, holding that position for the rest of his life (he later became The Courier's treasurer and president, also positions he held until his death in 1940). By his guidance and vigorous work and upkeep, The Courier became the country's most widely circulated black newspaper, rising to 14 separate national editions with a peak circulation of 400,000/week and a net income of $4 million. Vann was also instrumental in the shifting of black voters' political allegiance away from the Republican Party (still considered by many the party of Abraham Lincoln) and supporting Democratic candidate Franklin D. Roosevelt, who, in 1933, appointed Robert Lee Vann a special assistant attorney-general.

Arnold Varga:
Incomparable designer/illustrator from the golden age of graphic design. Pittsburghers would cut out and frame his award-winning ads.

Joseph Floyd "Arky" Vaughan:
Among Hall of Fame shortstops, the Arkansas native's (thus the nickname). 385 average batting average in 1935 is still the Pirates' record. Vaughan homered twice in the 1941 All-Star Game and struck out only 276 times in 6,622 career at-bats.

Bobby Vinton:
Called the all-time most successful love singer of the rock-era by Billboard Magazine, this Canonsburg native has established himself as one of America's top performers and most versatile entertainers, serenading millions over the years with such unforgettable classic hits as "Roses Are Red," "Blue Velvet" and "Mr. Lonely." Billboard also notes that during the first 10 years of the rock era, Vinton had more No. 1 hits than any other male vocalist, including Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. Throughout his career, "The Polish Prince" has earned more than a dozen gold records and albums, and sold over 75 million records. In the past several years, he has been honored by more than 100 national organizations and more than a dozen mayors across the U.S. for his unique contributions to the country's ethnic communities. He has been invited to Poland as a guest of the government, and as a tribute to his talents and community services, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce bestowed its highest honor upon Vinton—a bronze star on the world-famous Hollywood Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard. The Duquesne graduate with a degree in musical composition has also been awarded an honorary doctoral degree in music from his alma mater.

Constantino Vitale:
When he moved from Italy to New Castle at the beginning of the century, he brought the company he started in 1889, the Vitale Fireworks Co., now the fourth-largest fireworks company in the nation, under his descendant Stephen.

Stephen Vitale:
New Castle native and president (since 1993) of Pyrotecnico, formerly known as the Vitale Fireworks Co. Under his leadership, the company has seen a growth of 35 per cent, each year producing shows in 38 states, plus accounts in China, Columbia and Barbados. Events include Pittsburgh's Bicentennial Committee celebration, Penguins Hockey games, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera shows, U.S. presidential birthday celebrations, and First Night celebrations in Danbury, Annapolis and Pensacola.

The Vogues:
The Turtle Creek pop group hit the national charts in the mid-'60s with "Five O'Clock World" (used more recently as the theme song in the second season of ABC's "The Drew Carey Show") and "Turn Around Look At Me."

TOP

W

George Edward "Rube" Waddell:
The most famous baseball player to emerge from Butler County, he spent his early life in Portersville, although he was born outside Bradford. Waddell (1876-1914), whose career as a pitcher included stints on the Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Athletics, garnered headlines, inspired editorial cartoonists and earned national notoriety with his colorful, outrageous and eccentric behavior. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946.

John Peter "Honus" Wagner:
Among the first class of inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936. Carnegie native and Pirate legend racked up 17 consecutive .300 seasons, including eight as the league batting champion, compiling lifetime average of .329; also stole 720 bases, leading the league six times. Considered the greatest shortstop of all time, the "Flying Dutchman" played every position except catcher. A statue of him was moved from Schenley Park (near Forbes Field) to Three Rivers Stadium, and will be relocated to PNC Park. The Honus Wagner baseball card has fetched the highest price ever for a baseball card: $580,000. The previous two record-holders were also Honus Wagner cards.

Jewel Walker:
With CETA funding and city backing, this CMU faculty member launched the City Players, a paid ensemble of actors who "toured" to community centers and staged real theater (tickets were free) in what was then called the Allegheny Theatre, sharing space with the equally new Pittsburgh Public Theater on the North Side. The Players, after changes of funding and several near-brushes with oblivion, are now known as City Theatre, with its own home on the South Side.

Joe Walker:
U.S. test pilot from Washington (Pa.) who broke the sound barrier, setting speed/ altitude record (3,443 mph, 46.7 miles above the Earth). Voted Pilot of the Year in 1963 by National Pilots Association. Joined NASA and received astronaut wings. Piloted the first flight of lunar landing research vehicle on Oct. 30, 1964 (total flight time under a minute), but was killed in a 1966 plane crash.

Denver Walton:
Beaver County's unofficial historian. Working with collaborator Arnold McMahon, he compiled a three-volume pictoral history of the county, the first book of which was published in the mid-'70s.

Lloyd "Little Poison" Waner:
Both Waner brothers, though small (150 lbs. each) were "poison" to opposing teams. They were complete players who could hit, field, throw and steal. Lloyd batted .355 as a rookie; his 223 hits are still a rookie record. The Pirate legend hit over .300 in 10 of his first 12 seasons, with a career of 316 and 2,459 hits and is a member of baseball's Hall of Fame.

Paul "Big Poison" Waner:
Starring with brother Lloyd in the Pirates outfield 1927-1940, the Hall of Famer reached the 3,000-hit plateau, won three National League batting titles (hitting .300 or better 14 times), and collected 200 or more hits on eight occasions. Paul was named the league's MVP in 1927 and went on to compile a .333 career average.

Hugh J. Ward:
What would church social groups do without him? The Pittsburgh resident invented Bingo (on the South Side), and took the game national in 1924.

Andy Warhol:
This Pittsburgh native received much more than the proverbial "15 minutes of fame" concept he coined. After graduating from Carnegie Tech, he headed to New York, where he found work in advertising design. A painting of a Campbell's Soup can really put him on the map, an icon of the Pop movement. Warhol also made a name for himself in filmmaking, with such works as Heat, Trash and Sleep. He was frequently found among the beautiful people in such haunts as Studio 54 and became famous just for being famous. After his death, in 1987, Carnegie Museums and the Andy Warhol Foundation built the nation's largest museum dedicated to a single artist, on the North Side.

Paul Warhola:
Andy Warhol's big brother, who kept the "a" on the family surname that Andy dropped. Although not trained as an artist, Paul, who stayed in this area all his life, picked up a brush after his retirement from a scrap-metals business and followed in Andy's footsteps, doing an early painting of a Heinz Ketchup bottle. He discovered a distinctive style of his own in paintings using patterns created by chicken feet. Like Andy, he was asked to create an ad for Absolut Vodka.

The Warners:
Why movies talk. Harry (1881-1958), Albert (1884-1967), Samuel (1887-1927) and Jack Warner (1892-1978) opened their first movie theater (the Cascade Theater), a nickelodeon, in New Castle. The success of that encouraged them to produce films in 1912 in NYC, then open their own studio in Hollywood in 1918. Five years later, they founded Warner Brothers Pictures Inc. In 1926, the Bros. formed Vitaphone to develop a sound-on-disk process by which a recording could be played alongside a film and be in synchronization with it. The studio used this technology in The Jazz Singer (1927), the first silent feature film to feature synchronized sound, thus revolutionizing the movie industry.

Milton Washington:
As president and CEO of Allegheny Housing Rehabilitation Corporation, he's the region's leading African-American businessman, probably of the century. He has developed some 160 properties in the region, including Bellefield Dwellings in Oakland. As vice chair of the Building One Economy Committee, a group formed by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development to study the economic gap between blacks and whites, he is also a recognized leader in the regionalism movement here.

Jeff "Tain" Watts:
Pittsburgh native and Duquesne University grad best known for drumming contributions to Wynton and Branford Marsalis' groundbreaking ensembles.

Frederick Way Jr.:
America's foremost authority on inland waterways. Edgewood native wrote The Saga of the Delta Queen and a monumental two-volume work that lists all the steamboats and barges that ever plied the Mississippi system.

Todd Webb:
Photographically documented Pittsburgh for three weeks in 1948 for N.J. Standard Oil Photography Project. Though not here long, photos are considered significant documents of the era.

Mike Webster:
Hall-of-Famer played 1974-88 for Pittsburgh Steelers (and 1989-90 for Kansas City Chiefs). Steelers' captain for nine seasons. Started 150 consecutive games. He missed only four games first 16 seasons, playing every game for 10 consecutive years (1976-85). Played in four Super Bowls, six AFC championship games. All-Pro six straight years. All-AFC five times. Played in nine Pro Bowls. Was Steelers' fifth-round draft pick in 1974, becoming a full-time regular in his third season.

Dr. Cyril Wecht:
A double threat (M.D. and J.D.) as Allegheny County coroner in the 1970s and 1990s, with a stint as county commissioner (elected with a very high percentage of the vote) in between, plus academic positions in law and pharmacology at several local institutions. A nationally known forensics expert directly involved in or discussed in public forum the medicolegal and forensic aspects of medical malpractice, drug abuse, the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy, the death of Elvis Presley, the O.J. Simpson case, and the JonBenet Ramsey case. He has discussed, from the perspective of his own professional involvement, the cases of Mary Jo Kopechne, Sunny von Bulow, Jean Harris, Dr. Jeffrey McDonald, the Waco Branch Davidian fire, Vincent Foster, and others, in his books Cause of Death, Grave Secrets and Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey? Purportedly the inspiration for the TV show "Quincy."

Helge H. Wehmeier:
President and CEO of Bayer Corp., a research-based company with major businesses in health care and life sciences, chemicals and imaging technologies. The company, with headquarters in Pittsburgh, is a member of the worldwide Bayer Group, a $31 billion chemical and pharmaceutical company based in Leverkusen, Germany. Wehmeier has sustained the interest of his Bayer predecessor, Conrad Weiss, in WQED-FM, under whose leadership (Weiss') FM became the Bayer Broadcast Center and began broadcasting the "Bayer Sunday Arts Magazine." Under Wehmeier, a Bayer grant helped the station upgrade to digital and establish a sister station in Johnstown, WQEJ-FM. Also, with Bayer support, the station has been able to add shows such as "Symphony Weekend With Mariss Jansson" and "Everyday Science," now a national show. Wehmeier/Bayer also supports other local cultural institutions, like the time/temperature sign on Mount Washington and River City Brass Band, and Wehmeier's on the board of the Pittsburgh Symphony.

A. Leo Weil:
Lawyer, community leader and civic reformer at the turn of the last century. In 1902 he started the Voters Civic League, which gathered evidence against corrupt councilmen (some of whom went to prison) and led to legislation that re-formed Pittsburgh government, limiting the mayor's term to four years and abolishing the two-chamber city council. The new, one-chamber council comprised nine members, each elected at large, a structure that continued into the 1980s. As a member of the school board, he and Marcus Aaron, chairman, were credited with taking politics out of the board. An elementary school is named in his honor.

Dr. Konrad Weiss:
Made Pittsburgh the home of corporate giant Bayer USA. He came to Pittsburgh in the mid-1970s as the president of Mobay, which then had U.S. sales of $330 million. By the time he retired in July 1991, he had built the corporation into Bayer USA with annual sales of over $6 billion. He was responsible for the merger of Mobay and several corporations into Miles and later into Bayer, and was personally responsible for the corporation's establishing Pittsburgh as its national headquarters. Locally the company grew from several hundred employees in three buildings to several thousand employees on the 17-building Bayer Campus. He is generally recognized at Bayer as the driving force behind the company's tremendous growth. Bayer has been a corporate citizen providing millions to nonprofits in the area, especially in science education. Weiss also served on the boards of Duquesne and Carnegie Mellon universities and was chair of the Carnegie. He continues to serve on a number of boards and is active in supporting a number of high tech start-up firms in the area.

Ming-Na Wen:
This Mount Lebanon High School/CMU grad is one of the few "visible" Asian Americans in Hollywood. She had a hit with 1993's Joy Luck Club, and succeeded in convincing producers (who hadn't planned to cast an Asian actor) that she was right for a continuing role in "ER." Later a regular on "The Single Guy," and the voice for the title character of Disney's Mulan.

Ricki Wertz:
A popular children's television personality on her daily WTAE-TV program, "Ricki and Copper," in the 1960s, she went on to be host of "Junior High Quiz," where she tried to stump teen-agers from competing local schools in a "College Bowl"-style format. Ricki now works for WQED Pittsburgh.

George Westinghouse:
One of America's most productive inventors (361 patents); 20th-century inventions include uses of alternating current (e.g. electric trains, Westinghouse marine turbines, all those electric appliances), telephone switching system, first practical induction motor, the first contract to harness the enormous water power of Niagara Falls, first power station turbine generator, paid vacations for workers (had already launched company pensions and a shorter work week in 19th century). As a champion of alternating current, he "defeated" his direct current rival Thomas Edison: AC, not DC, is the standard in America. Formed about 70 companies before his death in 1914. Memorialized here by a park at former Point Breeze estate, a high school and a bridge; the "Castle," former headquarters of his company in Wilmerding, now includes a small museum dedicated to him.

Joshua C. Whetzel Jr.:
As head of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and husband of Anne Walton, daughter of Rachel Mellon and John F. Walton Jr., Whetzel, his wife and Rachel Walton donated 90 acres of land to the Conservancy to form Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, a environmental learning center in Indiana Township/Fox Chapel that is also home to the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania. It contains 134 acres today. Also headed up the renamed Buhl Science Center, in the final days of the Buhl before the opening of the Carnegie Science Center.

Byron "Whizzer" White:
The All-America halfback (and second in Heisman Trophy voting) at Colorado (1937) signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1938 for the then-largest contract in pro history ($15,800). He led the National Football League in rushing, garnering a record salary along the way, postponing his trip to Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. After he left Pittsburgh and football (1941), he served in the Pacific theater of WWII, got his law degree at Yale and eventually ended up on the U.S. Supreme Court (1962-93).

Joseph White:
If anybody, he made it at least theoretically possible for people in the North Hills to get to the South Hills, and for people in the South Hills to find their way around the North Hills. A traffic engineer with Allegheny County public works, he came up with the idea for the color-coded "Belt" system so much loved by newcomers who find local topography defying normal driving ability. His 1940s idea was finally implemented in the 1950s by the county Traffic and Transit Commission. The "Belts," from Blue (innermost) to Red (outermost) use existing roads to create a way to get around the county without having to go downtown.

William "Red" Whittaker:
Head and principal scientist of CMU's influential and groundbreaking Field Robotics Center, the group that is working on sending a robot to the moon's south pole to look for ice. Dante and Dante II are among the projects of the center, which has also spun off such companies as RedZone.

John Edgar Wideman:
The only two-time winner of the P.E.N. Faulkner award has set many of his award-winning novels and short stories on the Homewood neighborhood of his youth (his "Homewood Trilogy" is among his most critically acclaimed works). This Westinghouse High grad and Rhodes Scholar has also had a distinguished teaching career in universities around the country.

Patricia Wilde:
The one-time star of many George Balanchine ballets became the first woman to head a major ballet company when she took over the reins of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in the late 1970s. Under her direction, the PBT expanded its repertoire (including many significant Balanchine ballets as well as new works) and its reputation, touring to New York and around the country. The company became unionized (the equivalent of a theater "going Equity," a mark of improved professionalism) and is now known as one of the nation's leading regional ballets.

Mary Lou Williams:
Pioneering woman in jazz, breaking the genre's men-only barrier by joining the group Clouds of Joy in Kansas City, Mo. This Westinghouse High grad, one of the most innovative pianists in jazz, eventually became a popular recording star in her own right. Also composed sacred music, a rarity for jazz musicians.

"Smokey" Joe Williams:
Star pitcher of the Negro League's Homestead Grays, who also racked up a 21-7 record against white major league pitchers, including Hall-of-Famers Grover Alexander, Walter Johnson, Chief Bender, Rube Marquand and Waite Hoyt.

Fred Williamson:
After playing for the Steelers, "The Hammer" went on to become one of the foremost (and pioneering) African-American filmmakers in the 1970s—writing, directing, producing and starring in many of his films.

August Wilson:
Hill District-born poet and playwright who has given himself the challenge of chronicling the African-American 20th century with a play set in each decade of the century. All but one play are set in Pittsburgh, and two of those have won Pulitzer Prizes, plus Tony Awards and many other awards. All but one of these plays has been a Broadway hit (the other hasn't been staged in New York yet). The "'80s" play opened the new O'Reilly Theatre in Pittsburgh.

Abraham Lewis Wolk:
The Pittsburgh City Councilman attended a performance of the St. Louis Municipal Opera—the first American summertime musical theater—and liked the idea so much he wanted one for Pittsburgh. He talked Edgar J. Kaufmann into helping financially, and the Civic Light Opera was soon born. Also one of the pre-"Renaissance" politicians who saw a need for cleaning up Pittsburgh's air. The county then had the highest rate of respiratory ailments in the country. WWII intervened, but what Wolk pushed in the late '30s, David Lawrence signed into law in the '50s.

Jonathan Wolken:
The Shadyside native co-founded the breakthrough dance company Pilobolus 25 years ago while majoring in philosophy at Dartmouth. Noted for its inventive and visually compelling works, Pilobolus combines body sculpture, acrobatics and theater into a repertoire unlike any other dance company's. Pilobolus has been the focus of major television productions both at home and abroad, including two Dance in America specials as well as features for Canadian and many European networks.

John Woodruff:
The Connellsville native won a gold medal in the 800-meter event at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin (played under Hitler's close watch) while still a freshman at Pitt. Probably Pitt's greatest middle-distance runner, he won Pitt's first Olympic gold medal. Today the only living member of that famed team, which included Jesse Owns.

John Cardinal Wright:
The first bishop of Pittsburgh to get a cardinal's hat while serving here, Wright presided over the diocese during the turbulent 1960s, which saw the Catholic Church rocked by the changes initiated by the Second Vatican Council. Taking the Council's call for ecumenism to heart, Wright forged links with other local faiths and also with the black community. After leaving Pittsburgh, he was assigned to the Vatican.

TOP

Y, Z

Bud Yorkin:
Television was never the same after this Carnegie Tech grad (actually, his degree was in engineering) and his buddy Norman Lear unleashed "All in the Family," "Maude," "Sanford and Son" and "Good Times" in the 1970s. The famed producer/director retains ties with his alma mater.

George Zambelli:
President of family-run, New Castle-based Zambelli Fireworks Co. and a Duquesne University graduate. With fireworks productions, accounts and programs in Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada, the Bahamas and most of the U.S., this company, established in 1893 by George's father, Pittsburgh-by-way-of-Italy fireworker Antonio Zambelli, has become the world's biggest fireworks company. It has been celebrated in national publications such as Time magazine, which in 1998 dubbed Pittsburgh America's Fireworks Capital, due in large part to Zambelli's presence here.

Arthur P. Ziegler Jr.:
Co-author, with James D. Van Trump, of Landmark Architecture of Allegheny (1967), and first executive director of Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. While at the helm (and he still is), PH&LF sparked the Station Square project in the 1970s, a pioneer effort receiving national attention by proving that preservation could be an economic catalyst. Ziegler continues to serve as national consultant on preservation issues.

TOP