Published: July 18, 2008 11:37 pm            

Johnstown grad helped change Nittany Lions’ fortunes

Tom Vargo was among a group of talented players who helped transform a Penn State University football program that had struggled through much of the 1930s into a consistent winner.

The Greater Johnstown High School graduate played end for three seasons at Penn State from 1938-40. The 6-foot-2, 202-pound Vargo was picked on the all-time Penn State team in the 1950s and was recognized on the Nittany Lions’ all-time squad again in 1967 by Pittsburgh Press sports editor Chet Smith, who covered Penn State for more than 50 years.

The Cambria County Sports Hall of Fame will induct Vargo and eight others tonight at the Pasquerilla Conference Center.

“Penn State was just coming out of the doldrums. In football they were down,” Vargo, 89, recalled during a telephone interview from his Montoursville home. “Of course, coach Bob Higgins and his assistants handled everything. We gave some teams some real surprises. We played the University of Pennsylvania down in Philadelphia – and that’s when Penn had real good teams. We went up to Army and played them when they had good teams.

“After the Army game, the students stopped our bus a few miles out of town and they actually pulled the bus into town showing their appreciation. And I don’t even think we won that game.”

The Nittany Lions had only one winning record in eight seasons from 1930-37.

The 1938 team went 3-4-1 during Vargo’s first season. In ’39, the Lions were 5-1-2. The 1940 team outscored opponents 135-46 while winning six games.

The foundation was set, as Penn State went 62-20-5 in the 1940’s.

Among Vargo’s teammates on those squads were Johnstown’s Mike Garbinski and Colver’s Leon Gajecki, an All-American center.

“In those days, Johnstown was in a depression,” he added. “When I got up to Penn State, it was a time when things were so much different. It’s like night and day now. You could go to Penn State and it would cost you a couple hundred dollars for room, board and tuition. That sounds ridiculous but when I got to Penn State, you could go to the diner up there with a group of our athletes and it was dirt cheap.”

A two-way player and three-year starter, Vargo was part of the outstanding defensive unit that set three NCAA pass defense records during his sophomore season, including fewest passing yards allowed per game (13.1).

Vargo was the starting right end on the “Seven Mountains” team of 1940. The Nittany Lions’ seven-man line was anchored by All-American Gajecki, a Cambria County Sports Hall of Fame inductee in 1971. That 6-1-1 team finished in the nation’s top 20, with the lone loss a season-ending setback to archrival Pitt.

In 1941, the Chicago Cardinals picked Vargo with their third pick in the NFL draft. He instead embarked on a teaching career at South Williamsport High. After service in the Navy, Vargo taught and coached at Williamsport High, where he assembled one of the best programs in the state, amassing a 132-32-5 record. The Millionaires were ranked No. 1 in eastern Pennsylvania for the decade of the 1950’s.

Vargo has been inducted into the West Branch Valley Sports Hall of Fame, Pennsylvania Football Hall of Fame and the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.

He and his wife, Sara, have been married since 1942. They have a son, Thomas, and daughter-in-law, as well as two grandsons, one great-grandson, two great-granddaughters and one step great-granddaughter.

Health issues will prevent Vargo from attending the induction ceremony. His brother, Ray Vargo of Johnstown, will accept on his behalf.

        

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