Bill Fralic, the former Penn Hills, Pitt and NFL offensive lineman died Thursday of cancer. Players not even born when Mr. Fralic was flattening opponents during his All-Pro NFL career saluted him during a parade and rally held in Penn Hills. They were celebrating the state championship won on Dec. 7.

In his final days, Mr. Fralic made one more great play for his alma mater: taking care of the hotel bill so that all 62 players and the coaching staff could spend the night before the championship game in Hershey. Without his help, the team would have had to make the four-hour drive on game day.

Mr. Fralic also had donated and raised much of the money to build the high school’s $1 million Bill Fralic Athletic Center, which includes a weight room, locker room, training room and 50-yard practice field.