Published: May 09, 2008 11:36 pm            

McCort dedicates wellness center to football great

Ask anyone in Greater Johnstown about Pete Duranko and they’ll tell you he was a standout football player and athlete, is a wonderful role model and a dear friend.

So as a way to honor him and his contributions to the area, Bishop McCort High School dedicated the weight room in the soon-to-be built Bach Wellness Center to Duranko on Friday at an assembly.

Several graduates of the Class of 1962, of which Duranko is a member, attended to surprise their classmate with the tribute.

“It’s amazing, and I feel like the luckiest guy in the world,” Duranko said after hearing the news.

Duranko, who suffers from ALS – Lou Gehrig’s disease – told the students he was proud to be with them, and said they should appreciate being students at the Catholic high school.

“You make others stand up and take notice of Bishop McCort,” he said. “Keep up the good work, and never give up even when times get tough. Just keep climbing that mountain.”

Funding for the weight room has been secured by the Class of 1962, with a goal of collecting $250,000.

After graduating from McCort, Duranko went on to play football at the University of Notre Dame and was a member of the school’s national championship team in 1966. He also spent eight seasons in the NFL with the Denver Broncos.

Principal Ken Salem said having Duranko at the school was a reminder to the students on the power of positive thinking.

“He is a man of character, and teaches us to look to the good of each day and every person and really appreciate life,” he said.

Construction on the $1.2 million, 20,000-square-foot wellness center is slated to begin later this year.

Along with the weight room, the center will house an auxiliary gym, a multipurpose exercise room, indoor facilities for baseball and softball and a running track.

        

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