Coach Lou Tullio and Erie Vets 1948 Football at Erie Stadium

-ad in Erie Daily Times, Sept. 28, 1948.

The Erie Vets blanked the Brooklyn Eagles 35-0 at the Erie Stadium on September 28, 1948. Red Herron, a well-known local car salesman, owned the Erie Vets, a professional football team made up of returning veterans. Lou Tullio coached the team and Joe Robie played right guard for the Vets. (Joe would later become Mayor Lou Tullio's right hand man, serving as his administrative assistant.) Joe had played football for Georgetown.

The Erie Vets played in Erie, Pennsylvania. The team also included two Wesleyville High School classmates, Len 'Bull' Romecki and Bob Wykoff. Len was called the 'Glenn Davis of the Vets lineup' by the Erie Times.

The Vets also included Dave Wiley (who played briefly with the New York Giants and later the Jersey City Giants), Bob Orlando (Eastern All-American with Colgate), Leo Marzka, center Casella, right tackle Breon, Owen Kelly, Joe Kehoe (Wisconsin and Marquette), Augustine and Dom Berarducci, Matt Nickson (Tech High), Bill Schollenberger (Girard High) and Tom Brown (former end with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Dodgers).

The roster of the Vets also included Frank Lichtenwalter, Henry Galla, Deco Schwindt, Jack Greip.

The Erie Vets also played the Long Island Indians of the American Association and the Staten Island Stapletons of the National Professions Football League.

Here's a picture of Mayor Lou Tullio boarding an EMTA bus.

Do you have any photos of members of the Erie Vets? Let me know and I'll post them here.

Enjoy more old Erie pictures and articles at: Old Time Erie