Al “Truck” Bender

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Al played four years of football at Wilkes-Barre High School, later renamed James M. Coughlin High School in 1917. Accepting a four-year football scholarship at Lafaytte College, he also participated in track, wrestling and boxing. He was their heavyweight champ in wrestling and boxing in1918-1919 and was a football All-American honorable mention in 1919, voted one of the best tackles in the East. In pro football, Al barnstormed with Mt. Carmel’s football team of the Coal region League in 1921. In 1922 he played for Thomas A.C. of Bethlehem, 1923 Shenandoah and 1924 the Frankford Yellow Jackets (first year in NFL). In 1925 he played with the Chicago Bears, coached by George Halas. Al was a veteran of WWI with the U.S. Navy. Upon his retirement from football, Al sold real estate and insurance. He was married to the former Mildred Meegan and is survived by several nieces and nephews, including Nancy Bedner Warren of Asbury Park, NJ and her son Scott Warren of Wilkes-Barre.