Bill Lopasky
| No. 57 | |
|---|---|
| Position | Offensive guard |
| Personal information | |
| Born | January 29, 1937 Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Listed weight | 235 lb (107 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Lehman (Lehman Township, Pennsylvania) |
| College | West Virginia |
| NFL draft | 1959: 13th round, 150th overall pick |
| Career history | |
* Offseason or practice squad member only | |
| Awards and highlights | |
| Stats at Pro Football Reference | |
William Joseph Lopasky (born January 29, 1937) is an American former professional football offensive guard who played for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers and was selected by the 49ers in the 13th round of the 1959 NFL draft.
Early life
[edit]William Joseph Lopasky was born on January 29, 1937, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.[1] He attended Lehman High School in Lehman Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.[1]
College career
[edit]Lopasky enrolled at West Virginia University to play college football for the Mountaineers. He was on the freshmen team in 1955 and did not play in 1956.[2][3] He worked as a gravedigger in his hometown of Lehman before the 1957 season.[4] Lopasky played for the varsity team in 1957 but did not earn a letter.[1] He was a two-year letterman from 1958 to 1959.[5] He was named Associated Press (AP) and United Press first-team All-Southern Conference in 1958 and AP first-team All-Southern Conference in 1959.[6][7][8] Lopasky was the Mountaineer team captain his senior year in 1959.[5]
Professional career
[edit]Lopasky was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the 13th round, with the 150th overall pick, of the 1959 NFL draft and by the Los Angeles Chargers in the first selections portion of the 1960 AFL draft.[1] He signed with the 49ers for the 1960 season but ended up spending the entire year on injured reserve with a leg injury.[1][9] He was waived on September 11, 1961, before the start of the 1961 season.[9] On October 12, it was reported that Lopasky had re-signed with the 49ers after Dale Messer suffered a broken leg.[10] Lopasky played in ten games during the 1961 season as a reserve offensive guard/linebacker.[11][1] He was waived again on August 28, 1962.[12]
Lopasky signed with the New York Jets of the American Football League in 1963.[1] He was released on August 27, 1963.[1]
Personal life
[edit]Lopasky's brother, Joe Lopasky, played college football for the Houston Cougars.[13] Bill was a teacher for 37 years.[14]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Bill Lopasky". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
- ↑ Willis, Bob (September 4, 1955). "Pappy Has Another Bumper Frosh Crop". Post-Herald and Register. p. 12. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
- ↑ "Hinton Around In Sports". Hinton Daily News. December 13, 1956. p. 6. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
- ↑ "Cemetary Muscles". The Morning Herald. September 20, 1957. p. 17. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
- 1 2 "2018 West Virginia University Football Guide". West Virginia Mountaineers. July 16, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
- ↑ "VPI End Captains All-SC". The Robesonian. November 25, 1958. p. 6.
- ↑ "West Virginia's Dick Longfellow Voted Southern Conference Player-of-the-Year". Reading Eagle. November 25, 1958. p. 22.
- ↑ "Pugh Makes All-Conference Team". The Free Lance-Star. November 27, 1959. p. 12.
- 1 2 "Lyles, Lopasky Cut by 49ers". Redwood City Tribune. September 11, 1961. p. 11. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
- ↑ "People In Sports: Roberts Laments". Los Angeles Examiner. October 12, 1961. p. 62. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
- ↑ "Bill Lopasky". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
- ↑ "SF 49ers Put Bill Lopasky On Waivers". The Modesto Bee. August 29, 1962. pp. C5. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
- ↑ "Joe Lopasky". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
- ↑ "Village Voice - Winter 2022". Masonic Village. February 9, 2022. p. 19. Retrieved August 26, 2026.