Hall of Fame
Class of 1948, played as a regular at fullback and halfback. As a junior, the team went 9-0 and tied one game under head coach Herb Eisele. They beat Massillon and tied Holy Name. In the annual Charity Game, they beat Holy Name to win the City Championship and retain the State Title. As a senior under coach Augie Bossu, the team was 9-1 and won the City Title beating Rhodes High School 12-0 for the Lions fifth consecutive city title and rated fourth in the state. Weighing almost 140 pounds, he was Latin's most consistent ball carrier. His excellent defensive play and consistent gains through opponents forward walls won Pilla selection on the first teams All-Catholic, All-Senate, All-Scholastic, and honorable mention on the All-Ohio team.
Joe went on to John Carroll University, and after five years in the military went to work for the federal government from which he retired as Director of Probation and Parole for the Northern District of Ohio.
