How proud of Jim Troglio were Spring Valley residents and Hall High School students and alumni?

In 1955, some of the older Hall fans made arrangements to rent a six-car train to take fans to see Troglio and fellow Hall graduates Dale Pienta and Cliff Peart play for Northwestern University.

"Sixty-four years ago, we were playing Minnesota," Pienta recalled. "The announcer said 'we'd like to welcome a delegation from Spring Valley Hall High School.' People were amazed when 700 people stood up from a school with fewer than 400 students."

Troglio died Thursday in Merrillville, Ind. He was 85.

Pienta, a quarterback, was halfback Troglio's roommate for three years in Evanston. When asked if they had a lot of good times in college together, Pienta pointed out that a good time at the scholastically-inclined Northwestern is not the same as some of the activities at other Big Ten schools.

Pienta recalled TPP Day (Hall's traveling celebration of Troglio, Pienta and end Cliff Peart) as a highlight of their careers. Northwestern didn't win many Big Ten games back then, but Pienta said the Wildcats put up a good battle, allowing only six points to Michigan and Ohio State in 1955. Troglio had averages of 6.2 yards per carry, 4.5 yards per carry and 4.3 yards per carry in his last three seasons at Northwestern.

Troglio is a member of the Bureau County Hall of Fame and was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals in 1956. His obituary says injuries brought an end to his career, and glaucoma robbed him of his sight in the 1960. Pienta said it was a slow progression. He said Troglio could be standing on the 50-yard line and couldn't read the scoreboard.

Pienta coached football at Hall and Troglio at St. Bede from 1961-66.

After becoming blind, Troglio attended Western Michigan, where he became a certified braille instructor, going on to work over 20 years at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital in Hines, Ill., teaching braille to veterans stricken with blindness.

An obituary was scheduled for Monday and Tuesday in the NewsTribune, with arrangements pending with Geisen Funeral Home in Indiana www.GeisenFuneralHome.com.

After Troglio's induction into the Hall High School Hall of Fame in 2011, Bureau County Republican's Kevin Hieronymus quoted longtime Hall athletic director (and 2011 inductee) Frank Colmone saying Troglio was one of the greatest football players ever at Hall.

Hieronymus wrote: The 1951 All-State running back finished second in the state in scoring with 22 touchdowns and 132 total points and rushed for 1,326 yards in eight game, averaging 7.04 yards per carry. At Hall, he racked up 2,476 rushing yards (7.3 yards per carry) and 36 touchdowns. His uniform No. 66 was retired.

In addition to being a rushing leader, he was one of the top punters in the Big Ten.