Penn State All-Sports Museum Varsity S Talk on Friday 6/12/2020
On Friday, June 12, 2020, at 1:30 p.m. the Museum will be joined by Rob Smith (’86 Football)and Bob Szwajkos (’69 Men’s Gymnastics). Link to participate via zoom: https://bit.ly/2ARZSi2Rob Smith was an offensive lineman on Penn State’s first national championship team which defeated Georgia in the 1983 Sugar Bowl. Smith started as an offensive guard in 1984 and then as a center in 1985, lettering both years. After overcoming the loss of his father at a young age, with one year of eligibility left and declining free-agent offers with the NFL, he went on to graduate in 1986 with a degree in speech communications. Soon after graduating, he married his Penn State college sweetheart Mary Pizzella, and they had four children. Smith went on to spend his working career in the solid waste and recycling industry and most recently founded Capital Waste & Recycling Services in Columbus, OH.
Bob Szwajkos was the head manager for the Penn State Men’s Gymnastics team from 1966-1968. During that time Szwajkos functioned as floor manager under Gene Wettstone for NCAA and international meets for three years. Szwajkos graduated from Penn State in 1969 with a degree in pre-law political science and moved on to obtain his law degree from Villanova Law School in 1972. He is currently an attorney with Curtin & Heefner, LLP practicing bankruptcy law around the world. Outside of the courtroom, Szwajkos is an avid marathoner, having run 16 Full and 45 half marathons. He was a silver medalist for the 2010 Federation Games in Koln Germany. He ran Team Philadelphia, the umbrella organization for 11 LGBT sports organizations with more than 1,200 participants. The network of teams walked away with 75 medals, including 50 gold, at the 2014 Gay Games in Cleveland/Akron. Szwajkos also serves as the first openly gay elected official of the Newtown Pennsylvania Borough Council.
Please join us!Penn State All-Sports Museum814-863-3382