Andy Stopper

Andy did not play high school or college sports locally. He played two years of varsity football at St. Mary’s High School (1930-31) and two years of varsity football at Williamsport High School (1932-33), where he was captain of Williamsport’s undefeated team and received All-State recognition (1933). Andy played three years of varsity football at Villanova University (1935-37), starting at left halfback and played 60 minutes per game on offense and defense. He held rushing, passing and punting records at Villanova (1937) and the team was ranked nationally; losing only four games during the three seasons he played.

Stopper received All-American honors (1936 & 1937), All-East recognition (1937) and played in the Bacardi Bowl in Havana, Cuba against Auburn University (1937). He won the Most Valuable Player Award in the College All-Star game (1938). The College All-Star team played the world champion New York Giants and Andy played 55 minutes in the all-star game on both offense and defense. He signed a contract with the New York Giants, but went into coaching and teaching instead.

Stopper was an All-Service All-American at the Sampson Naval Training Center (1943), a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy and was involved in the invasion at Okinawa during WWII. He became an assistant football coach at Reading High School for eight years before taking over as head coach for the next 16 seasons. He was president of the Reading Football Officials for ten years. Andy received the Berks County Coaching Award for 25 years of service coaching young men in athletics. During his coaching career, 88 boys were sent into the college ranks through scholarships, including Lenny Moore of Penn State and Baltimore Colts fame, who won every award in professional football.

Andy received the Humanitarian Award when he saved the lives of 55 children by turning off a faulty chlorine tank at the South of Penn swimming pool – without the aid of a gasmask to protect himself.

Stopper was inducted into the Williamsport Hall of Fame (1975), the Berks County Sports Hall of Fame (1976), the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame (1977) and the Villanova University Hall of Fame (1980).

Deceased