Weiss, Sammy

Samuel Arthur Weiss

Weiss was the first Jew to captain the football team at Duquesne College and was an NFL quarterback in the 1920s. He later became a judge and member of the U.S. Congress.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. April 15, 1902 - d. February 1, 1977

Career Highlights:
Born in Poland, Weiss and his family emigrated to the United States when he was a year-old. They settled in Glassport, Pennsylvania and Sammy attended Duquesne University. In 1924, Weiss was captain and quarterback of the Tri-State College All-Star Team, and was also the the first Jew to captain the Catholic school's football team. Named to the Duquesne All-Time Team, Weiss played quarterback professionally with his hometown team, the Glassport Odds in the mid-1920s.

While still in college, Weiss began to officiate high school games. He joined the NFL as a referee in 1942 and served as Deputy Commissioner of the league from 1942-1950. Weiss became a lawyer and later a judge, and also officiated games while a he was a member of Congress; he served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1941-1946. Sammy, who originally attended Duquesne on an "informal scholarship," generously supported the university as Judge Weiss. Weiss was among the inaugural class inducted into Duquesne's Hall of Fame in 1963.

Origin:
Warsaw, Poland

Career Dates:
Weiss played quarterback at Duquesne University from 1921-1924. He then played pro ball with the Glassport Odds from 1925-1926.

Physical description:
5'4", 145 pounds

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