Former US Foods Area president to be honored by CBRC dinner

Former Pro Bowl Steeler receiver Lipps to be keynote speaker

The Central Blair Recreation and Park Commission will honor retired US Foods Area President Rocco Alianiello with its Respected Citizen Award at the commission's annual Community Classic Dinner in February.

Featured speaker will be former Steelers receiver Louis Lipps.

"(Alianiello) doesn't think he's done anything to deserve (the award)," said commission Executive Director Mike Hofer at a recent meeting. But Alianiello's support during his time at US Foods was critical for the very event where he'll be feted, according to Hofer. Without that support, "I don't know the dinner would be in existence," Hofer said of the commission's biggest fundraiser.

Alianiello has also done lots of other work for the commission, starting as a lifeguard years ago at Prospect Pool, followed by coaching soccer, along with self-defense classes held in a training room Alianiello helped create in the basement of commission headquarters.

Perhaps his most important contribution was an annual anti-

bullying course designed to help elementary kids transition into the more challenging junior high school environment, Alianiello said.

"It gave them the tools," he said.

Those tools are physical, mental and social, Alianiello said.

They can help kids respond to getting bullied, help them keep from getting bullied and help them deal with seeing it happen to others, Alianiello said.

While the effort was a personal mission, there was no particular trigger in his own life, other than wishing to help.

"We've all heard the horror stories," he said.

He's always valued the job the commission does in the community, helping kids get a good foundation in life, Alianiello said.

Being chosen for the award was unexpected and humbling, he said.

"I'm very honored that someone thought I was deserving," he said.

Lipps played in the NFL from 1984 to 1992, all but the last year with the Steelers, according to pro-football-reference.com.

He started 98 games and had 359 receptions for a total of 6,019 yards, an average of 16.8 yards per reception. He scored 39 touchdowns.

He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1985 and 1986.

"If you grew up in the '80s, he was a pretty big deal," said Hofer, who met Lipps at a McGruff the Crime Dog event when Hofer was a student at Sacred Heart Elementary School.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.