Oct. 20, 2008

PITTSBURGH - The Pitt Varsity Letter Club will honor six former letterwinners as 2008 "Awardees of Distinction" during the club's 48th Annual Awards Dinner on Friday, Oct. 24, in Alumni Hall's Connolly Ballroom.

The awards honor varsity letterwinners who have distinguished themselves in their professions and communities and who, by their accomplishments, have enhanced the value of Pitt's intercollegiate athletic programs. To be eligible, a nominee must have earned a varsity letter in intercollegiate athletics at Pitt 25 or more years ago.

The following are the 2008 Awardees of Distinction winners:

Jim Covert, Football
Jim Covert holds status as one of the greatest offensive linemen in both Pitt and college football history. Covert was an All-America offensive lineman for the Panthers in 1981 and 1982. During his time at Pitt, the team went 31-5 with three consecutive top 10 finishes. The 1980 and 1981 teams both went 11-1 and finished No. 2 in the national polls. Covert was a two-time first team All-American, earning consensus honors in 1982, and played in the prestigious Hula Bowl and Senior Bowl games.

In 1983 he was a first-round draft selection (sixth player taken overall) of the Chicago Bears and quickly earned status as one of the NFL's top offensive tackles. He was a consensus All-Rookie pick in 1983 and was the NFL's Offensive Lineman of the Year in 1986. Covert was a vital part of Chicago's famed 1985 team that captured Super Bowl XX. In 2003 he received enshrinement in the College Football Hall of Fame.

After concluding his football career, Covert worked with major health care and marketing companies such as, Baxter International's Physical Therapy Division and Caremark and Horizon/CMS. Covert also started his own healthcare consulting group, Keystone Strategies, LLC, before joining the Institute for Transfusion Medicine as the President and Chief Executive Officer in May 2007.

Henry Ford, Football
A native of Homestead, Pa., Henry "Model T" Ford was the first African-American starting quarterback at Pitt. Ford was one of several Panther players competing for that position in 1953, a position that few minorities held at the collegiate level at that time. In his first start, he led the Panthers to its only score in the opening game against West Virginia. Head coach Lowell P. "Red" Dawson gave Ford the starting position for the next game and he was listed as the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season.

Ford has owned and operated several businesses, including a food service corporation, a Coca-Cola bottling company, and a sporting goods store. Currently, he owns several stores in Ligonier, Pa.

Nick Generalovich, Men's Basketball
An outstanding player for the men's basketball team, Nick Generalovich, graduated from the University's pharmacy school in 1968. Following graduation, he joined Revco D.S., Inc, the United States' largest drugstore chain at the time. Generalovich would stay with the company until 1984 serving as the Store Manager, District Supervisor, Regional Manager and finally Regional Vice President. He currently serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman for the Vanguard Advanced Pharmacy Systems.

Donald Nania, Baseball
A three-year letterman and team captain, Donald Nania was an effective leader for the University's baseball team. He graduated from Pitt with a bachelor's degree in health and physical education in 1978 and went on to receive his master's from the School of Education in 1986. Nania continued to make a difference in leading his community with 30 years of teaching and coaching service in the Pittsburgh Public School District. He is currently a teacher and coach at Gateway High School and resides in Murrysville.

Rande Stottlemyer, Wrestling
A record of 68-16-2, one EWL title and a team captain for each of his varsity seasons just scratched the surface for Rande Stottlemyer as he would become a three-time NCAA All-American for the wrestling team from 1973-78. Stottlemyer graduated from Pitt in 1978 with a Bachelor's Degree in Health and Physical Education, and would return to his alma mater a year later as the head wrestling coach. After 29 years, Stottlemyer is the all-time winningest coach with 247 victories. He has produced 18 NCAA All-Americans, 32 Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) conference champions, and two National Champions. A three-time EWL Coach of the Year, receiving honors in 1987, 1990, and 2008, Stottlemyer has coached at least one wrestler to All-America honors in 18 of the last 25 seasons.

Rebecca Zuccarelli Verbus, Gymnastics
Concluding her career as a Panther in 1974, Rebecca Zuccarelli Verbus was a prominent member of Pitt's gymnastics team. A well-rounded student-athlete, Verbus was also a member of Delta Zeta Sorority and was a Quo Vadis - Nationality Room Guide during her time at Pitt. She graduated in 1974 with a bachelor's degree in physical therapy and went on to receive her master's from Pitt's School of Public Health with a degree in health administration. Verbus joined the Ohio Health Corporation in 2001. She serves as the System Vice President at this non-profit, faith-based healthcare provider.