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Ted Wampole is new Luzerne County tourism head

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Ginsburg, 85, hospitalized after fracturing 3 ribs in fall

<p>Former Penn State standout Wally Triplett has died at the age of 92, according to <a href="https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/11/08/wally-triplett-trailblazing-nfl-player-dies-at-92/" target="_blank">profootballtalk.com</a>.</p><p>Triplett was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1949, the first year African-American players were selected in the league&#8217;s draft. He became the first of those players to play in the league.</p><p>He went on to become a star for the Detroit Lions as a runner, receiver and return man before cutting his NFL career short to serve in the Korean War.</p><p>Triplett&#8217;s time at Penn State and later in the NFL Triplett was marred by racism.</p><p>During the 1946 season, the University of Miami informed Penn State that Triplett and another African-American Penn Stater, Dennie Hoggard, were not welcome to play in a scheduled game against the Hurricanes.</p><p>Penn State players voted to cancel the game.</p><p>In 1948, Triplett became the first African-American player to play in the Cotton Bowl.</p><p><a href="https://gopsusports.com/news/2018/1/11/Triplett_Elected_to_Cotton_Bowl_HOF.aspx?path=football" target="_blank">Bowl officials had originally asked Penn State for a meeting to discuss leaving Triplett home when the Nittany Lions traveled to Dallas for the game, according to gopsusports.com. </a></p><p>However, teammates, led by team captain Steve Suhey, quickly responded in solidarity with a letter stating: &#8220;We are Penn State, there will be no meetings.&#8221;</p><p>Some have credited that letter as the origin of the school&#8217;s popular &#8220;We are Penn State&#8221; chant, although that theory has been largely dismissed.</p><p>Triplett, a running back and linebacker during his years at Penn State, went on to scored the game-tying touchdown in a 13-13 tie against Doak Walker-led SMU.</p><p>Earlier this year, he was elected to the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame.</p><p>Triplett was born in La Mott, on April 18, 1926, and played football, basketball and baseball at Cheltenham High School. He is survived by three children, six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Wally Triplett runs for yardage in the 1948 Cotton Bowl. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_triplett.jpeg</photo0><caption0>Wally Triplett runs for yardage in the 1948 Cotton Bowl. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>

Former Penn State, NFL star Wally Triplett dead at 92