A reliable performer and team leader in football, basketball and baseball, Al Bilancioni was also a fine student and leader on campus.
He earned honorable mention All-Maryland honors at right end on the undefeated football team of 1934. He played four seasons; as a substitute halfback as a freshman, an occasional starter at fullback as a sophomore, and as a regular at right end as a junior and senior–lettering all four years.
In basketball, he played forward and as a reserve, and lettered three campaigns.
Bilancioni was J. Thomas Kibler’s first string catcher in 1933 and 1934, moved to the outfield in 1935, and was a starter with Bill “Swish” Nicholson and Eddie Turner in 1936, playing left field and belting home runs against Mt. St. Mary’s and Gettysburg.
A member of Phi Sigma Tau fraternity, he served on the student council for four years, and was president of his class in his senior year.
After graduation, he felt a strong commitment to youth and taught basketball and baseball skills to Catholic Youth organizations for many years.
His working career was with E. l. duPont de Nemours & Company. He was awarded a commendation for his contributions to the Manhattan Project–the development of the first atomic bomb that brought World War II to a close.
He died March 26, 1973.
