Introduction for Joe Pelt at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony on March 15, 2025.

Our next inductee is Joe Pelt – class of 1969, and also a member of the 1968 state championship football team.

Joe is the oldest of the 4 Pelt boys who attended St. Pius. 

At St. Pius, Joe participated in Varsity Football, Varsity Basketball, Varsity Track & Field. He was a member of the 1968 State Championship football team. He was also, twice AA Football All State – Honorable mention.

When asked about playing for the state championship, Joe shared this memory:

The 1968 State Championship game was played in Gainesville in the pouring rain. It had rained all day before the game and continued throughout the game. Our defense was magnificent. We allowed no first downs - that's right - Gainesville made no first downs and never crossed the 50 yard line. We won 6-0 missing the extra point on our one touchdown which was a 1 yard run (BY JOE) in the second quarter. We were crazy on the bus coming home screaming "George , George, George !" Not Coach or Coach Maloof. He loved it.

After St. Pius Joe played football at Middle Tennessee State University as a running back his sophomore year and started at fullback his junior and senior year. During his sophomore season, Joe returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown against Murray State. This was his first touchdown and it turned out his 99 yard kickoff return was both a conference and school record at that time & remains a school record today.

Joe was twice named All Ohio Valley Conference - 2nd Team, as well as All-Sigma Chi Football Team -1st Team, and was the Middle Tennessee Offensive Team Captain his senior year.

Joe graduated from Middle Tennessee State in 1973 and earned his Juris Doctor in 1977 from Woodrow Wilson College of Law. He has been an attorney in a private law practice for 47 years.

He has been committed to his family and community, coaching his boys in sports, and serving as the attorney for his subdivision for many years.

In Joe’s own words, “My time at St. Pius was wonderful. You realize the great education being provided at St. Pius when you go to college and find out how well prepared you are for higher education. Friendships made at Pius are now 50 plus years old and counting. This is remarkable and a credit to the school for creating the foundation and atmosphere for development.”

Joe – we are honored to inductee you into the Hall of Fame.