ROCKY BLEIER, STEELERS LEGEND
Rocky Bleier played 11 seasons for the Steelers, selected in the 16th round of the 1968 NFL Draft. He was a member of the four Super Bowl teams in the 1970s and is a member of the Steelers Hall of Honor. A year after he was drafted by the Steelers, he was drafted into the United States Army and left football to fight in the Vietnam War. Bleier received the support of Steelers founder Art Rooney Sr. throughout his time in Vietnam, and upon his return with a Bronze Star and Purple Heart, Rooney allowed him the opportunity to work his way back onto the field, which he eventually did for the 1971 season. After a successful NFL career, Bleier devoted his life to helping others, especially those in the military. Bleier wrote a book about the battle to come back from his injury called 'Fighting Back: The Rocky Bleier Story,' which was made into a movie in 1980. He released a special edition of the book to honor the Fighting Back for Veterans campaign. The new release, titled 'Fighting Back: The Inspirational Journey of American Hero Rocky Bleier,' helped raise thousands of dollars to support military veterans' groups, including Veterans Leadership, Joint Training Facility, and Legacies Alive. He currently supports numerous veteran causes, including Operation Strong Vet, Victory Media, and Nationally Owned Veterans Business Association (NaVOBA). He has been involved with the Wounded Warriors Project, Warriors2Citizens, Veterans Job Fair, Operation Check Point, Homeless Vet Run, Vietnam Veterans of America, The Crucible, National Veterans Wheelchair Games, SW Veterans Center, and Veterans Leadership Program. In 2022, he connected with the Veterans Leadership Program and presented vehicles to two Pittsburgh veterans. Bleier truly believes in continuing to empower others which is why he is the founder and managing member of RBVetCo, a service-disabled, veteran owned company that specializes in the construction of VA medical centers, commercial buildings, and renovations.