Cercone, William F.,

William F. Cercone was born August 13, 1913 in Stowe Township, Pennsylvania and had a long and distinguished career as a lawyer, judge, and civic-minded citizen. He received his B.A. in 1936 from the University of Pittsburgh and his LL.B from Duquesne University Law School in 1941. He began his career as a lawyer and later as Assistant Distric Attorney for Allegheny County. He came to international prominence when he successfully prosecuted Steve Nelson, a Communist Party leader in Pittsburgh, for sedition in 1952. In 1956, he was appointed to the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County and reelected in 1957 and 1967. In 1968, he was elected to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. He became President Judge in 1979 until 1983 when he became Senior Judge of the Superior Court. He retired at age 90 in 2003 and died January 2, 2005.