California University of Pennsylvania has awarded an honorary doctorate to alumnus Elmo Natali, Class of 1953, in recognition of his dedication to students, his decades of service, and his lasting legacy at the University.
The Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, was delivered directly to Natali, who is unable to visit campus to accept the degree. Natali, 91, resides with family members in Virginia.
The University’s Council of Trustees approved the honorary doctorate at its June 6 meeting, noting that Natali served California over a 50-year span as a student-athlete, teacher, coach, dean and vice president.
About Elmo Natali
Natali was born in 1927 in Gallatin, Pa. He graduated from Monessen High School and attended California State Teachers College from 1950 to 1953, making a name for himself as a student-athlete. He earned a master’s degree from West Virginia University in 1958.
As a standout running back on the Vulcans football team, Natali helped “Cal State” finish the 1951 season by competing in the prestigious Pythian Bowl in North Carolina. He capped his football career by being drafted into the National Football League by legendary head coach Paul Brown of the Cleveland Browns.
From 1953 to 1961, Natali was a classroom teacher at Monongahela (Pa.) Junior High School, where he also was an assistant football coach. He continued coaching and served as elementary supervisor of the Monongahela School District from 1961 to 1962.
Natali returned to California State College in 1962 and remained until 1966 as a professor of education and assistant football coach.
After a brief stint at Community College of Broward County, Fla., he returned to California in 1967 to rejoin the football staff and serve as the assistant dean of men and then dean of men, a position he held for seven years. In addition to his assistant coaching duties, he was the Vulcans’ volunteer head football coach from 1973 through 1976.
Natali became California’s vice president for student development on January 24, 1977. He is remembered for taking a firm but fair approach that enabled California to become a premier academic and athletic institution.
“He was called ‘the tone and pulse of the campus’ for his ability to talk with students and really understand what their problems and issues were,” University President Geraldine Jones told the trustees.
“It was said that his complete dedication to the University made it a better place then, and the place it is now.”
Natali retired in 1992.
He received many awards and accolades during his career at California, including the Alumni Association’s 1983 John R. Gregg Award for Loyalty and Service. The University retired his football jersey number, 34, and inducted him into the inaugural class of the Cal U Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995.
His name and photo also are visible in the Elmo Natali Student Center, a hub of campus life for Cal U students.
“Elmo Natali’s commitment to California University and our students certainly exemplifies the University’s core values of integrity, civility and responsibility,” said President Jones.
“While we can never repay Mr. Natali for all he has done for the University, we hope that this honorary doctoral degree will let him know that we truly appreciate all he has done for our University and, particularly, for our students.”