Gabe Rivera​

Gabe Rivera was an outstanding high school and college football player who also played professionally for the Pittsburgh Steelers. An all-around athlete, Rivera was a three-year letterman in football, basketball, baseball and track at Thomas Jefferson High School. He immediately became recognized in football where he played tight end and linebacker, being selected All-District at both positions. He was named a Parade Magazine All-American in 1978, his senior year.  He also qualified for the state track meet in the discus, throwing over 170 feet.  ​

Rivera became a defensive lineman at Texas Tech University, and earned a starting position in the fifth game of his freshman year. He became nationally known as “Señor Sack.” His collegiate career produced 321 tackles, and he was the team’s leading interior tackler for four consecutive years. Rivera was an All-Southwest Conference selection his junior and senior years and an Associated Press and Kodak All-American pick his senior year, 1982, when he was named Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He played in the Blue-Gray All-Star game that same year.​

His outstanding senior season made him the number one draft pick of the National Football League’s Pittsburgh Steelers. His professional career ended early in October 1983, when he was involved in a head-on automobile accident in Pittsburgh. Rivera has been inducted into the Texas Tech Athletic Hall of Fame, the Latin American International Hall of Fame and The Latino in Action Sports Association Hall of Fame.​