It was 40 years ago that a young, talented member of the Cambria Heights High School Football Team received an injury that would confine him to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. It was a typical late October evening in 1970 when this injury took place. It was, Ken Lantzy, for whom this All-Star Classic is named.

After his injury, Ken’s family was faced with extremely large medical bills and costs of hospital care. It was, however, at this time the Cambria Area Football Coaches Association (CAFCA) stepped in to help. The idea of a benefit football game seemed the most logical. Little did the coaches realize, this game would be played for 38 years.

In the beginning, this game was twofold. First, to help defer the medical bills facing the Lantzy family, and secondly to promote high school football in our area. Thus, a trust fund was established and all proceeds from this game would go into this fund. The game would feature an All-Star Team from each division of the coaches association. Outstanding high school athletes were chosen from all schools and the first game was set for August 16, 1971. A crowd of nearly 5,000 attended the initial contest.