After five years of losing records to start the history of Carl Sandburg High School football, the legend of Hall of Fame coach Joe Devine moved to a higher level in the 1959 season when the Eagles put together a 6-1-1 record and just missed winning the Southwest Suburban Conference title.
One of the key players in this transformation was a two-way end named Bill Gorney. Like several of his teammates, he never left the field,.
In Gorney's senior season in 1960, this 6-foot-2, 195-pounder who played with so much heart and determination, delivered a season to remember as Sandburg won the school's first SWS title, finishing with a 6-1-1 record. When the Eagles claimed a pivotal 7-6 win over archrival Reavis, Gorney was Mr. Clutch. Sandburg trailed 6-0 in the fourth quarter when Gorney grabbed a pass from quarterback Roger Brown and willed his way the final 13 yards to the end zone, completing a 20-yard play. Randy Cernick kicked the winning extra point. The Eagles then buried Homewood-Flossmoor 45-0 to finish the title journey. In 8 games, Sandburg's powerful defense allowed just 32 ponts, registering 4 shutouts.
When the Chicago Sun-Times sports writers announced their All-Chicagoland All-Star team (which included future Illinois and Chicago Bears Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus of Chicago Vocational), Gorney was honored as the top player in the Southwest Suburban Conference. Gorney also made the Chicago Tribune All-Chicagoland All-Star squad.
Gorney then went to the basketball court as a reliable to-year starter and in the spring played a major role as a hard-hitting outfielder on the baseball team (.326 average, 5 triples). The Chicago Tribune named Gorney was one of the top players in the Chicagoland area.
When college scholarships were passed out in the spring of 1961, Gorney signed to play football with Division I University of Southern Mississippi.
Gorney's sports legacy continued to grow. Starring at defensive end, Gorney became a 3-year starter for the Southerners. He earned high praise for his attention to detail and a team-first attitude. Southern Mississippi's defense ranked in the Top 10 in the nation in Gorney's senior year.

Bill's love of sports continued well beyond his years at Sandburg and Southern Mississippi. Much to the continued disbelief of his family he even joined a midnight hockey league. And, of course, he loved playing softball. He also loved attending football and basketball games at Carl Sandburg to root for the Eagles. He taught his daughter how to throw a football, supporting her in softball and basketball. He built a full basketball court and put up a batting cage in the backyard, attracting kids from the neighborhood. .

Bill Gorney was a coach, loving father, husband, brother, friend, relative and neighbor. He and his wife Judy lived a dream by building their own log cabin - a home Judy still lives in today. He worked as a pipefitter and welder, often at nuclear plants late in his career. He loved working in his garage and promoting youth sports.

Len Gorney, a multi-sport star like his older brother, admired Bill's work ethic." My younger brother and I looked to Bill for guidance. He played football, basketball and baseball and wanted to be like him. He was a leader for so many kids in our Orland Park neighborhood.

Bill Gorney Sowa passed away in 2018 at the age of 75.