Carl F. Giordana gained recognition as a remarkable athlete and activist in his community.

Biography

Giordana was born and raised in Kaukauna, Wisconsin

Wisconsin

Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...

 where he attended Kaukauna High School and was most notably remembered for playing American football

American football

American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...

 and basketball

Basketball

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...

 for the Galloping Ghosts.

He attended Lawrence University

Lawrence University

Lawrence University is a selective, private liberal arts college with a nationally recognized conservatory of music, in Appleton, Wisconsin. Lawrence University is known for its rigorous academic environment. Founded in 1847, the first classes were held on November 12, 1849...

 where he gained substantial recognition for being an outstanding athlete. He helped lead the Vikings football team to two Midwest Conference Championships attaining two All-Midwest Conference Championship honors along the way. He played a vital role in helping the Vikings win two conference titles in 1942 and 1946.
His athletic career came to an early end after he injured his knee in practice during the preseason of 1947.
Giordana also excelled as a guard in basketball and assisted the Vikings in the 1942-1943 season to become Conference champions.

Giordana left Lawrence University and joined the Army Air Corps

United States Army Air Corps

The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...

 during the Second World War, returning to play football at Lawrence in 1946.

Upon graduation, Giordana was employed by Thilmany Paper in Kaukauna for 40 years as supervisor of production planning.

Giordana spent a majority of his time volunteering at Kaukauna's Holy Cross elementary school, scheduling gym activities, and even playing a large role in setting up a very successful annual Holy Cross Men's Basketball Tournament. In 1994, Holy Cross honored Giordana for his 40 years of dedication to the school by renaming the gym the Carl F. Giordana gymnasium. In addition to his contributions at Holy Cross, Giordana was a referee and umpire with the Kaukauna Recreation Department for over 55 years.

Giordana was inducted into the Lawrence Intercollegiate Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000.

He is also in the Athletic Hall of Fame at Kaukauna High School.