Frank Sinkwich
Encyclopedia
Frank Francis Sinkwich Sr. (October 10, 1920 – October 22, 1990) won the 1942 Heisman Trophy
as a player for the University of Georgia
, making him the first recipient from the Southeastern Conference
. In the course of a brief but celebrated career in professional football, Sinkwich was selected for the National Football League Most Valuable Player Award. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1954.
According to an article Sinkwich wrote in 1988, he grew to appreciate the value of competitiveness on the streets of Youngstown's west side. "I learned early in neighborhood pickup games that I had the desire to compete", he wrote. "When people ask why I succeeded in athletics, I always tell them that I didn't want to get beat".
. He went on to the University of Georgia and played under coach Wally Butts
. In 1941 he led the nation in rushing yards with 209 carries for 1,103 yards. He was a two-time All-America
selection and led the Bulldogs to an 11-1 season in 1942, capturing the Southeastern Conference
Championship and a victory over UCLA
in the 1943 Rose Bowl
At the Rose Bowl in the team picture he was placed in number 52 instead of 21 because they did not want the press to be all over him. That same year, the Washington D.C. Touchdown Club
honored Sinkwich as "back of the year", and he was overwhelmingly voted the Number 1 athlete for 1942 in the annual poll by the Associated Press
over second-place finisher Ted Williams
of the Boston Red Sox
, a year in which Williams was American League Batting Champion, American League Home Run Champion and hit for baseball's triple crown
.
In his three-year college career, Sinkwich rushed for 2,271 yards, passed for 2,331 yards, and accounted for 60 touchdowns–30 rushing and 30 passing. He was the leading NCAA rusher in his junior season of 1941 with 1,103 yards. During his Senior year of 1942, Sinkwich set the NCAA single-season total offense
record of 2,187 yards. Sinkwich earned his Bachelor of Science
in Education (B.S.Ed.) from the University in 1943 and was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha
Fraternity.
After his collegiate career, Sinkwich joined the United States Marine Corps
; however, due to his flat feet he received a medical discharge and proceeded to play with the Detroit Lions
, who had selected him first overall in the 1943 NFL Draft
. In Detroit, he earned All-Pro
honors in 1943-1944, as well as being named as NFL MVP in 1944.
After his two years in Detroit, Sinkwich served in both the United States Merchant Marines and the United States Army Air Forces
, but a knee injury received while playing for the 2nd Air Force service team in 1945 ended his playing career. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1954.
. Nowhere did his death elicit more emotion than at his old alma mater
. "We've lost one of the great legends in football history," said then Georgia athletic director Vince Dooley
. "He was not only a great player but a wonderful person and citizen of Athens".
He also started a furniture store in Athens which failed. He later started a beer and wine distributing company that is now owned and operated by his grandson- Frank Francis Sinkwich III. There are four generations of Frank Sinkwichs. There are only two alive after Frank Sinkwich Jr. Passed away in April of 2010. Father Frank Sinkwich III and his son Frank Francis Sinkwich IV are the only Frank Sinkwichs left.
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
as a player for the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
, making him the first recipient from the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
. In the course of a brief but celebrated career in professional football, Sinkwich was selected for the National Football League Most Valuable Player Award. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1954.
Early years
Sinkwich was born in Croatia to his mother who had traveled back to Croatia to visit family and give birth to him. They relocated to Youngstown, Ohio when he was two years old.According to an article Sinkwich wrote in 1988, he grew to appreciate the value of competitiveness on the streets of Youngstown's west side. "I learned early in neighborhood pickup games that I had the desire to compete", he wrote. "When people ask why I succeeded in athletics, I always tell them that I didn't want to get beat".
Football career
Sinkwich gained early recognition as a star athlete at Youngstown's Chaney High SchoolChaney High School (Youngstown, Ohio)
Chaney High School was one of two traditional public high schools in the city of Youngstown, Ohio. It is a part of the Youngstown City School District system...
. He went on to the University of Georgia and played under coach Wally Butts
Wally Butts
James Wallace "Wally" Butts, Jr. was an American football player and coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head coach at the University of Georgia from 1939 to 1960, compiling a record of 140–86–9...
. In 1941 he led the nation in rushing yards with 209 carries for 1,103 yards. He was a two-time All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
selection and led the Bulldogs to an 11-1 season in 1942, capturing the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
Championship and a victory over UCLA
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
in the 1943 Rose Bowl
1943 Rose Bowl
The 1943 Rose Bowl game, played on January 1, 1943 was the 29th Rose Bowl game. The University of Georgia Bulldogs defeated the UCLA Bruins 9-0. The game returned to the Rose Bowl stadium after being played at Duke Stadium the year before...
At the Rose Bowl in the team picture he was placed in number 52 instead of 21 because they did not want the press to be all over him. That same year, the Washington D.C. Touchdown Club
Washington D.C. Touchdown Club
The Washington D.C. Touchdown Club was started in 1935 with a passion for charity and sports. In the ensuing years the Club has benefited many local charities as well as providing scholarships to deserving student/athletes....
honored Sinkwich as "back of the year", and he was overwhelmingly voted the Number 1 athlete for 1942 in the annual poll by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
over second-place finisher Ted Williams
Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
of the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, a year in which Williams was American League Batting Champion, American League Home Run Champion and hit for baseball's triple crown
Triple crown (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, a player earns the Triple Crown when he leads a league in three specific statistical categories. For batters, a player must lead the league in home runs, run batted in , and batting average; pitchers must lead the league in wins, strikeouts, and earned run average...
.
In his three-year college career, Sinkwich rushed for 2,271 yards, passed for 2,331 yards, and accounted for 60 touchdowns–30 rushing and 30 passing. He was the leading NCAA rusher in his junior season of 1941 with 1,103 yards. During his Senior year of 1942, Sinkwich set the NCAA single-season total offense
Total offense
Total offense is an American football and Canadian football statistic representing the total number of yards rushing and yards passing by a team or player...
record of 2,187 yards. Sinkwich earned his Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Education (B.S.Ed.) from the University in 1943 and was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha
Pi Kappa Alpha
Pi Kappa Alpha is a Greek social fraternity with over 230 chapters and colonies and over 250,000 lifetime initiates in the United States and Canada.-History:...
Fraternity.
After his collegiate career, Sinkwich joined the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
; however, due to his flat feet he received a medical discharge and proceeded to play with the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, who had selected him first overall in the 1943 NFL Draft
1943 NFL Draft
The 1943 National Football League Draft was held on April 8, 1943.This draft is the first and oldest NFL Draft not to produce a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:...
. In Detroit, he earned All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
honors in 1943-1944, as well as being named as NFL MVP in 1944.
After his two years in Detroit, Sinkwich served in both the United States Merchant Marines and the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
, but a knee injury received while playing for the 2nd Air Force service team in 1945 ended his playing career. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1954.
Legacy
Sinkwich died after a long illness, in Athens, GeorgiaAthens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
. Nowhere did his death elicit more emotion than at his old alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
. "We've lost one of the great legends in football history," said then Georgia athletic director Vince Dooley
Vince Dooley
Vincent Joseph Dooley was the head football coach and athletic director at the University of Georgia. During his 25 year coaching career at UGA, Dooley compiled a 201–77–10 record. His teams won six Southeastern Conference titles and the 1980 national championship...
. "He was not only a great player but a wonderful person and citizen of Athens".
He also started a furniture store in Athens which failed. He later started a beer and wine distributing company that is now owned and operated by his grandson- Frank Francis Sinkwich III. There are four generations of Frank Sinkwichs. There are only two alive after Frank Sinkwich Jr. Passed away in April of 2010. Father Frank Sinkwich III and his son Frank Francis Sinkwich IV are the only Frank Sinkwichs left.