Mike Holovak
Encyclopedia
Michael Joseph Holovak (September 19, 1919 – January 27, 2008) was an American football
player, coach, and executive. He played college football
at Boston College
, where he was named an All-American
at fullback
in 1942. Holovak was selected in the first round of the 1943 NFL Draft
by the Cleveland Rams
. After serving in the United States Navy
during World War II
, he played in the National Football League
with the Rams, who had moved to Los Angeles, in 1946 and with the Chicago Bears
in 1947 and 1948. Holovak served as the head football coach at his alma mater, Boston College, from 1951 to 1959, compiling a record of 49–29–3. In 1960, he joined the Boston Patriots
of the American Football League
as an assistant coach under Lou Saban
. Holovak took over as head coach after Saban's firing midway through the 1961 season and remained as the team's head coach through the 1968 season. In 1976, he served one game as head coach for the New York Jets
. During the 1980s, he was also the general manager of the Houston Oilers. Holovak was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
as a player in 1985.
n immigrants, grew up in the coal mining town of Lansford, Pennsylvania
. During his high school playing days, he helped defeat a team coached by future legend Vince Lombardi
.
and Denny Myers
, averaging more than five yards per carry. During his sophomore year, the undefeated Eagles competed in the Sugar Bowl
.
Two years later, Holovak served as co-captain of the Eagles' squad that entered the final weeks of the 1942 campaign as the top-ranked college team in the country. However, on November 28 they were upset by arch-rival the College of the Holy Cross
, a defeat that canceled a victory party that night at Boston's Cocoanut Grove
hotel. That decision proved to be chillingly wise when a horrendous fire swept through the building that night, killing 492 people and injuring hundreds more.
The team regrouped to compete in the 1943 Orange Bowl
game, a contest in which he rushed for 158 yards on just 10 carries and scored a record-setting three touchdowns. He earned All-America
honors that season and finished fourth in voting for the Heisman Trophy
.
, who had earlier announced they were suspending operations for the duration of World War II
, selected Holovak in the first round of the NFL Draft
. Holovak then enlisted in the United States Navy
, going on to command a PT boat that sank nine Japanese ships, and later battling malaria
. However, despite his heroics, he was dealt a heavy personal blow when one of his brothers lost his life during the four-year conflict.
Holovak officially signed with the Rams on December 29, 1944, but didn't take the field until 1946
, by which time the franchise had relocated to Los Angeles
. During his one season with the team, he gained 211 yards and scored three touchdowns.
Traded to the Chicago Bears
on January 27, 1947, Holovak would lead the pass-oriented Windy City squad in rushing during each of the next two years, also three touchdowns. Prior to the start of his first year with the Bears, Holovak got his first taste of coaching by assisting with the spring practice of University of San Francisco
head coach Edward McKeever
.
After his two years in Chicago, Holovak retired on March 1, 1949 to become the freshman football coach at his alma mater. After two seasons in which he compiled an undefeated record, he was promoted to head coach at Boston College on December 30, 1950, following the resignation of Myers.
Two weeks after his dismissal, Holovak signed as a scout with the fledgling Patriots, then was named an assistant under Lou Saban
on March 29, 1960. After a 5–9 record that year and a 3–2 start in 1961
, Saban was fired on October 10 and replaced by Holovak. Finishing with a 9–4–1 record, Holovak matched that record the following year, earning him a new three-year contract, with an option for another year.
In 1963
, the Patriots reached the postseason for the first time, despite only compiling a 7–6–1 record. They then defeated the Buffalo Bills
in an Eastern Conference playoff, but were then pounded in the AFL Championship game, 51–10, by the San Diego Chargers
. The next year, Holovak added the duties of general manager to his job description, and after the team improved to 10–3–1, he was named AFL Coach of the Year on December 15, 1964 and received a new five-year contract.
However, the veteran unit slipped to 4–8–2 in 1965
, but rebounded into contention the next season with the addition of rookie running back Jim Nance
. Needing only a victory in their final game against the New York Jets on December 17 to reach the AFL title contest, the Patriots instead saw their 1966
season end with an 38-28 upset loss. The defeat was softened somewhat when Holovak again won the league's Coach of the Year accolade.
Age finally caught up with the team over the next two years with the Patriots managing only a 7–20–1 record. The end result was that Holovak was fired from both positions on January 7, 1969, ending his Patriots tenure with a mark of 53–47–9. As in his previous stint at Boston College, Holovak saw growing fan discontent, including chants of "Goodbye Mike," play a role in the decision.
He would later coach in one game for the New York Jets
, replacing Lou Holtz who had resigned before the last game of the 1976 season. His overall career record as a NFL head coach was 53–48–9 for .522 winning percentage.
, Holovak instead remained a Patriots scout, but shifted gears somewhat by taking a position with the Massachusetts State Racing Commission. However, just two months later, he left that position to become an assistant with the San Francisco 49ers. Personal tragedy, though, soon intervened when his 18-year-old daughter Ann, one of two girls, was killed in an auto accident on the night of her senior prom on June 13.
After two years with the 49ers, Holovak remained in the Bay Area
by accepting the post of receivers coach with the Raiders on March 6, 1971. When the team failed to reach the postseason for the first time in five years, Holovak was let go, but signed as a scout with the New York Jets on July 10, 1972. Returning to sidelines the next year as running backs coach, he then moved into the Jets' front office following the 1974 NFL season
as Director of Player Personnel.
He remained in that role for two seasons, but when Jets head coach Lou Holtz resigned before the final game of the season, Holovak handled the duties in a 42–3 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals
on December 12. He then announced his resignation on May 20, 1977, citing personal reasons.
In 1980 he was elected to the National Football Foundation
's College Football Hall of Fame
, then returned to football on February 15, 1981, when he was named executive vice-president of the Houston Oilers
. Rebuilding the team following the departure of popular head coach Bum Phillips
, Holovak made his most adept move when he strongly recommended the signing of Canadian Football League
quarterback Warren Moon
in 1984.
By 1988, Holovak was being phased out by Oilers' general manager Ladd Herzeg
, with his duties limited to scouting. However, after Herzeg left in a contract dispute after the season, Holovak was named general manager on February 2, 1989. He remained in that role until the end of 1993 NFL season
, but remained a scout for the franchise, which later shifted to Tennessee, until retiring for good in 1999.
On January 27, 2008, Holovak died in Ruskin, Florida
from complications from pneumonia. He was 88 years old. He was laid to rest at Florida's National Cemetery
.
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...
player, coach, and executive. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
, where he was named an All-American
College Football All-America Team
The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to the 1889 College Football All-America Team selected by Casper Whitney and published in This...
at fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
in 1942. Holovak was selected in the first round of 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:...
by the Cleveland Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
. After serving in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he played in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
with the Rams, who had moved to Los Angeles, in 1946 and with the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1947 and 1948. Holovak served as the head football coach at his alma mater, Boston College, from 1951 to 1959, compiling a record of 49–29–3. In 1960, he joined the Boston Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
of the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
as an assistant coach under Lou Saban
Lou Saban
Louis Henry Saban was an American football player and coach. Saban played for Indiana University in college and as a pro for the Cleveland Browns of the All-America Football Conference...
. Holovak took over as head coach after Saban's firing midway through the 1961 season and remained as the team's head coach through the 1968 season. In 1976, he served one game as head coach for the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. During the 1980s, he was also the general manager of the Houston Oilers. Holovak 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...
as a player in 1985.
Early life and playing carer
Holovak, one of six children and the youngest of five sons of CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
n immigrants, grew up in the coal mining town of Lansford, Pennsylvania
Lansford, Pennsylvania
Lansford is a borough in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, located northwest of Allentown and 9 miles south of Hazleton. Settled in 1845, Lansford was incorporated in 1876. In 1900, 4,888 people lived in Lansford; in 1910, 8,321 people inhabited it, and in 1940, 8,710 residents called Lansford home....
. During his high school playing days, he helped defeat a team coached by future legend Vince Lombardi
Vince Lombardi
Vincent Thomas "Vince" Lombardi was an American football coach. He is best known as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers during the 1960s, where he led the team to three straight league championships and five in seven years, including winning the first two Super Bowls following the 1966 and...
.
College career
Playing collegiately at Boston College for three years beginning in 1940, Holovak was a starter at running back at under head coaches Frank LeahyFrank Leahy
Francis William Leahy was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive...
and Denny Myers
Denny Myers
-External links:...
, averaging more than five yards per carry. During his sophomore year, the undefeated Eagles competed in the Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
.
Two years later, Holovak served as co-captain of the Eagles' squad that entered the final weeks of the 1942 campaign as the top-ranked college team in the country. However, on November 28 they were upset by arch-rival the College of the Holy Cross
College of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...
, a defeat that canceled a victory party that night at Boston's Cocoanut Grove
Cocoanut Grove fire
The Cocoanut Grove was Boston's premier nightclub during the post-Prohibition 1930s and 40s. On November 28, 1942, occurred the scene of what remains the deadliest nightclub fire, killing 492 people and injuring hundreds more...
hotel. That decision proved to be chillingly wise when a horrendous fire swept through the building that night, killing 492 people and injuring hundreds more.
The team regrouped to compete in the 1943 Orange Bowl
1943 Orange Bowl
The 1943 Orange Bowl, part of the 1942 bowl game season, took place on January 1, 1943, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference and the , competing as a football independent...
game, a contest in which he rushed for 158 yards on just 10 carries and scored a record-setting three touchdowns. He earned 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...
honors that season and finished fourth in voting for the Heisman Trophy
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...
.
Professional career
On April 8, 1943, the Cleveland RamsSt. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
, who had earlier announced they were suspending operations for the duration of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, selected Holovak in the first round of the NFL Draft
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
. Holovak then enlisted in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, going on to command a PT boat that sank nine Japanese ships, and later battling malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
. However, despite his heroics, he was dealt a heavy personal blow when one of his brothers lost his life during the four-year conflict.
Holovak officially signed with the Rams on December 29, 1944, but didn't take the field until 1946
1946 NFL season
The 1946 NFL season was the 27th regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, Elmer Layden resigned as NFL Commissioner and Bert Bell, co-founder of the Philadelphia Eagles, replaced him...
, by which time the franchise had relocated to Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. During his one season with the team, he gained 211 yards and scored three touchdowns.
Traded to the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on January 27, 1947, Holovak would lead the pass-oriented Windy City squad in rushing during each of the next two years, also three touchdowns. Prior to the start of his first year with the Bears, Holovak got his first taste of coaching by assisting with the spring practice of University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco , is a private, Jesuit/Catholic university located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1855, USF was established as the first university in San Francisco. It is the second oldest institution for higher learning in California and the tenth-oldest university of...
head coach Edward McKeever
Edward McKeever
Edward Clark Timothy McKeever was an American football player, coach, and executive. He served as the head football coach at the University of Notre Dame and Cornell University and the University of San Francisco , compiling a career college football record of 25–12–1...
.
After his two years in Chicago, Holovak retired on March 1, 1949 to become the freshman football coach at his alma mater. After two seasons in which he compiled an undefeated record, he was promoted to head coach at Boston College on December 30, 1950, following the resignation of Myers.
Coaching career
In his first five years, Holovak compiled a mark of 24–16–5, winning Coach of the Year honors in 1954 from New England football writers. Those efforts were good enough to earn him a new four-year contract on November 22, 1955, but even after four more winning seasons, he was fired on December 3, 1959, after a year in which Eagle fans had subjected him to constant verbal abuse.Two weeks after his dismissal, Holovak signed as a scout with the fledgling Patriots, then was named an assistant under Lou Saban
Lou Saban
Louis Henry Saban was an American football player and coach. Saban played for Indiana University in college and as a pro for the Cleveland Browns of the All-America Football Conference...
on March 29, 1960. After a 5–9 record that year and a 3–2 start in 1961
1961 American Football League season
The 1961 American Football League season was the second regular season of the American Football League. The Los Angeles Chargers moved to San Diego, California following the 1960 season, retaining the Chargers name....
, Saban was fired on October 10 and replaced by Holovak. Finishing with a 9–4–1 record, Holovak matched that record the following year, earning him a new three-year contract, with an option for another year.
In 1963
1963 American Football League season
The 1963 American Football League season was the fourth regular season of the American Football League.The season ended when the San Diego Chargers defeated the Boston Patriots in the AFL Championship game.-Division Races:...
, the Patriots reached the postseason for the first time, despite only compiling a 7–6–1 record. They then defeated the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in an Eastern Conference playoff, but were then pounded in the AFL Championship game, 51–10, by the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. The next year, Holovak added the duties of general manager to his job description, and after the team improved to 10–3–1, he was named AFL Coach of the Year on December 15, 1964 and received a new five-year contract.
However, the veteran unit slipped to 4–8–2 in 1965
1965 American Football League season
The 1965 American Football League season was the sixth regular season of the American Football League.The season also saw a change of television address as the games moved from ABC to NBC....
, but rebounded into contention the next season with the addition of rookie running back Jim Nance
Jim Nance
James Solomon "Big Jim" Nance was an American collegiate and Professional Football fullback with the Boston Patriots during their days in the American Football League...
. Needing only a victory in their final game against the New York Jets on December 17 to reach the AFL title contest, the Patriots instead saw their 1966
1966 American Football League season
The 1966 American Football League season was the seventh regular season of the American Football League, and one of the last before the AFL-NFL Merger. The league entered talks with the National Football League regarding a merger, which would take effect fully in 1970.The season also saw the debut...
season end with an 38-28 upset loss. The defeat was softened somewhat when Holovak again won the league's Coach of the Year accolade.
Age finally caught up with the team over the next two years with the Patriots managing only a 7–20–1 record. The end result was that Holovak was fired from both positions on January 7, 1969, ending his Patriots tenure with a mark of 53–47–9. As in his previous stint at Boston College, Holovak saw growing fan discontent, including chants of "Goodbye Mike," play a role in the decision.
He would later coach in one game for the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, replacing Lou Holtz who had resigned before the last game of the 1976 season. His overall career record as a NFL head coach was 53–48–9 for .522 winning percentage.
Executive career and later life
After first considering an assistant coaching position with the Oakland RaidersOakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Holovak instead remained a Patriots scout, but shifted gears somewhat by taking a position with the Massachusetts State Racing Commission. However, just two months later, he left that position to become an assistant with the San Francisco 49ers. Personal tragedy, though, soon intervened when his 18-year-old daughter Ann, one of two girls, was killed in an auto accident on the night of her senior prom on June 13.
After two years with the 49ers, Holovak remained in the Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
by accepting the post of receivers coach with the Raiders on March 6, 1971. When the team failed to reach the postseason for the first time in five years, Holovak was let go, but signed as a scout with the New York Jets on July 10, 1972. Returning to sidelines the next year as running backs coach, he then moved into the Jets' front office following the 1974 NFL season
1974 NFL season
The 1974 NFL season was the 55th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl IX when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Minnesota Vikings...
as Director of Player Personnel.
He remained in that role for two seasons, but when Jets head coach Lou Holtz resigned before the final game of the season, Holovak handled the duties in a 42–3 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
on December 12. He then announced his resignation on May 20, 1977, citing personal reasons.
In 1980 he was elected to the National Football Foundation
National Football Foundation
The National Football Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1947 by General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army Black Knights football coach Earl "Red" Blaik and journalist Grantland Rice...
's 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...
, then returned to football on February 15, 1981, when he was named executive vice-president of the Houston Oilers
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
. Rebuilding the team following the departure of popular head coach Bum Phillips
Bum Phillips
Oail Andrew "Bum" Phillips is a retired American football coach and the father of Wade Phillips, the Defensive Coordinator for the Houston Texans...
, Holovak made his most adept move when he strongly recommended the signing of Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
quarterback Warren Moon
Warren Moon
Harold Warren Moon is a former American professional gridiron football quarterback who played for the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos and the National Football League's Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs...
in 1984.
By 1988, Holovak was being phased out by Oilers' general manager Ladd Herzeg
Ladd Herzeg
Ladd Herzeg was general manager of the Houston Oilers in the 1970s and 1980s, under ownership of Bud Adams. In three years, from 1982 to 1984, with the Oilers he drafted and/or signed three Pro Football Hall of Famers; Mike Munchak a 1st round draft choice in 1982, Bruce Matthews another 1st...
, with his duties limited to scouting. However, after Herzeg left in a contract dispute after the season, Holovak was named general manager on February 2, 1989. He remained in that role until the end of 1993 NFL season
1993 NFL season
The 1993 NFL season was the 74th regular season of the National Football League. For the first time in league history, all NFL teams played their 16-game schedule over a span of 18 weeks. After the success of expanding the regular season to a period of 17 weeks in 1990, the league hoped this new...
, but remained a scout for the franchise, which later shifted to Tennessee, until retiring for good in 1999.
On January 27, 2008, Holovak died in Ruskin, Florida
Ruskin, Florida
Ruskin is an unincorporated census-designated place in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. The population was 17,208 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Ruskin is located at ....
from complications from pneumonia. He was 88 years old. He was laid to rest at Florida's National Cemetery
Florida National Cemetery
Florida National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located near the city of Bushnell in Sumter County, Florida. It encompasses , and began interments in 1988.-History:...
.
College
See also
- 1942 College Football All-America Team1942 College Football All-America TeamThe 1942 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers. The organizations choosing the teams included: the United Press, the Associated Press, Collier's Weekly, the New York Sun, and Sporting News...
- Other American Football League players, coaches and contributors