Robert Kolesar
Encyclopedia
Robert C. "Bob" Kolesar (April 5, 1921 – January 13, 2004) was an American football
player and medical doctor. He played at the guard
position for the University of Michigan
from 1940 to 1942 and for the Cleveland Browns
in 1946. While playing at Michigan, he was part of a line that was known as the "Seven Oak Posts".
, Kolesar attended that city's John Adams High School
before enrolling at the University of Michigan
.
At Michigan, Kolesar played at the guard
position for Fritz Crisler
's Michigan Wolverines football
teams from 1940 to 1942. The 1942 Wolverines' line, which included Kolesar, Julius Franks
, Al Wistert
, Merv Pregulman
, and Elmer Madar
, became known as the "Seven Oak Posts". They acquired the nickname because substitutions were rare for the seven players who formed the Michigan line. One historical account of the "Seven Oak Posts" noted:
Because Kolesar was a medical student, newspapers published a story about him in October 1942 under the headline, "A Maulin' Medical Man." At the end of the 1942 season, Kolesar and Michigan quarterback George Ceithaml
were invited to compete in the annual Blue and Gray Game at Montgomery, Alabama
.
In 1943, Kolesar enlisted in the U.S. Army, but remained at the University of Michigan
as a medical student. Although he had an additional year of eligibility under the wartime NCAA rules, the Army ruled that its trainees were too busy to play college football. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions
in the 12th round (101st overall pick) of the 1943 NFL Draft
. After being ruled ineligible for college football, Kolesar signed with the Detroit Lions in September 1943. Kolesar said at the time that he would continue his medical studies while playing for the Lions; he said he would be able to practice three days a week and would be available for week-end games. Kolesar did not appear in any games for the Lions in the 1943 NFL season
, and in August 1944, he was selected to play on the College All-Star team against the NFL champion Chicago Bears
.
In February 1946, after completing his military service, Kolesar signed to play with Paul Brown
's newly-organized Cleveland Browns
football team. Kolesar played for the Browns in their 1946 inaugural season
in the All-America Football Conference
, but, after one season, he elected to return to medical school at the University of Michigan. He later went into private practice as a physician in Saginaw, Michigan
.
His son, Thomas, played football at Princeton University.
Kolesar died in 2004 at age 82 while living in Midland, Michigan
.
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 and medical doctor. He played at the guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
position for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1940 to 1942 and for the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1946. While playing at Michigan, he was part of a line that was known as the "Seven Oak Posts".
Biography
A native of Cleveland, OhioCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, Kolesar attended that city's John Adams High School
John Adams High School (Cleveland, Ohio)
For schools with similar names, see Adams High School.John Adams High School is a public high school located on the east side of Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.-History:...
before enrolling at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
.
At Michigan, Kolesar played at the guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
position for Fritz Crisler
Fritz Crisler
Herbert Orin "Fritz" Crisler was an American football coach who is best known as "the father of two-platoon football," an innovation in which separate units of players were used for offense and defense. Crisler developed two-platoon football while serving as head coach at the University of...
's Michigan Wolverines football
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
teams from 1940 to 1942. The 1942 Wolverines' line, which included Kolesar, Julius Franks
Julius Franks
Dr. Julius Franks, Jr. was a civil rights leader and an All-American guard who played football at the University of Michigan from 1941 to 1942. Franks wore #62 as a varsity letterman in 1941 and #63 in 1942...
, Al Wistert
Al Wistert
Albert Alexander "Ox" Wistert is a former All-Pro American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles. He played his entire nine-year NFL career for the Eagles and became their team captain. He was named to play in the NFL's first Pro Bowl as an Eagle...
, Merv Pregulman
Merv Pregulman
Mervin Pregulman is a former All-American football tackle and center who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines and in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers , Detroit Lions , and New York Bulldogs ....
, and Elmer Madar
Elmer Madar
Elmer F. Madar was an All American football player at the University of Michigan in 1942 and 1946. Born in Sykesville, Pennsylvania, Madar played football at Northeastern High School in Detroit...
, became known as the "Seven Oak Posts". They acquired the nickname because substitutions were rare for the seven players who formed the Michigan line. One historical account of the "Seven Oak Posts" noted:
"Michigan's 1942 line had assumed the nickname, the 'Seven Oak Posts', and started the same men each week; the only rest the seven enjoyed coming in the second half of the Harvard game. Soon the two platoon era at Michigan and everywhere else would doom demonstrations of this kind of gridiron endurance. But these Wolverines offered many a thrill."
Because Kolesar was a medical student, newspapers published a story about him in October 1942 under the headline, "A Maulin' Medical Man." At the end of the 1942 season, Kolesar and Michigan quarterback George Ceithaml
George Ceithaml
George F. Ceithaml is a former American football quarterback and coach. He was the starting quarterback for Fritz Crisler's University of Michigan football teams in 1941 and 1942...
were invited to compete in the annual Blue and Gray Game at Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
.
In 1943, Kolesar enlisted in the U.S. Army, but remained at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
as a medical student. Although he had an additional year of eligibility under the wartime NCAA rules, the Army ruled that its trainees were too busy to play college football. He was drafted by 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...
in the 12th round (101st overall pick) 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:...
. After being ruled ineligible for college football, Kolesar signed with the Detroit Lions in September 1943. Kolesar said at the time that he would continue his medical studies while playing for the Lions; he said he would be able to practice three days a week and would be available for week-end games. Kolesar did not appear in any games for the Lions in the 1943 NFL season
1943 NFL season
The 1943 NFL season was the 24th regular season of the National Football League. As more players left to serve in World War II, three teams were affected by the depleted rosters. The Cleveland Rams were granted permission to suspend operations for this season. The Philadelphia Eagles and the...
, and in August 1944, he was selected to play on the College All-Star team against the NFL champion 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 February 1946, after completing his military service, Kolesar signed to play with Paul Brown
Paul Brown
Paul Eugene Brown was a coach in American football and a major figure in the development of the National Football League...
's newly-organized Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
football team. Kolesar played for the Browns in their 1946 inaugural season
1946 Cleveland Browns season
The 1946 Cleveland Browns season marked the team's inaugural season in the All-America Football Conference. The Browns, coached by Paul Brown, ended their first season in the league with a record of 12–2, winning the Western Division...
in the All-America Football Conference
All-America Football Conference
The All-America Football Conference was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the nation's best players, and introduced many lasting innovations...
, but, after one season, he elected to return to medical school at the University of Michigan. He later went into private practice as a physician in Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
.
His son, Thomas, played football at Princeton University.
Kolesar died in 2004 at age 82 while living in Midland, Michigan
Midland, Michigan
Midland is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan in the Tri-Cities region of the state. It is the county seat of Midland County. The city's population was 41,863 as of the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Midland Micropolitan Statistical Area....
.