Ray Frankowski

American football player (1919–2001)

American football player
Ray Frankowski
refer to caption
Frankowski in 1940
No. 15, 37
Position:Guard
Personal information
Born:(1919-09-14)September 14, 1919
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died:November 27, 2001(2001-11-27) (aged 82)
Laguna Niguel, California, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:223 lb (101 kg)
Career information
High school:Hammond (IN)
College:Washington
NFL draft:1942 / Round: 3 / Pick: 24
Career history
  • Green Bay Packers (1945)
  • Los Angeles Dons (1946–1948)
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL + AAFC statistics
Games played:42
Starts:13
Player stats at PFR

Raymond William Frankowski (September 14, 1919 – November 27, 2001) was a guard in the National Football League (NFL) and the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). As a collegian at the University of Washington, Frankowski was named a first team All-American as a junior in 1940 and was a consensus All-American as a senior in 1941.

Biography

Early years

Frankowski was born on September 14, 1919, in Chicago, Illinois, United States.[1] He attended Hammond High School in Hammond, Indiana, where he was a star wrestler and football player.[2] On the mat, Hammond was undefeated for three straight years, winning every match by pin within five minutes.[2] On the gridiron he demonstrated superior skill as a lineman, helping lead Hammond to the Indiana state football championship during his 1937–38 senior year.[2]

In the spring of 1938, Frankowski announced that he would be traveling west, entering the University of Washington, being joined in the journey to the Puget Sound by Hammond High teammate Herky Bereolos.[3] Perhaps smoothing the transition was a promise of summertime employment on an Alaskan fishing trawler made to the two young Hoosier guards by a Husky alumnus and booster.[3] The pair arrived in Seattle in mid-June, where they met with Washington head coach Jimmy Phelan — formerly the head coach at Purdue University and thus already well-familiar with the abilities of the Indiana high school champion linemen.[4]

Frankowski as a member of the Los Angeles Dons in 1946.

While at Washington Frankowski was again successful with his athletic pursuits, being twice named a member of the All-America team and winning a place on the school's fencing and wrestling teams.

Professional football career

Frankowski was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 1942 NFL draft and played that season with the team. Following his time with the Packers, he would play three seasons with the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ray Frankowski Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  2. ^ a b c John Whitaker, "Speculating in Sports," Hammond Times, March 2, 1938, p. 15.
  3. ^ a b John Whittaker, "Speculating in Sports," Hammond Times, April 5, 1938, p. 11.
  4. ^ John Whitaker, "Speculating in Sports," Hammond Times, June 19, 1938, p. 13.

External links

  • v
  • t
  • e
Green Bay Packers 1942 NFL draft selections