Hall of Fame
Renown as finest "pound-for-pound" four-sport star in Northern Illinois record book. Post-World War II standout who earned All-Century Team votes in football and basketball. Rewarded with professional tryouts with MLB Chicago White Sox (1945) and NIBL Fort Wayne (IN) Zollner Pistons (1949). Ranks as last male NIU student-athlete to win four letters in one academic year (1944-45). Won 11 total Northern Illinois varsity monograms in football (2), basketball (3), baseball (3), and track (3) during career interrupted by 22-month stint in U.S. Army (1945-47). Contributed to IIAC championship teams in four sports (football in 1944, basketball in 1944-45, track in 1945, 1948, and 1949, and baseball in 1945). Accomplished near impossible by competing in two collegiate spring sports literally at same time. Would throw javelin or attempt pole vault?dressed in baseball uniform in between innings or at-bats (when respective track-baseball facilities were adjacent to each other on east campus). Won back-to-back IIAC javelin titles and finished runner-up in loop pole vault. Tabbed for All-Century Team (2000-01) on hardwood by playing larger than six-foot, 180-pound frame. Led IIAC in scoring and made league MVP (1948-49). Selected on Northern Illinois grid All-Decade Team (1940s) at end (1999). Inducted into IBCA Hall of Fame (1987). Named team captain and MVP, plus three-time all-conference basketball performer at Kirkland (IL) High. Began teaching career (1951) and worked at Genoa, Kirkland, and Rockford Jefferson (Deceased).
