Hall of Fame
Decorated World War II vet. NFL roster player. Top 10 in national AAU decathlon. Named All-Decade (1930s) during Northern Illinois grid Centennial (1999). Contributed to five team league championship squads. Awarded eight "NI" varsity monograms in two sports?football (4) and track (4)?for HOF head coaches George "Chick" Evans and Carl Appell. Lettered in football (1938-41) and track (1939-42). Starred at end on NIU grid squads that finished 24-7-3 overall, won Little 19 Conference crown (6-1-1 in 1938), and tied for second loop title (7-1-1 in 1941). Earned First-Team All-Little 19 honors as soph (1939) and as senior (1941) at end. Signed as free agent with Detroit Lions and made NFL roster as end after graduation (1942). Participated in weight events on three Little 19 team champs in outdoor track (1939, 1941, 1942). Captained Huskie thinclads as senior (1942). Captured Little 19 titles in discus twice (1941- 42) and shot put (1942). Led NIU cindermen in scoring twice (1941-42). Placed ninth in decathlon (4,960 points) at National AAU Championships in Chicago?same meet that teammate Bill Terwilliger won decathlon (June, 1942). Enlisted into U. S. Marines. Served with 29th Regiment. Captained team in famous 0-0 deadlock in Mosquito Bowl "Football Classic" on parade grounds at Guadalcanal (1944). Killed on Sugar Loaf Hill invasion of Okinawa (1945). Received Navy Cross and Bronze Medal posthumously. Appell established Behan Memorial Trophy for top scorer in track (1947). Crystal Lake High grad (Deceased).
