Frank Peter Bykowski (March 24, 1915 – April 1, 1985) was an American football guard who played one season with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 1940 NFL draft.[1] Bykowski played college football at Purdue University where he was a member of Sigma Pi fraternity.[2] He attended South Bend Central High School in South Bend, Indiana.[3] He was also a member of the Milwaukee Chiefs of the third American Football League. He was also a coach after his playing career.[4] Bykowski was named to the 1939 College Football All Polish-American Team.[5] He was selected as a member of the 1940 College All Star Team.
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Position: | Guard |
Personal information | |
Born: | South Bend, Indiana, U.S. | March 24, 1915
Died: | April 1, 1985 Bradenton, Florida, U.S. | (aged 70)
Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
Weight: | 205 lb (93 kg) |
Career information | |
High school: | South Bend (IN) Central |
College: | Purdue |
NFL draft: | 1940 / Round: 6 / Pick: 42 |
Career history | |
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Career highlights and awards | |
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Player stats at PFR |
During World War II, Bykowski served as a chief petty officer, training United States Navy recruits as a physical training instructor.[6] He was later commissioned as an officer and advanced to Lieutenant (junior grade), serving as an armed guard commander.
Bykowski was head football coach for Elwood Jr/Sr High School from 1947 to 1959 after being an assistant coach for two years. He then coached for Frankfort High School from 1959 to 1965 and Marion High School from 1966 to 1968. He finished his career with Tippecanoe School Corporation where he coached 1969 to 1975.[4] As a teacher, he taught physical education, driver's education, and history. He was also a guidance counselor.[7]
He was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 1976.[4]
References
edit- ^ "1940 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
- ^ Langhammer, Jay (Fall 1985). "Sigma Pis in Pro Football" (PDF). The Emerald of Sigma Pi. Vol. 74, no. 3. p. 21. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 11, 2016. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
- ^ "FRANK BYKOWSKI". profootballarchives.com. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
- ^ a b c "BYKOWSKI, FRANK". indiana-football.org. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
- ^ Rosiak, A. J. (December 24, 1939). "In The Polish Colony". The Sunday Morning Star. p. 14. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
- ^ "The Greek Cross With The Colors". The Emerald of Sigma Pi. Vol. 31, no. 1. May 1944. p. 13.
- ^ Harbaugh, Paul R. (May 14, 1959). "Frank Bykowski Accepts Frankfort Coaching Job; Had 12 Seasons at Elwood". The Call Leader. Elwood, Indiana. Retrieved December 9, 2020.