John Kowalik

John Kowalik

No. 45
Date of birth	May 10, 1910
Date of death	January 7, 1978 (aged 67)
Place of death	Detroit, Michigan
Career information
Position(s)	Guard
Height	5 ft 10.5 in (179 cm)
Weight	190 lb (86 kg)
College	Michigan
Career history
As player
1934	Ottawa Rough Riders

John F. Kowalik, Sr. (May 10, 1910 – January 7, 1978) was an American football player. He played college football for the University of Michigan from 1931 to 1933. During Kowalik's three seasons as a starter, the Michigan football team compiled a record of 23–1–2, including consecutive national championships for the 1932 and 1933 teams.^[1][2][3][4] He was a teammate of future President of the United States Gerald Ford on the 1932 and 1933 Michigan teams. While at Michigan, Kowalik was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and the Druids. He graduated from Michigan in 1934 with a bachelor of science degree in education.^[5] He played professional football for the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1934.^[6][7] His son, John F. Kowalik, Jr., played college football as a halfback for the University of Michigan from 1960 to 1962.^[8] He lived in Franklin, Michigan in his later years and died in January 1978 in Detroit, Michigan.

References

1. "1931 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library.
2. "1932 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library.
3. "1933 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library.
4. "Kowalik May Be Out With Injury". The Toledo News-Bee. November 9, 1933.
5. 1934 Michiganensian, p. 212.
6. "Five Gridiron Aces Join Ottawa Ruggers".
7. "Rough Riders' First Squad Loses, 18-6, in Practice". The Montreal Gazette. September 27, 1934.
8. "1962 Michigan Football Roster". Rochester Evening Journal (University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library). August 23, 1934.