height_ft weight_lbs playing_years death_date death_place playing_team article_title position birth_date height_in number image college name imagewidth
5 190 1934 7 january 1978 detroit , michigan ottawa rough riders john kowalik
 guard 10 may 1910 10.5 45 john kowalik.jpg michigan john kowalik 175px
john kowalik

john f. kowalik , sr. -lrb- may 10 , 1910 -- january 7 , 1978 -rrb- 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 .
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 .
he played professional football for the ottawa rough riders in 1934 .
his son , john f. kowalik , jr. , played college football as a halfback for the university of michigan from 1960 to 1962 .
he lived in franklin , michigan in his later years and died in january 1978 in detroit , michigan .
