Frank Bykowski
{{Short description|American football player (1915–1985)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Frank Bykowski
| image = Frank Bykowski.jpg
| number = 4, 23
| position = Guard
| birth_date = {{birth date|1915|3|24}}
| birth_place = South Bend, Indiana, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1985|4|1|1915|3|24}}
| death_place = Bradenton, Florida, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lb = 205
| high_school = South Bend (IN) Central
| college = Purdue
| draftyear = 1940
| draftround = 6
| draftpick = 42
| pastteams = * Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|1940}})
- Milwaukee Chiefs (1940-1941)
| highlights = * First-team All-Big Ten (1939)
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 1
| pfr = B/BykoFr20
}}
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 Steelers in the sixth round of the 1940 NFL draft after playing college football at Purdue University. He was also a member of the Milwaukee Chiefs of the third American Football League.
Early life and college
Bykowski attended South Bend Central High School in South Bend, Indiana.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerb/byko00200.html | title=FRANK BYKOWSKI | publisher=profootballarchives.com | accessdate=September 7, 2014}}
Bykowski played college football at Purdue University where he was a member of Sigma Pi fraternity.{{cite magazine|last=Langhammer|first=Jay|date=Fall 1985|volume=74|number=3|magazine=The Emerald of Sigma Pi|title=Sigma Pis in Pro Football|page=21|url=http://www.enivation.com/SigmaPi/archive/Emerald/1985/SP_EMERALD_VOL_74_NO_3_FALL_1985.pdf|access-date=2016-09-22|archive-date=2016-10-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011200355/http://www.enivation.com/SigmaPi/archive/Emerald/1985/SP_EMERALD_VOL_74_NO_3_FALL_1985.pdf|url-status=usurped}} He was named to the 1939 College Football All Polish-American Team.{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2293&dat=19391224&id=FNFeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AQMGAAAAIBAJ&pg=1202,3199435&hl=pl | title=In The Polish Colony | work=The Sunday Morning Star | date=December 24, 1939 | accessdate=September 2, 2015 | author=Rosiak, A. J. | pages=14}} He was selected as a member of the 1940 College All Star Team. Bykowski was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 1976.
Professional career
Bykowski was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round of the 1940 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=1940 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1940/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He was also a member of the Milwaukee Chiefs of the third American Football League.
Military and coaching career
During World War II, Bykowski served as a chief petty officer, training United States Navy recruits as a physical training instructor.{{cite magazine|date=May 1944|volume=31|number=1|magazine=The Emerald of Sigma Pi|title=The Greek Cross With The Colors|page=13|url=https://greek.historyit.com/sigma_pi/reader.php?id=113&page=15}} He was later commissioned as an officer and advanced to Lieutenant (junior grade), serving as an armed guard commander.
Bykowski was also a coach after his playing career.{{cite web | url=http://www.indiana-football.org/?q=node/70 | title=BYKOWSKI, FRANK | publisher=indiana-football.org | accessdate=September 7, 2014}} He 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. As a teacher, he taught physical education, driver's education, and history. He was also a guidance counselor.{{cite news |last=Harbaugh |first=Paul R. |date=May 14, 1959 |title=Frank Bykowski Accepts Frankfort Coaching Job; Had 12 Seasons at Elwood |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2653135/frank-bykowskicoach/|newspaper=The Call Leader |location= Elwood, Indiana |access-date=December 9, 2020}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Steelers1940DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bykowski, Frank}}
Category:Players of American football from South Bend, Indiana
Category:American football guards
Category:Purdue Boilermakers football players
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players
Category:Milwaukee Chiefs (AFL) players
Category:American people of Polish descent
Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II