Harry Bonk
{{Short description|American football player (1926–2011)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL player
|name= Harry Bonk
|image=
|alt=
|caption=
|position=Fullback
|birth_date={{Birth date|1926|04|16}}
|birth_place= Coram, New York
|death_date={{Death date and age|2011|12|24|1926|04|16}}
|death_place= Milton, Delaware
|height_ft=
|height_in=
|weight_lbs=
|high_school=
|college= Dartmouth (1944)
Bucknell (1944)
Maryland (1945–1948)
|draftyear=1948
|draftround=28
|draftpick=279 by the Boston Yanks
|pastteams=
}}
Harry Bonk (April 16, 1926 – December 24, 2011) was an American football player. He played college football as a fullback for the University of Maryland from 1945 to 1948, and for Dartmouth College and Bucknell University in 1944. The Boston Yanks selected Bonk in the 28th round of the 1948 NFL draft.
Biography
Bonk was born on April 16, 1926, in Coram, New York to parents Paul and Louise (née Kalenewcz) Bonk. He attended Dartmouth College and enlisted in the United States Navy on March 1, 1944.[http://www.longwoodwarmemorials.com/world%20war%20ii%20honor%20roll/harry_bonk__________navy.htm Harry Bonk, Navy, Coram] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312213804/http://www.longwoodwarmemorials.com/world%20war%20ii%20honor%20roll/harry_bonk__________navy.htm |date=2012-03-12 }}, Longwood War Memorials, retrieved September 13, 2010. Bonk participated in the V-12 Navy training program at Dartmouth, and in November 1944 transferred to Bucknell University, where he continued his naval training.[https://www.nytimes.com/1944/11/02/archives/article-11-no-title.html Bucknell may be helped by the presence of Harry Bonk, Dartmouth's No. 1 fullback, who was transferred this week to the Navy V-12 unit at Bucknell], The New York Times, November 2, 1944. He played college football as a fullback at both Dartmouth and Bucknell during the 1944 season.[http://dartmouthsports.com//pdf5/353062.pdf?SPSID=48870&SPID=4719&DB_OEM_ID=11600 Wearers of the "D"] (PDF), 2010 Dartmouth Football Media Guide, p. 132, Dartmouth College, 2010.{{usurped|1=[https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20121002191331/http://www.bucknellbison.com/photos/schools/buck/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2010BucknellFootballMediaGuide.pdf 2010 Bucknell Football Media Guide]}} (PDF), p. 115, Bucknell University, 2010. A week before his transfer, he was credited with "sparking" the Dartmouth Indians to a victory over Brown. He scored a fourth quarter go-ahead touchdown in the 14–13 victory.[https://www.nytimes.com/1944/10/29/archives/dartmouth-downs-brown-team-1413-bonk-paces-attack-and-tallies.html DARTMOUTH DOWNS BROWN TEAM, 14-13; Bonk Paces Attack and Tallies Fourth-Period Touchdown to Beat Bruins DARTMOUTH DOWNS BROWN TEAM, 14-13], The New York Times, October 29, 1944.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RBUnAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sAIGAAAAIBAJ&pg=3375,4897465&dq=harry-bonk&hl=en Dartmouth Nips Brown], The Sunday Morning Star, October 29, 1944.
He later trained at North Carolina Pre-Flight. Upon the conclusion of World War II, many of the V-12 cadets were given the opportunity to get out of the Navy.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lCodAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RaUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4217,7335283&dq=harry-bonk&hl=en First Win Came Against Guilford], The Tuscaloosa News, November 29, 1981. Bonk was discharged on September 18, 1945, at Shelton, Virginia without having served overseas. Bear Bryant convinced a group of 20 former V-12 cadets to enroll at the University of Maryland to play for his football team, where Bonk played from 1945 to 1948.[http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/md/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/07guide-11.pdf All-Time Lettermen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026140910/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/md/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/07guide-11.pdf |date=2018-10-26 }} (PDF), 2007 Terrapin Football Record Book, p. 20, University of Maryland, 2007. During a practice session in November 1948, he suffered a back injury which "quickly dispelled" the "air of optimism that seemed to emanate from Coach Jim Tatum".{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20121103204721/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1679292942.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+11,+1948&author=&pub=The+Sun+(1837-1985)&desc=Harry+Bonk+Is+Injured+In+Maryland+Workout&pqatl=google Harry Bonk Is Injured In Maryland Workout]}}, The Baltimore Sun, November 11, 1948. The injury proved minor, however, and he was cleared for action in the following game against the Charlie Justice led North Carolina team.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20121103204733/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1781313972.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+12,+1948&author=&pub=The+Sun+(1837-1985)&desc=TERPS+MUST+STOP+JUSTICE+TO+BEAT+N.C.&pqatl=google TERPS MUST STOP JUSTICE TO BEAT N.C.; Maryland Faces Triple-Threat Star In Grid Clash Tomorrow]}}, The Baltimore Sun, November 12, 1948. In that game, Bonk broke free for a 76-yard run on the first Maryland possession to set up a touchdown, but the Terrapins eventually fell, 49–20.[https://www.nytimes.com/1948/11/14/archives/n-carolina-downs-maryland-49-to-20-tar-heels-pounce-on-fumbles-to.html N. CAROLINA DOWNS MARYLAND, 49 TO 20; Tar Heels Pounce on Fumbles to Rout Rivals -- Justice's Passes Tally Twice], The New York Times, November 14, 1948. He led the team in scoring that season with five touchdowns."Annual Scoring Leaders", 2007 Terrapin Football Record Book, p. 39, University of Maryland, 2007.
Bonk also competed on the boxing team in the heavyweight class while at Maryland.[https://archive.org/stream/terrapinyearbook1946univ#page/184/mode/2up/search/bonk The Terrapin], p. 184, University of Maryland, 1946. He was a member of Theta Chi and Sigma Nu.[https://archive.org/stream/terrapinyearbook1947univ#page/28/mode/2up/search/bonk The Terrapin], p. 28, University of Maryland, 1947.[https://archive.org/stream/terrapinyearbook1946univ#page/136/mode/2up/search/bonk The Terrapin], p. 136, University of Maryland, 1946. He earned a Bachelor of Science in education in 1946,[https://archive.org/stream/terrapinyearbook1947univ#page/230/mode/2up/search/bonk The Terrapin], p. 230, University of Maryland, 1947. and a Master of Science in education in 1949.[https://archive.org/stream/terrapinyearbook1949univ#page/242/mode/2up/search/bonk The Terrapin''], p. 242, University of Maryland, 1949.
On December 5, 1948, Bonk played on the College All-Stars against the Charlotte Clippers of the Dixie League.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UF0sAAAAIBAJ&sjid=J8sEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5087,3875219&dq=harry-bonk&hl=en Clippers Meet Stars Today at Charlotte], Herald-Journal, December 5, 1948. He scored a touchdown in the collegians' 30–21 loss.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=C8sKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=T04DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3091,100369&dq=harry-bonk&hl=en Pros Top Collegians], St. Petersburg Times, December 6, 1948. On December 25, he played on the South squad in the Blue–Gray Football All-Star Game.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AgELAAAAIBAJ&sjid=B1ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6288,4940462&dq=harry-bonk&hl=en Everything Set For Annual North-South Football Game], Prescott Evening Courier, December 24, 1948. The Boston Yanks selected Bonk with the fourth pick of the 28th round in the 1948 NFL draft.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100908142432/http://www.databasefootball.com/draft/draftyear.htm?yr=1948&lg=NFL 1948 NFL Draft]}}, Database Football, retrieved September 13, 2010.
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonk, Harry}}
Category:People from Coram, New York
Category:Maryland Terrapins football players
Category:Dartmouth Big Green football players
Category:Bucknell Bison football players
Category:United States Navy sailors
Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II