Tony Butkovich

Tony Butkovich
	Butkovich carrying ball behind blocking from Buscemi (50) and Kasap (64) in 1943
No. 25
Position:	Fullback
Personal information
Born:	April 4, 1921; St. David, Illinois, U.S.
Died:	April 18, 1945 (aged 24); Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, Japanese Empire
Career information
High school:	Lewistown (IL)
College:	Purdue
NFL draft:	1944 / round: 1 / pick: 11
Career history
	Cleveland Rams (1944)*;
	* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
	First-team All-American (1943); First-team All-Big Ten (1943);

Anthony J. Butkovich (April 4, 1921 – April 18, 1945) was a Croatian-American football fullback from the University of Illinois and spent his last year at Purdue. He was drafted by the Cleveland Rams in the first round of the 1944 NFL draft.

Instead of going to the Rams he enlisted in the US Marines and fought in World War II. While serving as a Marine in the 6th Division on Guadalcanal he participated in the Mosquito Bowl.^[1] He lived through the war and lived a fruitful life. He had no children but his spirit lives on in his great nephew Anthony (named after him) and his other nieces and nephews.

Purdue career

He led the nation in rushing in 1943; 833 yards, 142 carries (5.9 average), scoring 16 touchdowns (still tied for a Purdue single season record) and led the Boilermakers to a record of 9–0 and a share of the Big Ten Title. The Boilermakers finished the season as the No. 4 team in the nation. In conference play alone, he led the conference in rushing (629 yards over 95 carries) and scoring (13 touchdowns, 78 points).

He was selected All-American by the Associated Press (AP), International News Service, The Sporting News, United Press International (UPI) and Stars and Stripes; he was also First Team, All-Conference.

Statistics

Source:^[2]^[3]

Season	Rushing
NCAA Collegiate Career statistics
Illinois Fighting Illini
Season	Att	Yards	Avg	Yards/G	TD
1941	--	--	--	--	--
1942	60	174	2.9	34.8	--
Purdue Boilermakers
1943	142	833	5.9	92.6	16
NCAA Career Totals	202	1,007	4.9	71.9	16

Personal life

He was a native of St. David, Illinois and graduated from Lewistown High School in Lewistown, Illinois.

He was killed in action by sniper fire at Okinawa.^[4] Coincidentally, fellow #11 overall NFL draft pick Dave Schreiner (from the year prior) died from sniper fire at Okinawa several months later.

References

^ Daniel, Douglass K. (September 19, 2022). "1944 Marine 'Mosquito Bowl' defines football, courage, duty". Navy Times. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
^ "Tony Butkovich". www.sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
^ "1942 Final Big Ten Football Statistics" (PDF). www.umich.edu. University of Michigan. December 2, 1942. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
^ "Remembering the fallen heroes". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. November 11, 2004. Retrieved September 19, 2010.

External links

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[:0-1] Daniel, Douglass K. (September 19, 2022). "1944 Marine 'Mosquito Bowl' defines football, courage, duty". Navy Times. Retrieved September 20, 2022.

[2] "Tony Butkovich". www.sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 28, 2016.

[3] "1942 Final Big Ten Football Statistics" (PDF). www.umich.edu. University of Michigan. December 2, 1942. Retrieved November 28, 2016.

[4] "Remembering the fallen heroes". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. November 11, 2004. Retrieved September 19, 2010.

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