Kosanovich, Rudy

Rudy Kosanovich – (1982)

 

RUDY KOSANOVICH
Inducted April 21, 1982

A remarkable all-around athlete, he starred in football, basketball and track at Lorain High from 1935-37, and captured All-Lake Erie League and All-Ohio honors as a two-way tackle on the ’37 Lorain High School grid team.

He earned three varsity football letters at Lorain High, two under Coach Earl McCaskey (’35 and ’36), and in his final season for Coach Harold Pryor. Kosanovich served as Co-Captain of the ’37 squad.

Although offered scholarships by nine colleges, including Ohio State, Syracuse, Purdue, Michigan and Northwestern, he chose instead to play semi-pro football locally with the Lorain Collegians. From 1939-41 he performed for the powerful Minerva Merchants, leading them to three consecutive undefeated seasons.

Entering the U.S. Army at the outbreak of World War II, he was stationed at Ft. Lewis, Washington, and was asked to play on the potent service football team. He performed brilliantly with a team that included several professional players.

Before serving with the Army, the gifted Kosanovich had excelled as an amateur boxer, winning the Lorain County Golden Gloves Heavyweight crown in 1937. In 1943 while still in the service, Rudy won the heavyweight title of Alaska.

Mr. Kosanovich helped build the golf course now known as Oak Hills in Lorain. Along with friend “Curley” DeBracey, Rudy constructed the course on a 180-acre site over a three-year span. He is a three-handicap golfer.