Al Blozis

Infobox NFLretired

---

name=Al Blozis
caption=
position=Offensive tackle
number=32
birthdate=birth date|1919|1|5
Garfield, New Jersey
deathdate=death date and age|1945|1|21|1919|1|5
Vosges Mountains, France
debutyear=1942
finalyear=1944
draftyear=1942
draftround=5
draftpick=38
college=Georgetown
teams=
* New York Giants (1942-1944)
stat1label=Games played
stat1value=23
stat2label=Games started
stat2value=23
stat3label=Touchdowns
stat3value=1
highlights=
* 1x All-Star selection (1942)
* 1x All-Pro selection (1943)
* NFL 1940s All-Decade Team
* New York Giants #32 retired
nfl=BLO747522
CollegeHOF=40011

Albert Charles Blozis (January 5, 1919 - January 21, 1945) was a world-class athlete who died in World War II.

Early life

Blozis was born in Garfield, New Jersey. He attended William L. Dickinson High School in Jersey City, New Jersey where he became well known for throwing the discus and putting the shot shot put. At Georgetown University, he was the national indoor and outdoor shotput champion in both 1942 and 1943. He set the world indoor record for the shotput, throwing it 56 feet 4.5 inches in 1941 at a meet in Cleveland. He held this record until his death or until it was broken, which ever came last.

Pro Football career

Blozis was an American football tackle for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He played for the Giants in 1942 and 1943 before entering the military. He was also able to play three games in 1944 while on furlough.

World War II, death

He was inducted into the Army on December 9, 1943. He was first assigned to duty as a physical instructor at Walter Reed General Hospital and then went through Officers' training at Fort Benning. At Fort Benning, he set the Army's hand grenade throwing record with a toss of 94 yards, 2 feet 6.5 inches. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 28th infantry division. In January 1945, his platoon was in the Vosges Mountains of France scouting enemy lines. When two of his men, a Sergeant and a private, failed to return from a patrol, he went in search of them alone. [ [http://www.hoyasaxa.com/sports/fb-blozis1945.htm HoyaSaxa.com: Georgetown Football Awards ] at www.hoyasaxa.com] He never returned. He was first listed as missing, but in April his death was confirmed.

Honors

The New York Giants retired the number he wore, 32. A second Giants player, Jack Lummus also died in World War II.

In April 1946 True ComicsTrue Comics, Chicago, IL, No. 48, April 1946] featured a story about Al Blozis entitled [http://pages.prodigy.net/revmoran/Blozis%20Comic.htm The Human Howitzer] .

ee also

* Deaths in Sports

References

*Blozis was killed Jan 21 in France, "New York Times," April 9, 1945.
*Two Giants Were Heroes Far From Playing Field; Al Blozis, a Star Tackle, and Jack Lummus, a Promising Receiver, Died in Combat in World War II, "New York Times," January 26, 1991.

Notes