Charles Wasicek

Background

Wasicek was born in Arnold City, Pennsylvania and raised in Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania.

Education

He graduated from Dickinson in 1932.

Career

He played at the guard and tackle positions for Colgate University in the 1930s and was selected by Liberty Magazine as a first-team All-American at the tackle position in 1935. He was the fourth of nine children of August and Justina Wasicek. Wasicek quit school after attending the eighth grade and went to work for the American Window Glass Company and the Monessen Sheet & Tinplate Company

Wasicek resumed his education, studying at Belle Vernon High School, the Kiski Preparatory School in Saltsburg, Pennsylvania, and the Dickinson Seminary in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Wasicek enrolled at Colgate University where he played football at the guard and tackle positions in the mid-1930s. In 1935, Wasicek was the captain of the Colgate football team

Wasicek was selected as a first-team tackle on the 1935 Liberty Magazine All-American team, as voted in a poll of 1521 varsity players in all parts of the country. He was also selected as a second-team All-American in 1935 by the United Press, Central Press (through a poll of the year"s football captains), and the New York Sun.

Wasicek also played in the 1936 East-West Shrine Game and the All-Star Game in Chicago.

Wasicek signed a contract to play football for the Detroit Lions, but he opted instead to play for the Syracuse, New York football team in the newly formed American League. The league in which Syracuse played folded after one season. Wasicek next signed to play for a highly regarded semi-pro team in Danbury, Connecticut, while working as a hat salesman.

In 1937, Wasicek retired from playing football and became a teacher.

Wasicek remained at Caledonia from 1937-1939. In 1939, Wasickek accepted a position as a teacher and football and track coach at the high school in Hornell, New York, where he remained until 1942.

In 1942, Wasicek enlisted in the United States. Navy and was commissioned as a lieutenant. During World World War II, Wasicek served as a battery officer and helped train gun crews in Norfolk, Virginia.

After being discharged from the military in 1945, Wasicek operated a grocery store founded by his father in Belle Vernon.

Wasicek also worked in the homebuilding business during the 1950s before returning to the teaching profession, teaching geography at Belle Vernon Area High School from 1957-1973. Wasicek died at the East.J. Meyer Hospital in Buffalo, New York, after suffering a heart attack at age 68.

Achievements

• In four years coaching at Hornell, Wasicek"s football teams lost only five games and either won or tied for the county championship three times.