Arthur Raymond Murakowski was an American football player.
25 Facts About Art Murakowski
1.
2.
Art Murakowski played fullback for the Northwestern University football team from 1946 to 1949.
3.
Art Murakowski was selected as a first-team All-American and won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophy in 1948 as the most valuable player in the Big Ten Conference.
4.
Art Murakowski played professional football for the Detroit Lions in 1951 and served as an Indiana state legislator and civil servant from 1954 to 1985.
5.
Art Murakowski attended East Chicago's Washington High School where he won four varsity letters in football and was selected as an Indiana all-state fullback.
6.
Art Murakowski won a letter in track and field as a shot putter.
7.
Art Murakowski graduated from high school during World War II and served 32 months in the US Navy.
8.
Art Murakowski played football for Tony Hinkle on the Great Lakes Naval Training Station team in 1944 before being assigned to sea duty.
9.
Art Murakowski served for 18 months as a fireman first class on a destroyer mine layer that participated in the Battle of Okinawa in the spring of 1945.
10.
In 1946, Art Murakowski was discharged from the Navy and enrolled at Northwestern University.
11.
Art Murakowski was the leading ground gainer and scorer for the 1947 Wildcats and was selected as the team's most valuable player.
12.
Art Murakowski won his greatest acclaim as a junior in 1948.
13.
Art Murakowski had game-saving tackles against Ohio State and Wisconsin that helped the Wildcats win a berth in the 1949 Rose Bowl.
14.
Art Murakowski's speed makes him very good on end sweeps.
15.
One of the highlights of the 1948 season for Art Murakowski was his 91-yard touchdown run after intercepting a pass against Notre Dame.
16.
Art Murakowski won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophy in 1948 as the most valuable player in the Big Ten Conference.
17.
Art Murakowski fumbled the ball as he ran into the endzone from the one-yard line, and field judge Jay Berwanger ruled that the ball crossed the goal line before the fumble, thus allowing the touchdown to stand.
18.
Art Murakowski was selected by the Detroit Lions in the third round in the 1950 NFL draft.
19.
Art Murakowski did not sign a contract with the Lions in 1950 and did not play professional football that year.
20.
Art Murakowski signed with the Lions in January 1951 and was the first player signed by the Lions' new coach Buddy Parker.
21.
Art Murakowski appeared in all 12 games for the 1951 Detroit Lions, mostly as a linebacker on defense.
22.
Art Murakowski was the chief clerk in the county assessor's office from 1954 to 1968.
23.
Art Murakowski was elected as a Democrat to several terms in the Indiana House of Representatives starting in 1964 and continuing into the 1970s.
24.
Art Murakowski died in 1985 at age 60 at his home in Hammond, Indiana.
25.
Art Murakowski was survived by his wife, Lucille Murakowski, three sons, and three daughters.