Frank Butler (American football)
| No. 26, 35 | |||||||
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| Position: | Center, tackle | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | May 3, 1909 Bloomington, Illinois, U.S. | ||||||
| Died: | October 30, 1979 (aged 70) Cook County, Illinois, U.S. | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Tilden (Chicago, Illinois) | ||||||
| College: | Michigan State | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Frank John Butler (May 3, 1909 – October 30, 1979) was an American professional football player who was a center and tackle for four seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Green Bay Packers. He was a member of the Packers' 1936 NFL Championship team. Prior to his professional football career, Butler played college football for the Michigan State Spartans.
Early life and college
[edit]Frank Butler was born May 3, 1909, in Bloomington, Illinois. He graduated from Tilden High School in Chicago before attending the University of Notre Dame and Michigan State University.[1] During his time at Michigan State, he played for the football team.[2]
Career
[edit]Butler joined the Green Bay Packers prior to the 1934 NFL season as a center, with the Green Bay Press-Gazette noting his large size at six feet, two inches tall and 224 pounds. In his first season with the Packers, he played the first four games of the year.[3] However, he informed head coach Curly Lambeau that he had to resign his spot on the team after he accepted a government job as an inspector surveying and researching harbors. Lambeau refused Butler's offer to just play with the team on Sundays, asserting his desire for players to participate in practices during the week.[4] Butler signed with the Packers again prior to the 1935 NFL season after securing a leave of absence from his government job.[3] During the 1935 season, Butler suffered a severe shoulder injury.[5] He would continue playing for the Packers in the 1936 and 1938 NFL seasons, although he missed all of 1937.[1] Butler was on the 1936 team that beat the Boston Redskins in the NFL Championship game.[2][6] In total, he played in 26 games for the Packers, 11 of those as a starter.[1]
Personal life
[edit]Butler married his wife, Rita, on June 27, 1936, in Chicago.[7] The marriage produced seven children. Butler died on October 30, 1979, at the age of 70.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Frank Butler stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on September 15, 2019. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
- ^ a b Tate, John (November 1, 1979). "Names n' Games". Green Bay Press-Gazette (clipping). p. C-4. Archived from the original on August 4, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Frank Butler Signs to Play Football on Packer Eleven Again". Green Bay Press-Gazette (clipping). February 2, 1935. p. 11. Archived from the original on August 4, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Frank Butler Resigns From Packer Squad". The Journal Times (clipping). Associated Press. October 19, 1934. p. 10. Archived from the original on August 4, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Glancing Back". Green Bay Press-Gazette (clipping). January 7, 1937. p. 13. Archived from the original on August 4, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Smith, Wilfrid (December 14, 1936). "Green Bay wins title; whips Boston, 21-6". Chicago Tribune (clipping). p. 21. Archived from the original on August 4, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Frank Butler Wed to Chicago Girl". Green Bay Press-Gazette (clipping). June 30, 1936. p. 13. Archived from the original on August 4, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Butler". Chicago Tribune (clipping). November 1, 1979. p. 23. Archived from the original on August 4, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.