For the 88th year, thirty-two NFL teams will convene to select eligible players to play football at the highest level. This year’s draft takes place at Union Station in Kansas City.  
Today’s spectacle of bright lights, raucous fans, and year-long scouting of talent is a far cry from the first draft on February 8, 1936. At a league meeting the year before, Philadelphia Eagles co-owner and WWI Veteran, Bert Bell, suggested a plan to “draft” players as a way for teams with limited financial resources an opportunity to compete on the playing field.  With the first pick in the first draft, Bell’s Eagles chose Heisman Trophy winner, Jay Berwanger, from the University of Chicago.  Ironically, Berwanger chose to become a foam rubber salesman instead of playing in the NFL.

Seven years later, in the 1943 NFL draft, the Cleveland Rams selected All-American running back Mike Holovak from Boston College as the fifth overall pick.  Holovak was the starting fullback on Boston College’s 1941 Sugar Bowl championship team and set a rushing record (158 yards on 10 carries) with a record-setting three touchdowns during the 1943 Orange Bowl that was won by Alabama 37-21.

Setting the NFL aside for the moment, Holovak enlisted in the U.S. Navy and attended Officer Candidate School.  As U.S. Navy Skipper of PT Boat in the South Pacific, he is credited with sinking nine Japanese ships.  Holovak retired as a Lieutenant Commander. 
After the war, he played professional football for the Chicago Bears and the Los Angeles Rams retiring in 1949.  

Holovak went on to coach at Boston College and later was named the second head coach of the Boston Patriots. According to the Houston Chronicle, Holovak played for legendary coaches Frank Leahy and George Halas, was the architect of the 1980s Houston Oilers winning teams as Executive Vice-President (drafting Oilers Hall of Famers, Bruce Matthews, and Mike Munchak), and once played in a high school game against a team coached by Vince Lombardi.  He served as an NFL Head Coach, Pro Scout, General Manager, and Director of Player Personnel.  His head coaching record was 52-48-9 for a .522 winning percentage.  

In 1980, Holovak was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.  He retired from the NFL in 1989 and died on Jan. 27, 2008.  Mike Holovak was buried with honors at Florida National Cemetery. 

Mike Holovak (World War II) U.S. Navy, Skipper of PT Boat in the South Pacific is a Notable burial at https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/florida.asp.  He is credited with sinking nine Japanese ships; retired as a Lieutenant Commander. Prior to joining the Navy, Holovak was an All-American football player at Boston College; he was starting fullback on the college’s 1941 Sugar Bowl championship team and set the rushing record during the 1943 Orange Bowl game, which remains unbroken. After the war, he played professional football for the Chicago Bears and the Los Angles Rams. He went on to coach at Boston College and later was named the second head coach of the Boston Patriots. He went on to hold administrative positions with other professional football teams until his retirement in 1998. Holovak was buried on Jan. 30, 2008.  http://archive.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2008/01/28/mike_holovak_88_star_back_for_bc_became_second_winningest_coach_of_patriots/.
*The preceding content is not intended as a comprehensive biography, but it highlights their significance as a result of military or civilian distinction, lasting achievements, or association with impactful national events. 

Patriots Head Coach Mike Holovak (l) and Buffalo Bills Lou Saban.

MICHAEL J HOLOVAK

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