Wojciechowicz, Alexander Francis
One of Fordham University's famed "Seven Blocks of Granite" in the late 1930's. A No. 1 draft choice by the Detroit Lions in 1939, "Wojie" earned the "iron man" tag, playing on offense and defense for eight and a half years.
(Inducted into the Polish American Sports Hall of Fame in 1975)From: National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame
Wojciechowicz, Alexander F.Professional football player. Born in South River, N.J., August 12, 1915. Being gifted with a well-built physique and athletically disposed, in high school, he was a one-man athletic squad, winning letters in football, basketball, baseball, track and wrestling. While still in high school, several colleges seemed eager to obtain the athletic abilities of Wojciechowski [Wojciechowicz?], but upon graduation, Alex chose Fordham University, New York, N.Y. In his college days at Fordham he was known as "Alex the Great," was chosen "All-American" in 1936. He played center on a line that, because of its defensive promise, became known as the seven blocks of granite. In 1937 he won the Maddow trophy for the most brilliant performance in the 1937 Fordham-New York University game. After finishing his 1937 season with the Rams, he was promptly picked up by the Lions as their first choice in the college football draft. As a member of the Lions team he established a high record. Later he signed up with the Detroit football team as a professional football player. He is one of the outstanding football players of Polish extraction ever to play professional football.
From: "Who's Who in Polish America" by Rev. Francis Bolek, Editor-in-Chief; Harbinger House, New York, 1943