George Platukis
| No. 33 | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | End / Defensive end | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | March 15, 1915 West Hazleton, Pennsylvania, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Died: | May 17, 1973 (aged 58) Hazleton, Pennsylvania, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 196 lb (89 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | West Hazleton | ||||||||||
| College: | Duquesne University | ||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1938 / round: 6 / pick: 44 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
George Paul Platukis (March 15, 1915–May 17, 1973) was an American football end who played five seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Rams. He later became a high school teacher and baseball coach.
Early life
[edit]Platukis was born in West Hazleton, Pennsylvania and attended West Hazleton High School.[1]
He matriculated at Duquesne University.[1]
Football career
[edit]Platukis was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the sixth round of the 1938 NFL draft.[2] He played for the Pirates (renamed the Steelers in 1941) for four seasons.[3]
Platukis was traded by the Pittsburgh Steelers in August 1942 to the Cleveland Rams in exchange for John Binotto and Milt Simington.[4] He spent a final season with the Rams.[3]
Post-football career
[edit]After completing his football career, Platukis returned to Hazleton, Pennsylvania where he became a high school teacher and head baseball coach at his alma mater, West Hazleton High School.[5]
Personal life
[edit]Platukis was married to Irene Pekala. The couple had four children: George Jr., Paulette, Paul and James.[6] He was an ardent fisherman.[5] He died of an apparent heart attack on May 17, 1973, while on a fishing trip near his home with his son and grandson.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "George Platukis bio". databaseFootball. Archived from the original on February 17, 2010. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
- ^ "1938 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ^ a b "George Platukis bio". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
- ^ "Scouting Football Front: Steelers Get Two Rams". Reading Eagle. August 14, 1942. p. 21. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Baseball Coach Dies". Reading Eagle. May 18, 1973. p. 29. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
- ^ "Irene Platukis obituary". Hazleton (PA) Standard-Speaker. March 28, 2007. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
- 1915 births
- 1973 deaths
- American football ends
- American football defensive ends
- Player-coaches
- Duquesne Dukes football players
- First Air Force Aces football coaches
- First Air Force Aces football players
- Cleveland Rams players
- Pittsburgh Steelers players
- Players of American football from Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
- Coaches of American football from Pennsylvania