Ralph Joseph Chesnauskas (born c. 1935) was an American football player.

Ralph Chesnauskas
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Chesnauskas from 1956 Howitzer
Personal information
Born:c. 1935
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Career information
High school:Brockton (MA)
College:Army
Position:Guard
Career highlights and awards

Early years

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Chesnauskas grew up in Brockton, Massachusetts.[1][2] He was an honor student at Brockton High School and on the school's football team as an end and on the baseball team as an outfielder.[3]

Military Academy

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He entered the United States Military Academy in 1952. At the Academy, he was moved from end to guard. As a sophomore, he also converted 21 of 25 extra point kicks. He was also described by Army coach Earl Blaik as a "furious but heady defensive player."[3] He was selected by the Associated Press as a first-team player on its 1954 All-America college football team.[4] He also played baseball at Army and hit the longest home run ever at West Point.[3]

Later years

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Chesnauskas was inducted into the Army Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.[5]

References

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  1. ^ U.S. Military Academy yearbook for 1956 ("Howitzer 1956"), p. 216.
  2. ^ "Former Boxer Ralph Chesnauskas inducted into West Point Hall of Fame". The Enterprise. October 23, 2009.
  3. ^ a b c "National Honor for Ralph No Surprise in Brockton". The Boston Globe. December 9, 1954. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Chesnauskas All-American". The Boston Globe. December 9, 1954. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Guidance From Coaches Helps Lead To Hall of Fame Career". Army Black Knights. Retrieved February 12, 2015.