Stan Pavko

Pavkov was born in 1916 in Gooding, Idaho. He attended Gooding High School where he was an outstanding football player and wrestler.^[1][2] He then played college football for Idaho Vandals from 1935 to 1937.^[1] He also competed on the wrestling team at Idaho and narrowly missed making the US Olympic team in 1936.^[2]

Pavokov signed a contract with the Cleveland Rams in March 1938.^[3]also played professional football for the minor league Cincinnati Bengals and Paterson Panthers in 1938. He then played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 1939 and 1940 season. He appeared in 11 or 13 NFL games as an offenssive guard and linebacker for the Pirates/Steelers.^[2][1][4]

After his playing career ended, Pavkov served in the U.S. Army. He then returned to Idaho and taught and coach football and track in American Falls, Blackfoot, and Idaho Falls.^{[2][5][6][7][8]}

In 1948, he was hired as head track coach and assistant football coach at Modesto Junior College (MJC) in Modesto, California.^[9] In 1951, we was promoted to head football coach, holding that position for 17 seasons and compiling a 66–83–7 record.^[10] He later became the athletic director and remained at MJC until 1995. At Modesto, he coached players such as Gino Marchetti, Paul Wiggin, Dave Maggard, Proverb Jacobs, and John Gamble.^[2] He also coached golf, track, and swimming at Modesto Junior College.^[2] He retired from Modesto in 1995.^[11]

Pavkov was inducted into the Idaho Hall of Fame in 1990.^[2] After moving to Modesto, he changed his name to S. Stan Pavko. He died on February 8, 2002, at age 85, in Modesto.^[12]