American football running back. He Attended J.S. Morton High School in Cicero, Illinois, and was a star football player and track and field athlete. He played college football for Indiana University in 1941-42. Shortly thereafter, Gambino dropped out of school to join the US Army Air Forces and serve during the Second World War. After the war he attended the University of Maryland to be close to his widowed mother in Baltimore. There he set the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) season scoring high for 1947 with 16 touchdowns and 96 points and was named the 1948 Gator Bowl most valuable player. Gambino played professional football for two years with the Baltimore Colts in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), an early competitor of the National Football League (NFL). The Chicago Bears of the NFL, which had drafted him during the war, still had a strong interest in him, as did the Baltimore Colts of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). Baltimore eventually acquired Gambino. He played two seasons for the Colts. Baltimore released him during the summer of 1950. In the winter, Gambino had knee surgery to correct a bone spur. He was then picked up by the New York Giants and placed on the reserve list in July 1951. His professional playing career, however, was ultimately cut short by his knee. Gambino married Vivian née Senese and lived in North Riverside, Illinois. He died of heart disease at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. Gambino was 79 years old.
Contributor: THR (48277533)
Contributor: THR (48277533)
American football running back. He Attended J.S. Morton High School in Cicero, Illinois, and was a star football player and track and field athlete. He played college football for Indiana University in 1941-42. Shortly thereafter, Gambino dropped out of school to join the US Army Air Forces and serve during the Second World War. After the war he attended the University of Maryland to be close to his widowed mother in Baltimore. There he set the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) season scoring high for 1947 with 16 touchdowns and 96 points and was named the 1948 Gator Bowl most valuable player. Gambino played professional football for two years with the Baltimore Colts in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), an early competitor of the National Football League (NFL). The Chicago Bears of the NFL, which had drafted him during the war, still had a strong interest in him, as did the Baltimore Colts of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). Baltimore eventually acquired Gambino. He played two seasons for the Colts. Baltimore released him during the summer of 1950. In the winter, Gambino had knee surgery to correct a bone spur. He was then picked up by the New York Giants and placed on the reserve list in July 1951. His professional playing career, however, was ultimately cut short by his knee. Gambino married Vivian née Senese and lived in North Riverside, Illinois. He died of heart disease at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. Gambino was 79 years old.
Contributor: THR (48277533)
Contributor: THR (48277533)
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