# Del Bjork > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Del_Bjork > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Del_Bjork.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Del_Bjork > Source revision: 1350291690 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Delbert Leonard Bjork** (June 27, 1914 – August 26, 1988) was an American professional [football](/source/American_football) [tackle](/source/Tackle_(gridiron_football_position)) who played collegiately for the [University of Oregon](/source/Oregon_Ducks_football) from 1934 to 1936 and for the [Chicago Bears](/source/Chicago_Bears) of the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL) in 1937 and 1938. Despite his short playing career, Bjork was selected for the [NFL All-Star game](/source/Pro_Bowl) in 1938. He was inducted into the [Oregon Sports Hall of Fame](/source/Oregon_Sports_Hall_of_Fame) in 1982. ## Biography ### Early life Del Bjork was born in [Deep River, Washington](/source/Deep_River,_Washington) and grew up in [Astoria, Oregon](/source/Astoria,_Oregon). He played football for [Astoria High School](/source/Astoria_High_School_(Oregon)).[1] ### College career In the fall of 1933, Bjork enrolled at the [University of Oregon](/source/University_of_Oregon), located in [Eugene, Oregon](/source/Eugene,_Oregon). He was part of the largest turnout in school history to try out for the freshman football squad, with 74 men still on the roster after the first week of practice.[2] Bjork not only made coach Bill Reinhart's team, but won himself a place on the starting roster at [tackle](/source/Tackle_(gridiron_football_position)).[3] In 1934 Bjork was promoted to the Oregon varsity football squad and he made his presence known immediately as the outstanding sophomore on the squad, apparently winning a starting position at [guard](/source/Guard_(gridiron_football)) in summer practice filling the hole vacated by graduating senior Bree Cuppoletti.[4] Bjork played for the University of Oregon varsity from 1934 to 1936. During summers he returned home to Astoria, where he worked in a [creamery](/source/Creamery).[5] After receiving his BS in physical education from the University of Oregon in 1937 he was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round.[6][7] On September 1, 1937, Bjork played with the [College All-Stars](/source/Chicago_College_All-Star_Game) against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field in Chicago, emerging victorious over the NFL champions by a score of 6–0.[8] ### Professional career Bjork played for the [Chicago Bears](/source/Chicago_Bears) of the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL) from 1937 to 1938. For his performance during the 1938 season, he was named to the NFL's first-ever All-Star game; the [1939 NFL All-Star Game](/source/1939_NFL_All-Star_Game). ### Life after football In 1940 Bjork earned an MS in education from the University of Oregon. He then went on to have a successful career in the military.[6] Bjork was awarded the [Purple Heart](/source/Purple_Heart) with [oak leaf clusters](/source/Oak_leaf_clusters) in 1944.[9] As a captain he was recognized with the [Distinguished Service Cross](/source/Distinguished_Service_Cross_(United_States)) for his World War II service.[10] After the war he continued his career in the military earning the rank of colonel and was published in *[Military Review](/source/Military_Review)* in 1951.[11] ### Death and legacy Del Bjork died August 26, 1988, at Astoria. Bjork was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1982.[12] ## References 1. ["Del Bjork - AHS Hall of Fame"](https://sites.google.com/a/astoriak12.org/ahs-hall-of-fame/del-bjork). *sites.google.com* 1. ["Largest Squad in History Out For Frosh Football,"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-eugene-guard-largest-squad-in-histor/149993832/) *Eugene Guard,* Oct. 3, 1933, p. 6. 1. ["Reinhart Drills Freshmen on Southern Oregon Plays,"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-evening-herald-reinhart-drills-fresh/149994669/) *Klamath Falls Evening Herald,* Oct. 23, 1933, p. 2. 1. ["Snap Shots form the Coast Football Front,"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/medford-mail-tribune-snap-shots-form-the/150000395/) *Medford Mail Tribune,* Sept. 19, 1934, p. 8. 1. George Jones, ["Life of Ease? Oregon Gridders Have to Work,"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-eugene-guard-university-of-oregon-fo/150002976/) *Eugene Guard,* July 31, 1935, p. 8. 1. United States. Adjutant General. ["Official army register for .."](https://archive.org/details/officialarmyregi19601unit). Washington : [s.n.] – via Internet Archive. 1. ["1937 NFL Draft Listing"](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1937/draft.htm). *Pro-Football-Reference.com*. Retrieved 2023-03-21. 1. ["Chicago Tribune - Historical Newspapers"](http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1937/08/10/page/17/article/gus-dorais-leads-poll-by-400-000-votes#text). 4 August 2023. 1. ["Chicago Tribune - Historical Newspapers"](http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1944/08/02/page/19/article/in-the-wake-of-the-news). 4 August 2023. 1. ["DSC recipients"](https://valor.defense.gov/Portals/24/Documents/ServiceCross/ArmyDSC-WWII.pdf). *United States Department of Defense* 1. ["Military Review, February 1951. :: Military Review"](http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p124201coll1/id/867/rec/3). *cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org* 1. ["Football - Oregon Sports Hall of Fame & Museum"](http://oregonsportshall.org/?page_id=163). *oregonsportshall.org* --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Del Bjork](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Del_Bjork) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Del_Bjork?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.