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The West Virginia Encyclopedia
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The West Virginia Encyclopedia
Athlete Frank ‘‘Gunner’’ Gatski (March 18, 1922-November 22, 2005) was born in Farmington. He grew up in No. 9 coal camp and played football at Farmington High School. He later played under Coach Cam Henderson at Marshall College (1940–42) and at Auburn University (1945). But it was in the pros that Gatski really emerged as a star, anchoring a powerful Cleveland Browns offensive line from his center position after beginning his career as a linebacker.
Gatski played 11 years for the Browns (1946–56) and one for Detroit (1957). He played in 10 championship games, eight on the winning side. He earned All-Pro honors in 1951, 1952, 1953, and 1955. He was named to the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1985. Gatski has the unusual distinction of never having missed a game because of injury throughout his high school, college, and professional career. In 2005, Marshall University retired his number 72, the only Marshall football player so honored. In 2006, the East Huntington Bridge was renamed the Frank Gatski Memorial Bridge.
In later years he was employed at the Pruntytown Industrial School for Boys (now Pruntytown Correctional Center) and coached football there. Frank Gatski died in Morgantown.
Written by John C. Veasey