Born in Des Moines, Iowa, he graduated from Dowling Catholic High School in Des Moines. He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team and was a consensus selection at the center position on the 1950 College Football All-America Team.
Hailing from Des Moines, Iowa, he graduated from Dowling Catholic High School in Des Moines. He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team and was a consensus selection at the center position on the 1950 College Football All-America Team.