Cas Myslinski
Encyclopedia
Casimir J. "Cas" Myslinski (1920 – 1993) was an American university administrator, United States Air Force
and Army
officer, and college football
player.
in Steubenville, Ohio
. He was the third child of Felix Myslinski and Stella Dziegelewski. He had seven brothers (Joseph, John, Clement, Thaddaeus, Peter, Paul, and Stanley) and one sister (Helen). After the eighth grade, he spent three years in the work force, including jobs in a steel foundry, selling papers, and in the Civilian Conservation Corps
in Utah. Myslinski then belatedly continued his education at Steubenville High School
, where he played football
three years.
and Ohio State University
, Myslinski wrote Army
head football coach Earl Blaik
about attending the United States Military Academy
at West Point. Myslinski's father had developed an interest in the military academy as a boy in his native Stawiski
, Poland
. An Army scout visited Myslinski and reported back to Blaik that he was "a hell of a man with a beautiful pair of legs." The head coach notified Ohio Congressman George H. Bender
, who provided Myslinski with an appointment to West Point.
At West Point, he played college football
as a center
. In 1943, he was a consensus first-team All-American
selection. He graduated from West Point as a member of the Class of 1944.
He was stationed in Texas for training as a pilot for a B-24. While serving as an officer in the United States Army Air Forces
, he played football for the Third Air Force
team, the "Gremlins". Myslinski had a 22-year career in the Air Force before retiring at the rank of lieutenant colonel
.
appointed Myslinski as its athletic director
on December 24, 1968, and he held that position for fourteen years. The Pittsburgh Press described him as stern and with an ever-present military bearing. It also credited him for overseeing "the return to glory of the football team
and the rise to success of the basketball team
." He withstood pressure to relocate the football team off-campus to Three Rivers Stadium
. Myslinski himself considered his greatest success at Pitt to have been the consolidation of several athletic fundraising groups into one, the Golden Panthers. Critics contended, however, that he ran the Pittsburgh athletic department in a "laissez faire manner", and Myslinski's support of the cheerleader head coach over a popular unofficial basketball cheerleader damaged his popularity among the fans. He retired as Pitt athletic director in April 1982.
He died of heart failure on October 26, 1993 at the Country Meadows Nursing Home in South Fayette, Pennsylvania at the age of 73.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
and Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
officer, and college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
player.
Early life
Myslinski grew up in a poor family of Polish immigrantsPolish American
A Polish American , is a citizen of the United States of Polish descent. There are an estimated 10 million Polish Americans, representing about 3.2% of the population of the United States...
in Steubenville, Ohio
Steubenville, Ohio
Steubenville is a city located along the Ohio River in Jefferson County, Ohio on the Ohio-West Virginia border in the United States. It is the political county seat of Jefferson County. It is also a principal city of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. He was the third child of Felix Myslinski and Stella Dziegelewski. He had seven brothers (Joseph, John, Clement, Thaddaeus, Peter, Paul, and Stanley) and one sister (Helen). After the eighth grade, he spent three years in the work force, including jobs in a steel foundry, selling papers, and in the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
in Utah. Myslinski then belatedly continued his education at Steubenville High School
Steubenville High School
Steubenville High School is a public high school in Steubenville, Ohio. It is the only public high school in the Steubenville City Schools District. The school is commonly known by the name of its mascot, Big Red. Popular lore says the mascot got its name from the famous race horse, Man 'O War...
, where he played football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
three years.
College and military service
Despite scholarship offers from Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, Myslinski wrote Army
Army Black Knights football
The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946....
head football coach Earl Blaik
Earl Blaik
Earl Henry "Red" Blaik was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and United States Army officer. He served as the head football coach at Dartmouth College from 1934 to 1940 and at the United States Military Academy from 1941 to 1958, compiling a career college...
about attending the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point. Myslinski's father had developed an interest in the military academy as a boy in his native Stawiski
Stawiski
Stawiski is a town in north-eastern Poland, situated within Kolno County, in Podlaskie Voivodeship, approximately 16 kilometres east of Kolno and 74 km west of the regional capital Białystok. Stawiski is the administrative seat of Gmina Stawiski...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. An Army scout visited Myslinski and reported back to Blaik that he was "a hell of a man with a beautiful pair of legs." The head coach notified Ohio Congressman George H. Bender
George H. Bender
George Harrison Bender was a Republican politician from Ohio. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1939 to 1947 and 1951 to 1954, and also in the U.S. Senate from 1954 to 1957.-Early life:...
, who provided Myslinski with an appointment to West Point.
At West Point, he played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
as a center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
. In 1943, he was a consensus first-team All-American
1943 College Football All-America Team
The 1943 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers...
selection. He graduated from West Point as a member of the Class of 1944.
He was stationed in Texas for training as a pilot for a B-24. While serving as an officer in the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
, he played football for the Third Air Force
Third Air Force
The Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
team, the "Gremlins". Myslinski had a 22-year career in the Air Force before retiring at the rank of lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
.
Pittsburgh
The University of PittsburghUniversity of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
appointed Myslinski as its athletic director
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
on December 24, 1968, and he held that position for fourteen years. The Pittsburgh Press described him as stern and with an ever-present military bearing. It also credited him for overseeing "the return to glory of the football team
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
and the rise to success of the basketball team
Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball
Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's basketball program of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pitt men's basketball team competes in the Big East Conference and plays their home games in...
." He withstood pressure to relocate the football team off-campus to Three Rivers Stadium
Three Rivers Stadium
Three Rivers Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1970 to 2000. It was home to the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's Major League Baseball franchise and National Football League franchise respectively.Built as a replacement to...
. Myslinski himself considered his greatest success at Pitt to have been the consolidation of several athletic fundraising groups into one, the Golden Panthers. Critics contended, however, that he ran the Pittsburgh athletic department in a "laissez faire manner", and Myslinski's support of the cheerleader head coach over a popular unofficial basketball cheerleader damaged his popularity among the fans. He retired as Pitt athletic director in April 1982.
He died of heart failure on October 26, 1993 at the Country Meadows Nursing Home in South Fayette, Pennsylvania at the age of 73.