Bruno Bitkowski

Bruno Bitkowski (November 11, 1929 – February 10, 1966) was an all-star Canadian football centre for the Ottawa Rough Riders for eleven seasons. Bitkowski was a Grey Cup champion twice (1951 and 1960) and won the Gruen Trophy as best rookie in the Big Four in 1951. The Rough Riders retired his number (#40).

Bruno Bitkowski

No. 40
Born:	(1929-11-29)November 29, 1929 Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Died:	February 10, 1966(1966-02-10) (aged 36) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Career information
Status	Retired
CFL status	National
Position(s)	C, DE
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	220 lb (100 kg)
CJFL	Assumption College Junior
Career history
As player
1951–1962	Ottawa Rough Riders
Career highlights and awards
2× Grey Cup champion (1951, 1960)
Awards	1951 - Gruen Trophy
Retired #s	Ottawa Rough Riders #40

The Bruno Bitkowski Memorial Trophy was given to the outstanding lineman in the Canadian Inter-university Sport (CIS) Football league and was awarded to the most gentlemanly male athlete, from its inception in 1966 until the award was retired in 1986.

Bruno Bitkowski was appointed as a Naval Cadet (UNTD) in the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve serving with HMCS Hunter for the UNTD (University Naval Training Division) from 1950–51.^[1]

Notes

1. MacFarlane, John M. "Canadian Naval Football Stars". www.nauticapedia.ca. Retrieved 2018-10-07.