Bob Gaudio

Angelo Robert Gaudio (July 13, 1925 – May 10, 2003) was an American football guard who played four seasons for the Cleveland Browns in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and National Football League (NFL) between 1947 and 1951.

Gaudio grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and attended college at Ohio State University, where he played as a guard for two seasons interrupted by service in World War II. He then joined the Browns, playing under head coach Paul Brown for three seasons before retiring. The Browns won the AAFC championship in each of Gaudio's years with the team. He came out of retirement to play a final season in Cleveland in 1951. After football, Gaudio worked for his family's construction business in Chagrin Falls, Ohio and later moved to Miami, Florida to start a construction business. He died in Miami in 2003.

High school and college career

Gaudio attended Shaw High School in East Cleveland, Ohio and was a star guard on the school's football team for three seasons. He then enrolled at Ohio State University, continuing as a guard on the Ohio State Buckeyes football team beginning as a freshman in 1942.

Professional football career

Gaudio returned to Ohio State after the war for the 1946 season. He played more snaps in 1948 than veteran guard Lin Houston. "Lin hasn't lost his touch, he's just as good as ever," Browns guard coach Fritz Heisler said at the time. "But this fellow Gaudio has been doing a terrific job for us and we just can't keep him off the field." He came out of retirement to play for the Browns in 1951. After the team lost the NFL championship game to the Los Angeles Rams, he retired for a second time to focus on his family's construction business.

Later life and death

Gaudio settled in Chagrin Falls, Ohio and by the late 1950s was the vice president of the National Construction Company, a sewer contractor. He worked in the business with his father and two of his brothers, Anthony and Harry. He later started a construction company in Miami, Florida and owned J&B Gaudio Farms in Ocala, Florida. He helped found the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company, a thoroughbred racehorse auction firm, contributing a $250,000 personal loan.