Don Dufek, Sr.

Donald Edward Dufek Sr. (May 28, 1929 – December 10, 2014) was an American football player and athletic director at Grand Valley State University and Kent State University. He is the father of All-American football players Don, and Bill as well as Joe who all played in the National Football League (NFL).

University of Michigan football player

Donald Edward Dufek was born on May 28, 1929. A native of Evanston, Illinois, Dufek was a fullback for the University of Michigan Wolverines football team from 1948 to 1950. He won the Meyer Morton Award in 1949 (given to the player who shows the greatest development and most promise as a result of the annual spring practice) and was chosen as Michigan's Most Valuable Player and All Big Ten in 1950.

In 1950, the Wolverines won the Big Ten Conference championship and beat Ohio State 9–3 in the famed Snow Bowl on November 25, 1950. The Snow Bowl was played in Columbus in a blizzard, at 10 degrees above zero, on an icy field, and with wind gusting over 30 miles per hour. U-M did not get a first down or complete a pass in the blizzard and rushed for only 27 yards, but won 9–3 on a touchdown and a safety, both off of blocked punts. Dufek recalled: "It was very cold. We kept our hands under our armpits in the huddle. Our center (Carl Kreager) didn't wear any gloves. You couldn't get up a head of steam for anything. It was bad news, period."

The 1950 Wolverines then advanced to the Rose Bowl where they beat the previously undefeated University of California Bears (9–0–1) by a score of 14–6. Michigan was held scoreless and trailed 6–0 after three quarters, but Dufek took over in the fourth quarter. Dufek ran for 113 yards in the game and scored two touchdowns in the final six minutes of the game. Dufek was named MVP of the 1951 Rose Bowl game and was selected by the Chicago Bears in the 17th round of the 1951 NFL draft.

Athletic director at Grand Valley State and Kent State

In 1972, Don Canham recommended Dufek for the position of athletic director at Grand Valley State University. Dufek held the A.D. position at Kent State until he resigned in April 1980.

Honors and family

Dufek served as the director of the University of Michigan Alumni Association in the early 1970s.

In 2006, he was inducted in the University of Michigan Hall of Honor.

Two of Dufek's sons were All-American football players for the Michigan Wolverines: Bill, and Don Dufek Jr., who was one of the original members of the Seattle Seahawks. Another son, Joe, played quarterback at Yale and with the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers. Joe's son, Mike, who was an All-Big Ten performer played his senior season for the Michigan Wolverines baseball team in 2010.

Dufek died on December 10, 2014, at the age of 85.