By Nicarlyle Hanchard / The Jambar
Frank Sinkwich, a 1942 Heisman Trophy winner and former running back for the University of Georgia, has been honored with a mural on Youngstown’s west side.
The mural was commissioned by the Economic Action Group, a nonprofit organization based in Youngstown that aims to fill skill and resource gaps in Mahoning and Trumbull Counties.
In a press release, Nicholas Chretien, executive director of EAG, said the arts are a great way to maintain a community’s history and encourage placemaking among residents.
“Public art holds the power to visually enhance neighborhoods while celebrating a past resident and preserving its rich history,” Chretien said.
The project was completed by Pat McGlone of Overall Paint Company. It covers the wall of a property owned by G&S Vending, LLC on 1708 Mahoning Ave.
Kennedy Kish, marketing manager of EAG, said they chose Sinkwich to pay respect to a late local resident while highlighting the role of public art in furthering economic development.
“We wanted a way to tell the stories of the neighborhood and we thought honoring a west side resident would be a great way to do that,” Kish said.
Sinkwich, a Croatia-born American football player and coach, began his journey at Chaney High School. He gained recognition for his football career during his time at Chaney. It was there that he was approached and recruited by UGA.
In 1939, his freshman year at UGA, Sinkwich led the Bulldogs to an undefeated season. During his junior and senior years, he broke numerous Southeastern Conference rushing and passing records.
At the end of his senior season with the Bulldogs, Sinkwich was voted the winner of the Heisman Trophy.
His win made him the first UGA Bulldog and first non-American-born player to win the title. Herschel Walker became the second Bulldog to win the trophy in 1982.
UGA cemented Sinkwich’s legacy by retiring his jersey number 21 in 1943. He was the first player to have his jersey retired.
After a knee injury in 1945, Sinkwich’s professional football career came to a halt. He went on to be the head coach of a semi-professional football team in Erie, Pennsylvania, and later head coach of the University of Tampa.
Sinkwich’s legacy was further cemented in 1954 with his induction into the National Football Hall of Fame. The state of Georgia inducted him in its Sports Hall of Fame in 1967.
Sinkwich passed away on Oct. 22, 1990.
Kish said EAG hopes the mural will boost the morale of footballers in the Valley.
“We [hope] memorializing him in this way will inspire football players, especially those of diverse backgrounds, to be the best that they can be,” Kish said.