Wabash College Athletics

Henning N. “Hank” Bjork came to Wabash in the fall of 1926 from his hometown of Gladstone, Michigan, which at the time was a recruiting hotbed for the College. The son of Swedish parents, Bjork was one of seven Wabash men of his era to hail from Gladstone, and he would later graduate as the finest football lineman of his era.

Playing for Coach Pete Vaughan, Bjork was a four-year member of the Little Giant football team. He earned a numeral in his first year, and was called by The Bachelor a “bulwark of strength” as the freshman team’s captain. Breaking into the starting lineup in his second season, he would remain a starter from 1928 through 1930. Captain of the team in his senior year, Bjork was named to the Indianapolis Star’s weekly honor team seven consecutive weeks.

Coach Vaughan, never one to exaggerate talent, referred to Bjork as the one “brilliant” player on his 1930 team. So good was his play at tackle that he made virtually every All-State team as a senior, and was also so honored for his defensive play as an All-State end. A psychology major, Bjork was treasurer of the Senior Council, vice president of the “W” Men’s Club, and a member of the Sphinx Club, Pan-Hellenic Council, and Beta Kappa. He earned try outs with the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, then spent his working career in the Finance Division of the Fort Motor Company. Bjork passed away in 1979.

For defining strength, toughness, and dedication for the football players of his era, the National Association of Wabash Men is proud to posthumously induct Henning N. “Hank” Bjork in the Wabash College Athletics Hall of Fame.