Presenter: Sally Papek (Daughter of Eugene Krajewski)

To receive the award for Eugene Krajewski: Joseph Krajewski (Son of Eugene Krajewski)

Eugene was a key player and the terror of the Juniors Basketball team that made champions of the Holy Trinity Junior Basketball Team. The team won the first basketball championship since Holy Trinity joined the Catholic League in 1945. The team had a season record of 19 wins and 6 looses (not including playoffs). He was the Captain and Center of the 1948-1949 Junior Basketball team that upset Fenwick and won the prestigious annual Fenwick Junior Basketball tournament. He excelled in basketball for four years and was a two year letter winner for basketball and member of the T-Club in his junior and senior years.

The special edition of the Holy Trinity Gold and Blue newspaper said the

following about Eugene:

“Eugene was an able leader and a more able center. Butch has led the team to many a victory. His best shot is from anywhere under the basket. If he isn’t getting the ball in, then he’s getting it from the backboards. He is an asset to any team and a pain in the neck to any opponent. That’s the best way to describe him.”

He also was member of the Holy Trinity baseball team that won the 1948

American Legion Junior Baseball Cook County 1st District championship.

Eugene was drafted by the army in January of 1952. He married Dolores Czech in July of 1952 and was sent to Korea a week later. Eugene served as a medic and was wounded on June 10, 1953. He was awarded the Silver Star, for bravery above and beyond the call of duty, the Purple Heart and the Korean Medal for Bravery and was promoted to Sergeant.

Eugene and Dolores raised four children (Sally Papek, Michael, Mary Kortas and Joseph) and were blessed with ten grandchildren (five grandsons and five granddaughters, ages 19–28). He worked for McCormick Stange Co. for 35 years as a warehouse supervisor. Eugene suffered a heart attack in 1990 and battled congestive heart failure until his death in March 2004.

Eugene lived his life by the same principles he brought to the basketball court. He was a team player, more comfortable on the sidelines than in the limelight. No matter what the job, he did it to the best of his ability. He was kind, gentle and dependable. He was the ultimate go-to-man both on the court and in life. His family misses him very much.

Will, a member of the football team for four years, was a starting guard as a sophomore, also played center and tackle, changed to halfback in his senior year and was a major letter winner in his sophomore, junior and senior years. His powerful running was invaluable. As a senior he earned numerous distinctions, including team co-captain, Catholic League North Section Honorable Mention halfback and Catholic League North Section 2nd Team halfback.

Will received a football scholarship to the University of Illinois. He was a freshman fullback with Ray Nitschke (Green Bay Packers). One of Will’s claims to fame was at the U of I Spring 1957 Clinic game when Will replaced an injured Ray Nitschke and topped the ground gainers with 96 yards, an average of nine yards per carry and the game's longest run of 47 yards. The newspapers had a lot of praise for Will such as “Bill Jaslowski is expected to see lots of action next fall.” “There weren’t too many freshmen found who will be a big help as sophomores this fall, Bill Jaslowski is one of them.”

Will left U of I as a sophomore and went to Murray State College (MSC) in Murray, Kentucky which is in the Ohio Valley Conference (O.V.C) and played offensive halfback and defensive back. In Will’s senior year, he was the #2 scorer in the O.V.C. with 36 points from 6 touchdowns , 16th leading rusher with 241 yards, the #2 rusher based on average yards per carry of 5.7, had the longest scoring play of an intercepted pass for 68 yards, named MSC’s top two-way player, OVC’s Best Defensive Back, All-OVC 2nd Team and was called “one of the best defensive men in MSC history.”

Will received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1962 from Murray State College and then received a Master of Arts in 1966 also from Murray State College.

After college, Will went to work for Oak Lawn High School in Oak Lawn, Illinois teaching mathematics, physical education, health, driver’s education and coached football. He retired from teaching in 1992. Will lives in Palos Hills, Illinois and also has a summer home on Clear Lake in Buchanan, Michigan

Will has two daughters, Martha McDonough and Julie Urbancik and is the proud grandfather of Sarah McDonough 13, and also Jacob 12, Stephanie 10 and Joseph Urbancik 9. He has been with Terry Holik, his significant other, for 18 years.

Will’s mother is a first cousin to Brother Joseph Walter (former principal at Holy Trinity High School in the 1950s.)

Fernando was a four sport athlete excelling in volleyball, soccer, basketball and baseball. He was a four year varsity starter on the volleyball team, captain in his junior and senior years, MVP in all four years and was Chicago Prep Conference (CPC) All-Conference in his sophomore, junior and senior years. He holds the record as the all-time Holy Trinity (HT) leader in sets assists; 3rd in serving percentage all-time; 2nd in points scored all-time and is a member of the Illinois State group that holds the state record for most serves in a game resulting in a team point (15 serves). Fernando helped lead his team to 15 wins during each of his 4 seasons of play and he and his team led the way for the HT boy’s volleyball team to begin a six year streak as undefeated CPC champs.

He was on the soccer team for four years, CPC All-Conference in junior and senior years, scored the most team goals, was MVP in his senior year and helped the team obtain several important CPC victories.

He was a member of the basketball team and baseball team in his sophomore and senior years. His other awards in his senior year include the Tiger Award for his academic grades and athletic prowess, HT Sportsman of the Year, HT Athlete of the Year, was featured in a Chicago Tribune Preps Plus article as one of HT’s two-sport student / athletes for volleyball and baseball and was a National Honor Society Member.

After graduating from Holy Trinity High School, Fernando moved into the business world. He is the owner of a wholesale flower business, AJF Wholesale at 1921 W. Fulton Street in Chicago.

Fernando and his wife Lourdes have been married seven years and have two daughters (Alondra age 5 and Jocelyn age 4) and one son (Fernando age 3) and live in Chicago.