After helping Oklahoma City University climb new heights in football, former OCU Goldbug Leroy “Ace” Gutowsky found NFL success with the Detroit Lions.
In 1936, He fell 3 yards shy of leading the league in rushing with 827 yards on 191 carries, scoring six touchdowns. That mark set a single-season franchise rushing record that stood for 24 years.
In the Lions’ “Infantry Attack” backfield of the 1930s, Gutowsky was the bread and butter from his fullback spot. A 5-foot-11, 205-pounder, Gutowsky was also one of the most hard-hitting linebackers of the day and played quarterback and defensive back.
"He was a hard line plunger," Lions teammate Glenn Presnell said.
Gutowsky also set a franchise career rushing high with 2,445 yards on 698 attempts in five years with the Lions. In 1934, Gutowsky made second-team All-Pro after rushing for 517 yards and five touchdowns and helping Detroit allow only 59 points in 13 games.
Gutowsky played a key role in Oklahoma City University’s rise to success in football. OCU coach Lynn Waldorf, who also coached at Oklahoma A&M, Kansas State, Northwestern and California, recruited Gutowsky to OCU from Kingfisher, Okla. Gutowsky was born in Komolty, Russia.
"Lynn Waldorf got OCU's football program really going in 1927 when he brought the great Ace Gutowsky of Kingfisher to the school," former OCU end Leo Higbie said.
In his eight-year NFL career, Gutowsky ran for 3,279 yards and 20 touchdowns on 922 attempts for the Lions, Portsmouth Spartans and Brooklyn Dodgers. He was ranked No. 41 in a recent rating of the top 100 Detroit Lions and among the best professional football players from Oklahoma ever.
