Early Life
Groza was born in an Ohio River town called Martins Ferry, Ohio, the son of immigrant parents who owned and ran Groza's Tavern on Main Street. He was the smallest in stature of three boys in an athletic family: his brother Alex became a star basketball player at the University of Kentucky as the school won two national championships.
Groza played on his high school football and basketball teams in Martins Ferry. The school won the state basketball championship in 1941, when Groza was its captain. He was also captain of the baseball team. He learned placekicking from his older brother Frank, and practiced by trying to kick balls over telephone wires when he and his friends played touch football in the street.
Read more about this topic: Lou Groza
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