Biography

Joe "King" Krol reigned supreme on the Canadian football field over the course of a spectacular playing career that spanned from the late 1930s to the early 1950s. From championship teams with Windsor's Kennedy Collegiate, Krol moved to the University of Western Ontario where he led his team to the intercollegiate title in 1939. He joined the Hamilton Wildcats in 1942 and took them to the Grey Cup the following year. Krol signed with the Argos in 1945 and soon became a key player in what was to be a golden era for the Toronto football club. Krol and teammate Royal Copeland proved to be winning combination. Their passes, throws, kicks, and catches brought the Argos three consecutive Grey Cup victories between 1945 and 1947, earning them the title of the "Gold Dust Twins." Krol stayed on with the Argos for an additional pair of Grey Cup victories in 1950 and 1952. Known as an exceptional all-round football player and a true 60-minute man, King Krol was revered for his passing, running, and kicking skills alike. He received the Jeff Russel Trophy as the Eastern Division's most outstanding player in 1946, was named Canada's top athlete that same year, and was honoured as the Canadian Press male athlete of the year in both 1946 and 1947. In addition, Krol was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and was named to the All-Time Argonauts team in 1996 and as an All-Time Argo in 2007.