From Kaylor, Pa, to Canton, Ohio.

That's the journey Joe Stydahar made, leaving his mark along the way.

Stydahar played nine seasons for the Chicago Bears (1936-42, 45-46), emerging as the NFL's premier left tackle.

He was one of eight men inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967, 10 years before his death.

When the NFL released its All-Century Team in 2000, Stydahar was one of 11 players named to the All-1930s team.

"A lot of times, linemen get overshadowed simply because their positions aren't as individually oriented as a running back or quarterback," said Pete Fierle, the Hall of Fame's information services manager. "But (Stydahar) was a big part of the Bears' dominating teams in that era."

Born in Kaylor on March 3, 1912, Joe was one of 10 children born to Peter and Lucille Stydahar.

Peter was a coal miner and moved his family to Shinnston, W.Va., when Joe was still in grammar school.

By his high school years, Joe was a two-sport athlete at Shinnston High School, playing both basketball and football.

But it was the latter sport that would prove to be his path to stardom.

Stydahar first enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh before transferring to West Virginia University.

He went on to be named to West Virginia's all-time basketball team as a center.

In football, Stydahar starred on the offensive and defensive lines. In 1934, he set a school record of seven blocked punts in one season that still stands.

In his senior campaign, Stydahar garnered All-Eastern honors, third team All-America honors and was selected to play in two college all-star games.

That publicity caught the eye of Bears owner George Halas, who made Stydahar the team's first-ever draft pick in the 1936 NFL Draft with the sixth overall selection.

Stydahar was an immediate star. Though he would play on both sides of the ball for the Bears, it was his performance on offense that is most remembered.

In his rookie season, he was named All-Pro after helping Chicago to a 9-3 record.

Stydahar was given the nickname "Jumbo Joe."

"He was one of the first big men in the NFL," said Fierle. "At 6-4, 230 pounds, he was a huge man for that era."

Four more All-Pro selections followed, and in 1940, the Bears finally met with the highest level of team success.

With Stydahar starting at left tackle, Chicago steamrolled the Washington Redskins for a 73-0 victory in the NFL Championship Game, which is the most lopsided NFL game ever played.

By that time, the Bears were known around the nation by a popular nickname.

"Monsters of the Midway," said Fierle. "Read any book dealing with the early years of the NFL and you will come across it. Stydahar was a big reason for that."

Following the 1942 season, Stydahar served in the U.S. Navy before returning to the Bears for the 1945-46 seasons.

In all, he played on three NFL Championship teams (1940-41, 46) and was named All-Pro six times (1936-40, 42).

After his playing days, Stydahar coached the Los Angeles Rams for three seasons (1950-52), winning the NFL title in 1951.

Following a two-year coaching stint with the Chicago Cardinals (1953-54), Stydahar retired from the NFL but remained in Illinois with his wife, Yolanda and four children.

"He worked for a box company in Chicago," said his sister Helen, who lives near Harrisburg. "He was well known there from his playing days and had quite a following."

Stydahar also made sure to keep in contact with his former teammates.

"Every year, we'd host a Bears alumni dinner at our house," said Stydahar's son Joe. "I remember Bronko Nagurski, Danny Fortmann and George Musso being there, among others.

"And dad talked to George Halas about once a week on the phone."

Several family members accompanied Joe to Canton for his induction in 1967.

"He was honored," said the younger Stydahar. "There were some men he respected very much who were already enshrined there. Being a part of that meant a lot to him."

Stydahar died in March 1977 from a heart attack at 65. He was buried in Shinnston.

"He was a wonderful brother and a very well-liked person," Helen said.

Stydahar was honored posthumously with an induction into the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.

"You don't hear his name much when football is discussed," said the younger Stydahar. "But he was one of the first stars in the game, and that impresses me.

"Nobody handed him success on a silver platter," added Joe. "He worked for everything he got and did well for himself."

THE STYDAHAR FILE

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Name: Joseph Lee Stydahar (1912-1977)

Born: Kaylor, Pa.

Sports Connection: Offensive and defensive lineman for Chicago Bears (1936-42, 45-46) and NFL coach for L.A. Rams (1950-52) and Chicago Cardinals (1953-54)

Inducted into: Pro Football Hall of Fame (1967) and West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame (1991)