Joseph "King" Krol (February 20, 1919 – December 16, 2008) was a Canadianfootballquarterback, running back, defensive back, and placekicker/punter from 1942 to 1953 and 1955. Considered as possibly the most versatile player in Canadian football history as a triple-threat to pass, run, and kick, he was one of Canada's greatest athletes and also famously known as a "Gold Dust Twin" for his teamwork with Royal Copeland. Joe Krol was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.[1] After suffering from a fall in his apartment, Krol died in a Toronto hospital on December 16, 2008.[2]
Early life
Krol was born on February 20, 1919, in Hamilton, Ontario. He was commonly nicknamed "King".[3] He said in 1999, "My parents are Polish and the name was actually Krul. I guess in Polish, Krol means king. It also means rabbit, but I think I prefer king."[4]
Krol and Royal Copeland (Argonauts and Calgary Stampeders 1944–1956) became known as the Gold Dust Twins.[12] Although official statistics were not kept for the Eastern teams until 1954, according to the 2001 Unofficial Canadian Football Encyclopedia, Krol completed ten passes for 147 yards and threw four touchdowns[13] during the 1946 season.
In November 2006, Krol was voted one of the CFL's top 50 players (No. 46) in a poll conducted by Canadian sports network TSN.[14]
Joe Krol was also one of the owners of the Mercury Night club with Harry Eckler of the Softball Canada Hall of Fame and Sam Luftspring of the Boxing Hall of Fame.[citation needed]