Bruno Bitkowski

Bruno Bitkowski
No. 40
Position(s)	Center • Defensive end
Personal information
Born	November 29, 1929; Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Died	February 10, 1966 (aged 36); Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
CJFL	Assumption College Junior
Career history
1951–1962	Ottawa Rough Riders
Awards and highlights
	2× Grey Cup champion (1951, 1960);
Awards	1951 - Gruen Trophy
Retired No.s	Ottawa Rough Riders #40

Bruno Bitkowski (November 11, 1929 – February 10, 1966) was an all-star Canadian football centre for the Ottawa Rough Riders for eleven seasons. Bitkowski was a Grey Cup champion twice (1951 and 1960) and won the Gruen Trophy as best rookie in the Big Four in 1951. The Rough Riders retired his number (#40).

The Bruno Bitkowski Memorial Trophy was given to the outstanding lineman in the Canadian Inter-university Sport (CIS) Football league and was awarded to the most gentlemanly male athlete, from its inception in 1966 until the award was retired in 1986.

Bruno Bitkowski was appointed as a Naval Cadet (UNTD) in the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve serving with HMCS Hunter for the UNTD (University Naval Training Division) from 1950–51.^[1]