George Janky, UD Hall of Framer, dies at 74
At Kettering Medical Center, George Jankey, one of the best and most adored basketball players to ever don a University of Dayton uniform, passed away late on Friday night. Age-wise, he was 74.
George Janecki, whose career spanned the eras of fieldhouses and arenas, passed away, and his loss is mourned by the University of Dayton. On the court, he was a Hall of Famer and an even better flyer. We send his family our sincere sympathies.
Over his three varsity seasons from 1967 to 1970, the towering 6-foot-8 Janke, a member of the UD Hall of Fame, led the Flyers in scoring with 910 points and rebounds with 684. Chicago went above and beyond to snag a Saints recruit ranked among the nation’s top five. One of his largest recruiting successes of his career was Rita High School.
Janaki was a sophomore centre for the 1968 Flyers team that defeated a capable Kansas team 61-48 at Madison Square Garden to win the National Invitation Tournament championship. UD achieved NCAA Tournament eligibility in each of his following two seasons.
He was club captain in his final season as the Flyers moved from the fieldhouse to the brand-new UD Arena, which he incidentally assisted in building.
He worked with a sheet metal local number and was paid $6.69 per hour. Before this crucial season, 224 people worked to roof the arena in the summer. Jankey’s 26 points and 15 rebounds helped Bowling Green win the first game 72-70.
