Roger Wilke '58

Roger Wilke was a three-year football starter at left tackle on both offense and defense for Hamilton Catholic. He calls his most memorable experience starting as a sophomore, with his older brother Rusty at quarterback.

Roger was awarded a scholarship to Notre Dame based on recommendations from opposing coaches at St. Xavier and Springfield Catholic.

There were 58 freshman football players at Notre Dame in 1958, but Roger was a varsity tackle in 1959, 1960 and '61, earning two letters and being honored by the U.S. Naval Academy as a member of its "all-opponent team" in 1960.

He played alongside future NFL Hall of Famer Nick Buoniconti at Notre Dame, and played against Heisman Trophy winners Joe Bellino (Navy, 1960) and Ernie Davis (Syracuse, 1961).

After two years in theArmy, Roger worked as a sales manager for Procter & Gamble for 33 years. He and his wife, Ramona, a 1958 Notre Dame High graduate, live in Westerville, Ohio, where they raised four children.

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