Fort Dodge native Edward J. Bock was an Iowa State All-America lineman who led the Cyclones’ famed 1938 football team. He was Iowa State’s first member of the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame before going on to a lengthy career at Monsanto Chemical Co., where he retired as President and CEO. Photo courtesy of Iowa State University
By Don Doxsie
Even as a young athlete, Edward J. Bock showed the sort of ingenuity and resourcefulness necessary to be a success, not just on the football field but in big business.
In only the second game of his football career at Iowa State in 1936, Bock had three front teeth knocked out in a 34-0 loss to Nebraska. Iowa State initially was hesitant to pay to outfit him with false teeth so rather than walk around with a huge gap in his smile, Bock made some temporary teeth for himself out of paraffin.
Six weeks later, the Cyclones were playing Kansas State and All-American fullback Sam Francis basically trampled Bock on his way to a sizable gain. As Bock laid on the ground following the play, an official was standing nearby. Bock looked up at the ref and with impeccable timing, spit out his homemade teeth.
The official threw a flag and penalized Kansas State for unnecessary roughness.
It was one of the few times anyone got the best of Bock on a football field. As a two-way lineman for the Cyclones in the late 1930s, Bock became the first Iowa State player to earn consensus All-American honors. He led them to one of their best seasons ever in 1938 and landed in the College Football Hall of Fame 32 years later.
He was equally impactful in the business world following his football career, rising to become the president and chief executive officer for the Monsanto Chemical Company.
He told the Des Moines Register many years later that he felt there was a strong correlation between the two arenas in which he excelled.
“You learn to realize, through football and other games, that you are dependent on the other fellow, but yet you are given the chance for individual opportunity and recognition, which are also important in business,’’ Bock said. “Athletics are invaluable as preparation for a business career.’’
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