Alex Agase was a three-time All-American, with recognition at Illinois in 1942 and 1946, and at Purdue in 1943. Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1963, Agase was named in 1989 to the Walter Camp Foundation All-Century Team. After starting his career as an All-American guard at Illinois in 1942, he joined the U.S. Marines in 1943 and was assigned to Purdue as part of the V-12 training program where he again earned All-American honors. After a decorated (Purple Heart and Bronze Star) two-year stint in the Marines while serving in the Pacific Theatre during battles at Iwo Jima and Okinawa, Agase returned to Illinois and earned Consensus First-Team All-America honors while helping lead the Fighting Illini to a Big Ten title and Rose Bowl victory. He earned All-Big Ten honors three times, and was the Big Ten Silver Football Award winner in 1946 as the Most Valuable Player of the conference. Agase also served as captain of the UI wrestling team in 1942 and 1943 while competing as a heavyweight. He played six seasons in the All-America Football Conference and the National Football League, winning three league titles with the Cleveland Browns. Agase enjoyed a lengthy Big Ten coaching career, first as a head coach at Northwestern from 1964-72 and Purdue from 1973-76. Agase passed away in 2007 at the age of 85.