• George Karamatic

    Class of 1934
     
    George "Automatic" Karamatic is widely recognized as one of the greatest football players in Aberdeen High School football history.
     
    A two time all-conference halfback for the Bobcats, he probably earned his greatest fame in college at Gonzaga University. He was a Little All-America first team fullback in both his junior and senior seasons, made the Sports Pictorial All-America club as a junior and the NEA Service All-America team as a senior. George was also a two-time All Coast selection and co-captained the West squad in the 1938 East-West Shrine Game in San Francisco. A first round draft choice of the New York Giants in 1938, he was immediately traded to the Washington Redskins where he played one season. He later played pro football in Los Angeles before a knee injury ended his career.
     
    Karamatic was also a track standout for Aberdeen, earning district titles in the shot put and long jump, and also spent a year as student body president.
     
    He retired in 1982 after a long career in education, including stints as a teacher, counselor, coach and principal. He was Head football coach at Kennewick High School for seven seasons. Karamatic passed away in 2008.