He enrolled at Northwestern University where he was selected as a first-team All-American at the guard position by the Associated Press in 1935.[1] After Northwestern defeated Notre Dame in 1935 (the first victory for Northwestern over Notre Dame in 34 years), the Associated Press labeled Tangora the "Wildcat Hero." The wire service reported that "it was Tangora, a square-chinned six-footer, who turned the tide" in the Notre Dame game.[2] Aside from stopping the Notre Dame offense from his spot in the middle of the line, Tangora recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter that set up Northwestern's winning touchdown.[2] He was drafted in the fourth round of the 1936 NFL Draft by the Boston Redskins (29th overall) but never played in the NFL.[3]
Personal life
Tangora gained extensive press coverage in December 1935 when he announced his intention to change his major from art to criminology. After a tour of the FBI's laboratory in Washington, D.C., the All-American announced that he was determined to become a "G-Man."[4] Tangora told the Associated Press, "I had no more idea than, the man in the moon what I wanted to do when I came to Northwestern. Finally I discovered I could draw and for awhile decided to make that my life work Then about a year ago I got interested in the department of justice and I knew then that I had found myself."[5] In 1955, Tangora was employed as the Safety Commissioner in Champaign, Illinois.[6] He gained notoriety in 1955 for padlocking a transient hotel that he characterized as a "flop house" in which men were living in filth. Tangora vowed that "we'll have no skid row in Champaign."[7]
^Alan Gould (December 7, 1935). "Lutz, Grayson Only Coast Stars On A.P. All-American: FOUR SOUTHERN ACES GIVEN LAURELS". Oakland Tribune.
^ abPaul Mickelson (November 10, 1935). "Northwestern Tumbles Notre Dame, 14-7: Wild Cats Score in Final Quarter to Beat Irish for First Time in 34 Seasons". Galveston Daily News (AP wire story).
^"Football Star Determined to Become G-Man: Art Studies Have Lost Their Glamor for Paul Tangora". Freeport Journal-Standard. December 19, 1935.
^W.R. Walton (December 19, 1935). "Star Gridder Determined To Become G-Man: Paul Tangora, Northwestern's All-America Guard, Says He's Found Career". Ada Evening News (AP wire story).
^"Powder Puff 'Cops' Ticket Happy". Daily Independent. September 1, 1955.
^"Champaign Hotel Closed By Fire Dept. Officials". Daily Journal-Gazette. June 6, 1955.
