[1] Cronkite, known by the nicknames "High Henry" and "Doc," played college football at the end position for the Kansas State Aggies team.

[2] Cronkite took a pass for a 78-yard touchdown in the 1930 game on the road against the Nebraska Cornhuskers that was key in the Aggies' 10–9 victory[3] that ended a 14-game losing streak against their fellow Midwestern rivals.

[5] Cronkite was selected by the United Press and Newspaper Enterprise Association as a first-team player on the 1931 College Football All-America Team.

[6][7] The 6'5" Cronkite was a three-sport athletic star with the Aggies, also making his mark as an All-Big Six Conference center during the 1929–30 and 1930–31 basketball seasons[2] and earning letters on the track team as a shot putter.

[10] High Henry was traded away by the Cardinals prior to the start of the 1934 regular season, however, with his contract transferred to the NFL's Brooklyn Dodgers late in September.

[11] Cronkite caught a 20-yard scoring pass in his first game with the Dodgers, a 28–0 exhibition win over the semi-pro Bay Parkway eleven.