[1] World War II commenced with Germany's invasion of Poland soon afterwards, and Pankow's parents, a sister and three brothers were never heard from again.
[3] After leaving high school early to join the workforce, Pankow worked at local United States Rubber Company and Bethlehem Steel plants until 1930.
[1] He then moved into car sales and traveled to Detroit to attended the Chrysler business school for auto salesmen.
[6] In 1951, Pankow was narrowly defeated for reelection as county clerk, but his strong showing in Buffalo indicated his viability as a mayoral candidate.
[1] During Pankow's term, the Buffalo Skyway was extended to erect a wider bridge over the Union Ship Canal.
[1] Though elected with the strong support of Buffalo's Polish-Americans, as mayor Pankow move beyond the politics of ethnic bloc voting by appointing Joseph Decillis as the city's first Italian-American police commissioner.
[4] Pankow was also credited with starting paid medical insurance for city workers and construction of seven police and fire stations.
[4] After the end of Pankow's term in 1957, he held a number of positions with the city government, including one with the Board of Assessors.
[7] In later life, Pankow maintained his interest in politics, and mounted quixotic campaigns for offices including mayor and Erie County Executive.