National Football Foundation 2020 In Memoriam

by | Dec 29, 2020 | Featured, Football Blogs | 0 comments

IRVING, Texas (Dec. 29, 2020) – The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame remembered today those who passed away since December 2019 and played a role in improving the game of college football for future generations.

“It is always important at this time of year to reflect on those who have left us,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “Part of the mission of the National Football Foundation is to shine a light on the good in the game and to preserve its history. We lost some great ones in 2020, and our thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends and universities. We will work hard to ensure that their contributions are not forgotten.

“We would be remiss if we did not pay special tribute to former NFF Board Members Jesse Arnelle and Gene Corrigan, who for nearly a quarter of a century served as chairman of the NFF Honors Court, which annually selects the College Football Hall of Fame Class. We also want to remember Jimmie McDowell, the longtime NFF Executive Director who served the organization for more than 25 years. They all left the NFF and the world a better place, and they will truly be missed.”

Fred Akers Head Football Coach Wyoming, Texas, Purdue March 17, 1938 – Dec. 7, 2020

LaDell Andersen Athletics Director Utah State University Oct. 25, 1929 – Dec. 29, 2019

Jesse Arnelle NFF Board Member Prominent Attorney Penn State University Dec. 30, 1933 – Oct. 21, 2020

Edward Aschoff ESPN College Football Reporter Dec. 24, 1985 – Dec. 24, 2019

Jim Bartko Athletics Director Fresno State May 13, 1965 – March 16, 2020

Bill Belknap Athletics Director – Idaho, Wichita State Commissioner – Southland Conference March 18, 1939 – July 17, 2020

Ed Biles Head Football Coach Xavier UniversityOct. 18, 1931 – April 5, 2020

John Blake Head Football Coach University of Oklahoma March 6, 1961 – July 23, 2020

Morgan Burke Athletics Director Purdue University Dec. 17, 1951 – June 15, 2020

* Marino Casem 2003 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee 1998 NFF Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award Head Football Coach – Alabama State, Alcorn State, Southern Athletics Director – Alcorn State, Southern June 23, 1934 – April 25, 2020

* Gene Corrigan NFF Board Member NFF Honors Court Chairman 1996 NFF Gold Medal NCAA PresidentACC Commissioner Athletics Director – Washington and Lee (VA), Virginia, Notre Dame April 14, 1928 – Jan. 24, 2020

Dick Coury Head Football Coach Cal State Fullerton Sept. 29, 1929 – Aug. 15, 2020

* Fred Dean 2009 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee Louisiana Tech University Feb. 24, 1952 – Oct. 14, 2020

* Arthur J. Decio 2000 NFF Distinguished American Award Skyline Corporation Chairman DePaul University

Oct. 19, 1930 – Nov. 6, 2020

King Dixon Athletics Director University of South Carolina  Dec. 28, 1936 – July 6, 2020

* Rickey Dixon 2019 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee University of Oklahoma Dec. 26, 1966 – Aug. 1, 2020

Chris Dufresne Los Angeles Times Sports Writer California State University, Fullerton April 11, 1958 – May 25, 2020

* Pat Dye 2005 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee Head Football Coach – East Carolina, Wyoming, Auburn  Athletics Director – Auburn  Nov. 6, 1939 – June 1, 2020

* Hayden Fry  2003 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee  Head Football Coach – Southern Methodist, North Texas, Iowa Athletics Director – Southern Methodist, North Texas  Feb. 28, 1929 – Dec. 17, 2019

Phyllis George Sports Television Pioneer June 25, 1949 – May 14, 2020

Glenna Goodacre Renowned Sculptor Aug. 28, 1939 – April 13, 2020

* W. C. Gorden 2008 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee Head Football Coach, Athletics Director Jackson State University June 30, 1930 – Oct. 23, 2020

Lee Grosscup Longtime ABC Sports College Football Broadcaster Former Utah Football Player Dec. 27, 1936 – June 1, 2020

Sid Hartman Legendary Sports Journalist March 15, 1920 – Oct. 18, 2020

* Paul Hornung 1985 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee University of Notre Dame Dec. 23, 1935 – Nov. 13, 2020

* Tom Jernstedt 2010 NFF Legacy Award NCAA Executive Nov. 24, 1944 – Sept. 5, 2020

Jim Jones Athletics Director Ohio State University June 23, 1936 – April 22, 2020

Jones Athletics Director Texas Tech University Jan. 10, 1931 – Sept. 15, 2020

John Kasser Athletics Director California, UC Santa Barbara, Long Beach State 1937 – April 30, 2020

Phil Krueger Head Football Coach Fresno State, Utah State Oct. 6, 1929 – June 22, 2020

Jim Lambright Head Football Coach University of Washington April 26, 1942 – March 29, 2020

Roy Lester Head Football Coach University of Maryland Oct. 3, 1923 – May 3, 2020

* Johnny Majors 1987 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee – University of TennesseeHead Football Coach – Iowa State, Pittsburgh, Tennessee May 21, 1935 – June 3, 2020

Frank Maloney Head Football Coach Syracuse University Sept. 26, 1940 – March 30, 2020

Jimmie McDowell Former NFF Executive Director Sports Writer 2000 FWAA Bert McGrane Award March 26, 1926 – March 5, 2020

Charlie Moore Athletics Director Cornell University Aug. 12, 1929 – Oct. 8, 2020

Merritt Norvell Athletics Director Michigan State University 1941 – Oct. 19, 2020

Murray Olderman Sports Cartoonist and Writer 1991 FWAA Bert McGrane Award March 27, 1922 – June 10, 2020

* Herb Orvis 2016 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee University of ColoradoOctober 17, 1946 – August 14, 2020

Ray Perkins Head Football Coach Alabama, Arkansas State Dec. 6, 1941 – Dec. 9, 2020

George Perles Head Football Coach, Athletics Director Michigan State University July 16, 1934 – Jan. 7, 2020

Seaver Peters Athletics Director Dartmouth CollegeAug. 10, 1932 – Feb. 23, 2020

* Loyd Phillips 1992 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee University of Arkansas  May 2, 1945 – Dec. 27, 2020

* Bob Reade 1998 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee Head Football Coach Augustana College (IL) July 22, 1932 – July 5, 2020

Ken Riley Head Football Coach, Athletics Director Florida A&M University Aug. 6, 1947 – June 7, 2020

Joe Roberson Athletics Director University of Michigan Sept. 22, 1935 – Jan. 13, 2020

* Bob Robertson 2004 NFF Schenkel Award Voice of the Washington State Cougars March 14, 1929 – Sept. 6, 2020

Pepper Rodgers Head Football Coach Kansas, UCLA, Georgia Tech Oct. 8, 1931 – May 14, 2020

* Gale Sayers 1977 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee – University of Kansas Athletics Director – Southern Illinois, Tennessee State May 30, 1943 – Sept. 23, 2020

* Jack Scarbath 1983 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee University of Maryland Aug. 12, 1930 – Dec. 6, 2020

* Jake Scott 2011 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee University of Georgia July 20, 1945 – Nov. 19, 2020

Chuck Shelton Head Football Coach Drake, Utah State, Pacific (CA) Aug. 16, 1935 – Feb. 13, 2020

Don Shula Legendary NFL Coach John Carroll University (OH) Jan. 4, 1930 – May 4, 2020

Dick Tamburo Athletics Director Texas Tech, Arizona State, Missouri Feb. 6, 1930 – Feb. 24, 2020

Dick Trachok Head Football Coach, Athletics Director University of Nevada Dec. 27, 1925 – Aug. 2, 2020

David Walker Athletics DirectorUniversity of Louisiana Sept. 3, 1950 – Dec. 31, 2019

Woody Widenhofer Head Football CoachMissouri, Vanderbilt Jan. 20, 1943 – March 22, 2020

* Gov. William Winter 1983 NFF Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award 58th Governor of Mississippi NFF Central Mississippi Chapter President Feb. 21, 1923 – Dec. 18, 2020

Sam Wyche Head Football CoachIndiana University Jan. 5, 1945 – Jan. 2, 2020

* Bill Yeoman 2001 College Football Hall of Fame InducteeHead Football CoachUniversity of Houston Dec. 26, 1927 – Aug. 12, 2020

* College Football Hall of Fame inductee or NFF Award recipient 

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