First off, I know it’s been a while, but can you tell me what you did after football career and family-wise and how you got started?
I went into sales and ran the sales for a couple of companies over the years. Since then I dropped out early from my career – that was 28 years ago – because my wife had cancer and wasn’t supposed to live much longer. But she didn’t pass away like they said she would – we are blessed and she’s still alive today, though at our age we both still have issues.
I’ve been blessed in a lot of ways. I started in sales because my uncle worked for a company and got me involved. I started off in insurance but that didn’t work out, then went into sales.
I have two sons – both played at Iowa State, so it was fun to watch them. I have three children, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren – with another on the way! And almost all live close by to us.
Looking back, how did you get started playing football with the Steelers?
I got a letter saying I was drafted by them. I didn’t event know what that meant then!
I talked to Fran Fogarty then – he was the general manager. I was going to go to the military after school but after speaking to Fran I figured what the heck, why not try it for a year. I was scheduled to go to the military actually but got a delay then went into the service after that season and spent three years in the Air Force as a pilot.
You were a quarterback and defensive back at Missouri. What did they have you play when you got to Pittsburgh?
I laugh about this because I went in as a quarterback. In preseason, my first game I completed some passes including one long one and Coach Nelson said then that they thought they had another Bob Waterfield! He was an All-Pro quarterback for the Rams then. The next game they had me play again instead of Unitas, then in the last game I played well again and drove the team down to the five before Walt Keisling pulled me for Jim Finks. I remember the fans booed after that! But I didn’t know what I was doing to be honest.
What position did you end up settling into?
I returned punts in college, played defensive back, punted and played quarterback. That’s when they had you play both ways.
When I got to Pittsburgh they had the best punter in the league in Pat Brady. Keisling asked me if I punted in college and I told him yes, so he told me I was now the second-string punter. But Brady took a high snap in preseason and popped his Achilles – so I became the punter for the whole season. I guess I was blessed because it secured a spot for me. I was never really coached on punting but I did better than I did in college. I didn’t have the leg Brady did but I could aim the ball well, which was important.
I also played some defensive back but I never knew when they’d put me in or why!
Who were some of the guys you got closest to then?
My closest friends were Sid Watson, Richie McCabe and Johnny Unitas. Sid was the punt returner for the team then. Jim Finks too – he had us over his house for cookouts.
One thing I remember is me, Sid, Johnny and Richie would walk a half-mile down the highway to go to Dairy Queen. That was our big outing. Not like today I imagine!
What stands out to you of your time there?
I just remember practicing on Forbes Field – that’s when most teams practiced and played on baseball fields. Half the field was dirt which was interesting.
Still like and watch football today?
I still enjoy and watch it yes. I like the way it’s played today – of course I always have thoughts on what guys should be doing! I’m in Minnesota so I follow the Vikings now mostly.
Now of course the coaches call all of the plays. But back then the quarterbacks called all the plays. It was just different then.
I remember many years ago I took my kids to a Vikings game – that’s when Unitas was still playing. We wrote to him asking if we could get to see him after the game and he had tickets sent for the whole family. We couldn’t go into the locker room but when he came out he asked each of my kids their names – my youngest couldn’t even say it he was so starstruck!
My wife made the kids send thank you notes to Johnny, which they did. He sent them back autographed pictures and told them how nice it was to meet them in a note. That’s just the kind of guy he was. He was a super guy. And a heck of a quarterback too!
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