College Football Player. A graduate of Abilene High School, he was a star fullback for the 1939 Texas A&M national championship team. He led the Aggies to an undefeated season the following year scoring two touchdowns in a 14 to 13 victory over Tulane University in the 1940 Sugar Bowl. In 1941 he rushed for 658 yards, scoring seven touchdowns and intercepting six passes. He concluded the year by finishing second in the Heisman Trophy balloting to Michigan's Tom Harmon. He was a two time college football All-American selection in 1939 and 1940. In 1954 he was an inductee into the National Football Foundation's Hall of Fame, the Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame in 1964, and the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame in 2000. His other notable awards included being a member of the Southwest Conference Hall of honor, Texas Sports Hall of Fame, Texas High School Hall of Fame and the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame. Following his college football career at Texas A&M he appeared in two motion pictures during the early 1940's, "Sundown Jim" and the "Lone Star Ranger." He served as an Army pilot in the Pacific theater during the Second World War, retiring with the rank of captain. Following military service he returned to a brief professional football career as a member of the Los Angeles Dons of the All-American Football Conference from 1946 to 1948 where he rushed for 1224 yards and scored 17 touchdowns. From 1953 to 1955 he served as a member of the Texas State Legislature. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954. He was confined to a wheelchair in his later years and died in his hometown from a pneumonia related illness at the age of 87.
College Football Player. A graduate of Abilene High School, he was a star fullback for the 1939 Texas A&M national championship team. He led the Aggies to an undefeated season the following year scoring two touchdowns in a 14 to 13 victory over Tulane University in the 1940 Sugar Bowl. In 1941 he rushed for 658 yards, scoring seven touchdowns and intercepting six passes. He concluded the year by finishing second in the Heisman Trophy balloting to Michigan's Tom Harmon. He was a two time college football All-American selection in 1939 and 1940. In 1954 he was an inductee into the National Football Foundation's Hall of Fame, the Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame in 1964, and the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame in 2000. His other notable awards included being a member of the Southwest Conference Hall of honor, Texas Sports Hall of Fame, Texas High School Hall of Fame and the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame. Following his college football career at Texas A&M he appeared in two motion pictures during the early 1940's, "Sundown Jim" and the "Lone Star Ranger." He served as an Army pilot in the Pacific theater during the Second World War, retiring with the rank of captain. Following military service he returned to a brief professional football career as a member of the Los Angeles Dons of the All-American Football Conference from 1946 to 1948 where he rushed for 1224 yards and scored 17 touchdowns. From 1953 to 1955 he served as a member of the Texas State Legislature. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954. He was confined to a wheelchair in his later years and died in his hometown from a pneumonia related illness at the age of 87.
Bio by: Nils M. Solsvik Jr.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
