Jerry Shipkey passes
From UCLA:
Former UCLA football and track letterman Jerry Shipkey died November 28 in Dana Point, Calif. following a long illness. He was 84.
Shipkey played halfback on the first UCLA team to register an undefeated regular season in 1946. In a 13-6 victory at Cal that season, Shipkey rushed for more than 100 yards, scoring the Bruins' winning touchdown on a two-yard run after he had rumbled 79 yards to set up the final TD. He played three seasons for both the UCLA football and track teams. In track, he competed in three throwing events -- shot put, javelin and discus -- setting numerous personal bests in the shot put during his career. He graduated from UCLA in 1948.
In 1995, he was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame.
Prior to his UCLA athletic career, Shipkey graduated from high school in Anaheim and entered USC hoping to play football. He was a member of the Trojans' 1940 Rose Bowl championship team that defeated Tennessee, 14-0.
World War II interrupted his USC tenure and he entered the Navy, serving as an ensign from 1942-44.
Drafted in the sixth round by Pittsburgh in the 1947 NFL Draft, Shipkey played six seasons for the Steelers and Bears. As a linebacker he made 13 interceptions in 66 career games and he also scored 17 touchdowns as a running back and receiver. He earned All Pro honors with the Steelers in 1950, '51 and '52 and was chosen to the Steelers' pre-1970s "Dream Team."
Following his NFL career, Shipkey settled in Orange County where he built a successful business and real estate career.
Shipkey was preceded in death by his first wife, the former Jane Homan, also a UCLA graduate, and is survived by his current wife Carolyn. He is also survived by sons Carl and Mark, daughters, Julie, Louise and Lisa, plus many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Fri., Jan. 15 at 1 p.m. at South Shores Church, 32712 Crown Valley Pkwy in Dana Point, Calif., 92629-3599, Ph: 949-496-9331.
And not one comment from the posters. Probably because noone, or few, on this blog were old enough to follow football back in 1946. But it underscores how being a hero is a fleeting thing, and in fact most everybody eventually just forgets about you.
But that's life-- and death.
Anyone know why he enrolled at UCLA after the war? Why didn't he go back to USC?
That would be like Tommy Henrich came back from WWII and played for the Red Sox instead of Yankees. But, of course, back then there was no free agency so it wouldn't have happened in baseball.
My father played HS football with Jerry. The stories that I have heard about him and his feats of strength are amazing. He was a monster back in those days, a man amongst boys