US Navy Rear Admiral. Born in Pulaski, Tennessee, he attended the University of Alabama (1939-42) and was an All-American tackle on the Crimson Tide football team. In 1942, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps and served in World War II. He switched to the US Navy in 1943 and was sent to the Naval Academy. There he was an All-American again, won the Knute Rockne Trophy and the Naval Academy's Thompson Trophy. He graduated with honors in 1946 and was elected to the collegiate National Football Hall of Fame in 1956. During the Korean War, he served as a submarine Commander in the Pacific Fleet and also commanded submarines in the submarine division in the Atlantic. In the 1960s, he commanded an amphibious troop transport off the coast of Vietnam and participated in the evacuation operations of Saigon in the mid-1970s. Promoted Rear Admiral, he commanded an amphibious squadron in the Mediterranean and before retiring from the Navy in 1977, he was on the Atlantic Fleet staff. In 1984, he was presented with a patriotism award by President Ronald Reagan. He died of cancer at age 68 at Walter Reed Army Hospital.
US Navy Rear Admiral. Born in Pulaski, Tennessee, he attended the University of Alabama (1939-42) and was an All-American tackle on the Crimson Tide football team. In 1942, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps and served in World War II. He switched to the US Navy in 1943 and was sent to the Naval Academy. There he was an All-American again, won the Knute Rockne Trophy and the Naval Academy's Thompson Trophy. He graduated with honors in 1946 and was elected to the collegiate National Football Hall of Fame in 1956. During the Korean War, he served as a submarine Commander in the Pacific Fleet and also commanded submarines in the submarine division in the Atlantic. In the 1960s, he commanded an amphibious troop transport off the coast of Vietnam and participated in the evacuation operations of Saigon in the mid-1970s. Promoted Rear Admiral, he commanded an amphibious squadron in the Mediterranean and before retiring from the Navy in 1977, he was on the Atlantic Fleet staff. In 1984, he was presented with a patriotism award by President Ronald Reagan. He died of cancer at age 68 at Walter Reed Army Hospital.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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