Professional Football Player. For five seasons (1941 to 1942, 1946, and 1947 to 1948) he played in the National Football League with the Washington Redskins and the Chicago Bears. Born Edward Clifton Cifers, he attended Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport, Tennessee, where he excelled in football, he was a four sport letterman, and was named to the first All-state high school football selection from North Eastern Tennessee. After he graduated in 1934 he moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, where he attended the University of Tennessee. At Tennessee, he played college football and was considered a standout end and played on three Southeastern Conference Championship winning teams under the direction of famed head coach Robert Neyland. He lettered three times in 1938, 1939, and 1940, and also played in the 1939 Orange Bowl, the 1940 Rose Bowl and the 1941 Sugar Bowl. He was selected by the Washington Redskins during the 6th round of the 1941 NFL Draft, and while with the team he helped lead them to a NFL Championship and was named to the Pro-Bowl selection, both in 1942. During World War II, he entered the United States Navy and served at the Norfolk Naval Base in Norfolk, Virginia, with the rank of lieutenant. During this time he also played football with the Del-Monte Pre-Flight football team. After the war, he returned to professional football and played one more season with the Washington Redskins in 1946, before signing with the Chicago Bears and playing two seasons with them from 1947 to 1948. His NHL career consisted of 37 receptions, 399 yards, and 3 touchdowns with a 10.8 average. Following his retirement, he married and moved back to Knoxville to raise a family. He worked in construction with the Daugherty & Waters Construction Company until 1961, and at a Hosiery Mill of the Charles H. Bacon Company in Lenoir City, Tennessee, serving as the president of the company until 1990. He also became a successful banker and served on corporate boards of Hamilton Bank and the Lenoir City Bank. In addition, he was also a high school football referee. His honors include being named a member of the Sports Illustrated Silver Anniversary American Team in 1965, being inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1983, and into the Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.
Professional Football Player. For five seasons (1941 to 1942, 1946, and 1947 to 1948) he played in the National Football League with the Washington Redskins and the Chicago Bears. Born Edward Clifton Cifers, he attended Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport, Tennessee, where he excelled in football, he was a four sport letterman, and was named to the first All-state high school football selection from North Eastern Tennessee. After he graduated in 1934 he moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, where he attended the University of Tennessee. At Tennessee, he played college football and was considered a standout end and played on three Southeastern Conference Championship winning teams under the direction of famed head coach Robert Neyland. He lettered three times in 1938, 1939, and 1940, and also played in the 1939 Orange Bowl, the 1940 Rose Bowl and the 1941 Sugar Bowl. He was selected by the Washington Redskins during the 6th round of the 1941 NFL Draft, and while with the team he helped lead them to a NFL Championship and was named to the Pro-Bowl selection, both in 1942. During World War II, he entered the United States Navy and served at the Norfolk Naval Base in Norfolk, Virginia, with the rank of lieutenant. During this time he also played football with the Del-Monte Pre-Flight football team. After the war, he returned to professional football and played one more season with the Washington Redskins in 1946, before signing with the Chicago Bears and playing two seasons with them from 1947 to 1948. His NHL career consisted of 37 receptions, 399 yards, and 3 touchdowns with a 10.8 average. Following his retirement, he married and moved back to Knoxville to raise a family. He worked in construction with the Daugherty & Waters Construction Company until 1961, and at a Hosiery Mill of the Charles H. Bacon Company in Lenoir City, Tennessee, serving as the president of the company until 1990. He also became a successful banker and served on corporate boards of Hamilton Bank and the Lenoir City Bank. In addition, he was also a high school football referee. His honors include being named a member of the Sports Illustrated Silver Anniversary American Team in 1965, being inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1983, and into the Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.
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