BEN KISH, 71: - February 27, 1989
Ben Kish, 71, of Wyndmoor, who was a star fullback and linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles during their championship years of 1948 and 1949, died Friday at Coatesville Medical Center.
Mr. Kish was a native of Tonawanda, N.Y. During his playing years at the University of Pittsburgh, he was coached by the legendary John "Jock" Sutherland.
Mr. Kish was a fullback in the Panthers' "Dream Backfield" during a three-season varsity career at Pitt. He was captain of the All-East team in 1940 and played in the Chicago All-Star game that year.
After graduating, Mr. Kish again came under Sutherland's tutelage in 1940, when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers, a now-defunct NFL team.
Mr. Kish stayed with the Dodgers for two seasons and was playing the New York Giants on Dec. 7, 1941, the day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.
He recalled that day in a 1956 Inquirer article: "The loudspeaker kept blaring for general so-and-so and colonel so-and-so and captain so-and-so to report immediately to such-and-such. We didn't know what was going on."
Mr. Kish joined the Army but was soon honorably discharged because of a physical problem.
He joined the Eagles in 1943, playing until 1949.
After that, Mr. Kish began a coaching career, during which he was an assistant coach at Drexel University, Temple University and Friends Central School.
He retired from coaching several years ago but continued to work as a salesman in the metal industry. He retired from Valley Metals, Bethayres, in 1987.
After retiring, he volunteered as a coach at Springfield High School in Montgomery County.
Mr. Kish liked to golf and was a member of the Plymouth Country Club as well as the Philadelphia chapter of the NFL Alumni Association.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Ruth Doolittle Kish; a son, Timothy B.; a daughter, Laurie Henrich; three grandchildren; a brother, and two sisters.
A memorial service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Chelten Baptist Church, 1601 Limekiln Pike, Dresher. Instead of flowers, the family requests donations to the Pennsylvania Special Olympics in care of Philadelphia Eagles Alumni Association, 2355 Karen Lane, Hatboro, Pa. 19040.
Ben Kish, 71, of Wyndmoor, who was a star fullback and linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles during their championship years of 1948 and 1949, died Friday at Coatesville Medical Center.
Mr. Kish was a native of Tonawanda, N.Y. During his playing years at the University of Pittsburgh, he was coached by the legendary John "Jock" Sutherland.
Mr. Kish was a fullback in the Panthers' "Dream Backfield" during a three-season varsity career at Pitt. He was captain of the All-East team in 1940 and played in the Chicago All-Star game that year.
After graduating, Mr. Kish again came under Sutherland's tutelage in 1940, when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers, a now-defunct NFL team.
Mr. Kish stayed with the Dodgers for two seasons and was playing the New York Giants on Dec. 7, 1941, the day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.
He recalled that day in a 1956 Inquirer article: "The loudspeaker kept blaring for general so-and-so and colonel so-and-so and captain so-and-so to report immediately to such-and-such. We didn't know what was going on."
Mr. Kish joined the Army but was soon honorably discharged because of a physical problem.
He joined the Eagles in 1943, playing until 1949.
After that, Mr. Kish began a coaching career, during which he was an assistant coach at Drexel University, Temple University and Friends Central School.
He retired from coaching several years ago but continued to work as a salesman in the metal industry. He retired from Valley Metals, Bethayres, in 1987.
After retiring, he volunteered as a coach at Springfield High School in Montgomery County.
Mr. Kish liked to golf and was a member of the Plymouth Country Club as well as the Philadelphia chapter of the NFL Alumni Association.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Ruth Doolittle Kish; a son, Timothy B.; a daughter, Laurie Henrich; three grandchildren; a brother, and two sisters.
A memorial service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Chelten Baptist Church, 1601 Limekiln Pike, Dresher. Instead of flowers, the family requests donations to the Pennsylvania Special Olympics in care of Philadelphia Eagles Alumni Association, 2355 Karen Lane, Hatboro, Pa. 19040.
BEN KISH, 71: - February 27, 1989
Ben Kish, 71, of Wyndmoor, who was a star fullback and linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles during their championship years of 1948 and 1949, died Friday at Coatesville Medical Center.
Mr. Kish was a native of Tonawanda, N.Y. During his playing years at the University of Pittsburgh, he was coached by the legendary John "Jock" Sutherland.
Mr. Kish was a fullback in the Panthers' "Dream Backfield" during a three-season varsity career at Pitt. He was captain of the All-East team in 1940 and played in the Chicago All-Star game that year.
After graduating, Mr. Kish again came under Sutherland's tutelage in 1940, when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers, a now-defunct NFL team.
Mr. Kish stayed with the Dodgers for two seasons and was playing the New York Giants on Dec. 7, 1941, the day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.
He recalled that day in a 1956 Inquirer article: "The loudspeaker kept blaring for general so-and-so and colonel so-and-so and captain so-and-so to report immediately to such-and-such. We didn't know what was going on."
Mr. Kish joined the Army but was soon honorably discharged because of a physical problem.
He joined the Eagles in 1943, playing until 1949.
After that, Mr. Kish began a coaching career, during which he was an assistant coach at Drexel University, Temple University and Friends Central School.
He retired from coaching several years ago but continued to work as a salesman in the metal industry. He retired from Valley Metals, Bethayres, in 1987.
After retiring, he volunteered as a coach at Springfield High School in Montgomery County.
Mr. Kish liked to golf and was a member of the Plymouth Country Club as well as the Philadelphia chapter of the NFL Alumni Association.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Ruth Doolittle Kish; a son, Timothy B.; a daughter, Laurie Henrich; three grandchildren; a brother, and two sisters.
A memorial service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Chelten Baptist Church, 1601 Limekiln Pike, Dresher. Instead of flowers, the family requests donations to the Pennsylvania Special Olympics in care of Philadelphia Eagles Alumni Association, 2355 Karen Lane, Hatboro, Pa. 19040.
Ben Kish, 71, of Wyndmoor, who was a star fullback and linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles during their championship years of 1948 and 1949, died Friday at Coatesville Medical Center.
Mr. Kish was a native of Tonawanda, N.Y. During his playing years at the University of Pittsburgh, he was coached by the legendary John "Jock" Sutherland.
Mr. Kish was a fullback in the Panthers' "Dream Backfield" during a three-season varsity career at Pitt. He was captain of the All-East team in 1940 and played in the Chicago All-Star game that year.
After graduating, Mr. Kish again came under Sutherland's tutelage in 1940, when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers, a now-defunct NFL team.
Mr. Kish stayed with the Dodgers for two seasons and was playing the New York Giants on Dec. 7, 1941, the day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.
He recalled that day in a 1956 Inquirer article: "The loudspeaker kept blaring for general so-and-so and colonel so-and-so and captain so-and-so to report immediately to such-and-such. We didn't know what was going on."
Mr. Kish joined the Army but was soon honorably discharged because of a physical problem.
He joined the Eagles in 1943, playing until 1949.
After that, Mr. Kish began a coaching career, during which he was an assistant coach at Drexel University, Temple University and Friends Central School.
He retired from coaching several years ago but continued to work as a salesman in the metal industry. He retired from Valley Metals, Bethayres, in 1987.
After retiring, he volunteered as a coach at Springfield High School in Montgomery County.
Mr. Kish liked to golf and was a member of the Plymouth Country Club as well as the Philadelphia chapter of the NFL Alumni Association.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Ruth Doolittle Kish; a son, Timothy B.; a daughter, Laurie Henrich; three grandchildren; a brother, and two sisters.
A memorial service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Chelten Baptist Church, 1601 Limekiln Pike, Dresher. Instead of flowers, the family requests donations to the Pennsylvania Special Olympics in care of Philadelphia Eagles Alumni Association, 2355 Karen Lane, Hatboro, Pa. 19040.
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