Verne Lewellen
Lewellen in his Packers uniform in 1924 | |
| Born: | September 29, 1901 Lincoln, Nebraska |
|---|---|
| Died: | April 16, 1980 (aged 78) Rockville, Maryland |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Quarterback, halfback, fullback, punter |
| College | Nebraska |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1924–1932 | Green Bay Packers |
| As general manager | |
| 1954–1958 | Green Bay Packers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Verne Clark Lewellen (September 29, 1901 – April 16, 1980) was an American football player and executive.
Early life[]
Verne Lewellen was born on September 29, 1901 in Garland, Nebraska. A four-sport high school athlete, Lewellen attended Nebraska University, where he captained and quarterbacked the Cornhuskers to a 14-7 defeat of a Notre Dame squad in 1923.[1] Also a pitcher, the Pittsburgh Pirates were ready to sign him until an injury from a train wreck affected his pitching arm.
Professional career[]
Player[]
Jim Crowley - who played against Lewellen in the 1923 Nebraska-Notre Dame matchup - recommended Lewellen to Green Bay Packers coach Curly Lambeau.[2] Lewellen signed with the team and played most of his nine-year career with the Packers. Lewellen played in 102 games for the Packers from 1924 to 1932 (in 1927, the team "lent" him to the New York Yankees for three end-of-season games) and earned all-league first team honors from 1926–29.[2]
Executive[]
In 1950, he joined the Packers as a member of the executive committee, served as the Packers' general manager from 1954 through 1958 and business manager from 1961 to 1967.[2]
Legal career[]
Completing a law degree from Nebraska University during his professional football career,[1] he ran successfully for Brown County (WI) District Attorney in 1928 against Packer teammate LaVern Dilweg and was re-elected in 1930. He lost the seat in the 1932 election and practiced law until his retirement.[2]
Personal life[]
Lewellen died on April 16, 1980 at the age of 78.[3]
Legacy[]
He was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1967 and the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1970.[3] The Professional Football Researchers Association named Lewellen to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2009.[4]
References[]
- ^ a b ""The Nebraska 100: 64 Verne Lewellen"". Omaha World-Herald. Archived from the original on May 17, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Verne Lewellen" (PDF). The Coffin Corner. 12 (1). 1990. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 1, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019 – via Professional Football Researchers Association
.
- ^ a b Christl, Cliff. "Verne Lewellen". Green Bay Packers, Inc. Archived from the original on December 4, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
- ^ "Hall of Very Good Class of 2009". Professional Football Researchers Association. Archived from the original on May 13, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
External links[]
Verne Lewellen at Find a Grave
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- 1901 births
- 1980 deaths
- American football fullbacks
- American football halfbacks
- American football quarterbacks
- Green Bay Packers general managers
- Green Bay Packers players
- Nebraska Cornhuskers baseball players
- Nebraska Cornhuskers football players
- National Football League general managers
- Players of American football from Nebraska
- Sportspeople from Lincoln, Nebraska
- American football quarterback stubs
- American football running back, 1900s birth stubs