Wendell Butcher

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Wendell Butcher
No. 66
Position:Back
Personal information
Born:(1914-03-28)March 28, 1914
Worthington, Minnesota, U.S.
Died:December 18, 1988(1988-12-18) (aged 74)
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:197 lb (89 kg)
Career information
High school:Worthington (MN)
College:Gustavus Adolphus
Undrafted:1938
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Wendell Ralph Butcher (March 28, 1914 – December 18, 1988) was an American football back who played five seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Gustavus Adolphus College and attended Worthington High School in Worthington, Minnesota.[1]

Early years[edit]

Butcher lettered three years in football, two years in basketball and two years in track at Worthington High School. He graduated in 1932. He was inducted into the Worthington High School Athletic Hall of Fame.[2]

College career[edit]

Butcher played for the Gustavus Adolphus Golden Gusties.[3] He lettered one year as a halfback and three as a fullback.[2] He helped the Gusties to three straight State Championships while the team won the conference all four years he played for them.[2][3] Butcher was the leading scorer, rusher and passer in the conference during his junior and senior seasons. He earned All-State honors three times and was named a Little All-American in 1937. He was nicknamed the "Worthington Walloper" during his time at Gustavus Adolphus.[3] Butcher also participated in basketball and track for the Gusties.[2] He graduated in 1938. He was a charter member of the Gustavus Adolphus Athletics Hall of Fame in 1978.[2][3]

Professional career[edit]

Butcher signed with the NFL's Brooklyn Dodgers in 1938.[2] He played in 44 games, starting 17, for the Dodgers from 1938 to 1942.[4]

Personal life[edit]

Butcher served in the United States Military during World War II.[2] He worked at the family business, Thermopax, a heating equipment manufacturing company in Memphis, Tennessee, with his two sons. He retired in March 1979.[3] Wendell's son, Ron Butcher, scored the first touchdown in the 1963 Rose Bowl.[3][5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "WENDELL BUTCHER". profootballarchives.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Wendell Butcher - WHS Class of 1932". isd518.net. Archived from the original on February 26, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Wendell Butcher '38". gustavus.edu. Archived from the original on February 26, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  4. ^ "Wendell Butcher". pro-football-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  5. ^ Hoffarth, Tom (December 30, 2012). "50 years later, the '63 Rose Bowl has stayed golden on its golden anniversary". insidesocal.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016.

External links[edit]

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