Bruce Smith (halfback): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 16:52, 14 March 2006

Revision as of 20:30, 16 April 2006

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'''Bruce P. Smith''' ([[February 8]], [[1920]] – [[August 28]], [[1967]]), nicknamed "Boo", was an [[American football]] player best known for winning the [[Heisman Trophy]] in [[1941]].

Smith was born in [[Faribault, Minnesota|Faribault]], [[Minnesota]] and attended the [[University of Minnesota Twin Cities|University of Minnesota]]. He played [[running back|halfback]] for the back to back mythical national champions [[Minnesota Golden Gophers|Gophers]] in [[1940]] and 1941. He received the Heisman two days after the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]]. During the [[World War II|War]] he served as a [[U.S. Navy]] fighter pilot. After the war he briefly played in the [[National Football League]] with the [[Green Bay Packers]] (1945 - –1948) and [[Los Angeles Rams]] ([[1948]]). He died from [[cancer]] in [[1967]].

He was diagnosed with from [[cancer]] in the spring of [[1967]], and spent the next several months visiting young cancer patients with the Rev. William Cantwell. Smith lost over half his body weight before succumbing to the disease. Cantwell, who was unfamiliar with Smith's sports achievements, nominated Smith for [[canonization|sainthood]].

In [[1972]], Smith was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]]. His number 54 was officially retired by the Gophers in [[1977]].

In [[1972]], Smith was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]]. His number 54 was the first to be officially retired by the Gophers, in [[1977]].

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