Bruce McLenna
Encyclopedia
Bruce Oliver McLenna was an American football
player. He played college football
for the University of Michigan
in 1961 and for Hillsdale College
in 1964 and 1965. He played professional football for the Detroit Lions
in 1966 and was later signed by the Kansas City Chiefs
. In June 1968, he was killed in an automobile accident at age 26 while riding in a military vehicle as part of his service in the Missouri National Guard
.
as a halfback
for the University of Michigan
in 1961. He gained 43 net rushing yards on 14 rushing attempts in 1961 and scored touchdowns against Army
and Ohio State
. He was listed on the 1962 roster at the fullback and end positions, but he was ruled academically ineligible to play for Michigan's football team in late August 1962.
McLenna transferred to Hillsdale College
where he became a star running back for the Hillsdale Chargers football team. He played for Hillsdale in 1964 and 1965 and was the leading scorer in the state in 1964. He was also selected as Hillsdale's most valuable player in 1965. He was also selected for the "Little All-America" team.
in the ninth round (123rd overall pick) of the 1965 NFL Draft
, but he opted to continue playing for Hillsdale College in 1965. He played at the halfback position for the 1966 Detroit Lions
, appearing in the first nine games of the 1966 NFL season
. However, he sustained a knee injury in the ninth game and missed the remainder of the season. McLenna underwent knee surgery in November 1966. In March 1967, the Lions traded McLenna to the New Orleans Saints
for Charlie Bradshaw
. He was cut by the Saints before the start of the 1967 regular season. He then signed with the Kansas City Chiefs
and played on the Chiefs' taxi squad during the 1967 season.
to Camp Clark at Nevada, Missouri
. According to an account of the accident published in The Sporting News
, McLenna was riding in the rear of a military truck as part of a two-week assignment with the 1975th Military Police Battalion. The truck was sideswiped by a civilian automobile on U.S. Highway 65. McLenna was attempting to fulfill his service obligation with the Missouri National Guard
before the start of the 1968 NFL season
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1961 and for Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, United States, is a co-educational liberal arts college known for being the first American college to prohibit in its charter all discrimination based on race, religion, or sex; its refusal of government funding; and its monthly publication, Imprimis...
in 1964 and 1965. He played professional football for the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
in 1966 and was later signed by the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
. In June 1968, he was killed in an automobile accident at age 26 while riding in a military vehicle as part of his service in the Missouri National Guard
Missouri National Guard
The Missouri National Guard consists of the:*Missouri Army National Guard*Missouri Air National Guard-External links:* compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History...
.
College football
McLenna played college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
as a halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1961. He gained 43 net rushing yards on 14 rushing attempts in 1961 and scored touchdowns against Army
Army Black Knights football
The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946....
and Ohio State
1961 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1961 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1961-1962. The Buckeyes compiled a 8–0–1 record.-Schedule:-1962 Pro draftees:-References:Win/Loss statistics*...
. He was listed on the 1962 roster at the fullback and end positions, but he was ruled academically ineligible to play for Michigan's football team in late August 1962.
McLenna transferred to Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, United States, is a co-educational liberal arts college known for being the first American college to prohibit in its charter all discrimination based on race, religion, or sex; its refusal of government funding; and its monthly publication, Imprimis...
where he became a star running back for the Hillsdale Chargers football team. He played for Hillsdale in 1964 and 1965 and was the leading scorer in the state in 1964. He was also selected as Hillsdale's most valuable player in 1965. He was also selected for the "Little All-America" team.
Professional football
McLenna was drafted by the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
in the ninth round (123rd overall pick) of the 1965 NFL Draft
1965 NFL Draft
The 1965 National Football League Draft took place on November 28, 1964. The first player selected was Tucker Frederickson, back from Auburn, by the New York Giants. The draft was marked by the failure of the St...
, but he opted to continue playing for Hillsdale College in 1965. He played at the halfback position for the 1966 Detroit Lions
1966 Detroit Lions season
The 1966 Detroit Lions season was their 37th in the league. The team failed to improve on their previous season's output of 6-7-1, winning only four games. They missed the playoffs for the ninth straight season.-Schedule:-Standings:-References:...
, appearing in the first nine games of the 1966 NFL season
1966 NFL season
The 1966 NFL season was the 47th regular season of the National Football League, and the season after which was played Super Bowl I, though it was called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game. The league expanded to 15 teams with the addition of the Atlanta Falcons, thus an odd number of teams...
. However, he sustained a knee injury in the ninth game and missed the remainder of the season. McLenna underwent knee surgery in November 1966. In March 1967, the Lions traded McLenna to the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
for Charlie Bradshaw
Charlie Bradshaw
-External links:...
. He was cut by the Saints before the start of the 1967 regular season. He then signed with the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
and played on the Chiefs' taxi squad during the 1967 season.
Death
McLenna died in June 1968 at Urbana, Missouri. He was killed in an automobile crash while traveling in a military vehicle from Ft. Leonard WoodFort Leonard Wood, Missouri
Fort Leonard Wood is a census-designated place in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States. The population was 13,667 at the 2000 census. It is named in honor of Major General Leonard Wood, who was awarded the Medal of Honor...
to Camp Clark at Nevada, Missouri
Nevada, Missouri
Nevada is a city in Vernon County, Missouri, United States. The population was 8,327 at the 2011 census. It is the county seat of Vernon County. Nevada is the home of Cottey College, a junior college for women operated by the P.E.O. Sisterhood....
. According to an account of the accident published in The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
, McLenna was riding in the rear of a military truck as part of a two-week assignment with the 1975th Military Police Battalion. The truck was sideswiped by a civilian automobile on U.S. Highway 65. McLenna was attempting to fulfill his service obligation with the Missouri National Guard
Missouri National Guard
The Missouri National Guard consists of the:*Missouri Army National Guard*Missouri Air National Guard-External links:* compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History...
before the start of the 1968 NFL season
1968 NFL season
The 1968 NFL season was the 49th regular season of the National Football League. As per the agreement made during the 1967 realignment, the New Orleans Saints and the New York Giants switched divisions; the Saints joined the Century Division while the Giants became part of the Capitol Division.The...
.