Joe Perry (American football)
Encyclopedia
Fletcher Joseph "Joe" Perry (January 22, 1927 April 25, 2011) was a professional American football
fullback
for the San Francisco 49ers
from 1948 to 1950 (while the 49ers were a member of the NFL's rival league, the AAFC
), then 1950 to 1960 when the 49ers were absorbed into the NFL, the Baltimore Colts
from 1961–1962, and finally back to the 49ers for his final year in football, 1963.
After military service in World War II
, Perry attended Compton Junior College where he teamed with future Pro Football Hall of Fame
member Hugh McElhenny
. Together they won back-to-back national championships in 1946 and 1947. Perry then went directly into pro football joining the 49ers' in 1948. Nicknamed "The Jet," Perry was not known for being a powerful fullback, or particularly elusive; he simply had fantastic speed (9.7 100 yards).
Perry retired as the NFL career rushing leader, surpassing the old record of 5,860 yards held by Steve Van Buren
, and which was later broken by Jim Brown
on October 20, 1963. He was also the first NFL runner ever to have consecutive 1,000 yard rushing seasons (1953 and 1954), Perry's durability allowed him to play in three separate decades, from the 1940s to the 1960s, for 16 seasons. During the mid-1950s, Perry was a member of the San Francisco 49ers "Million Dollar Backfield
", playing along side Hugh McElhenny, John Henry Johnson
and Y.A. Tittle. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
in 1969. Currently the 49ers "Million Dollar Backfield" is the only full-house backfield to have all four of its members enshrined in the Hall.
In addition to his football career, Perry also hosted a popular sports and music radio program, "Both Sides Of The Record," sponsored by Burgermeister Beer, on R&B-formatted KWBR (1310 AM; later known as KDIA
) beginning in 1954. The program was arranged by Franklin Mieuli
, a sports entrepreneur who worked in marketing for Burgie, in addition to being a part-owner of the 49ers and producer of the team's radio and television broadcasts. After retiring from football, Perry competed in the Professional Bowlers Association
Tour.
at the age of 84.
49ers owner John York
said:
On June 9, 2011, it was announced that Perry and his fellow "Million Dollar Backfield" teammate, John Henry Johnson, who died on June 3, 2011, would have their brains examined by researchers at Boston University
who are studying head injuries in sports. Both men were suspected of suffering form Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
(CTE), a disorder linked to repeated brain trauma. Perry's widow, Donna, told the San Francisco Chronicle
that she believes her husband suffered from CTE. She further told the newspaper that "When Joe was playing, they'd give them smelling salts and put them back in. "Now the equipment is better, and they're looking into ways to protect them. We have to look at what this is doing to our children."
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...
fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
for the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
from 1948 to 1950 (while the 49ers were a member of the NFL's rival league, the AAFC
All-America Football Conference
The All-America Football Conference was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the nation's best players, and introduced many lasting innovations...
), then 1950 to 1960 when the 49ers were absorbed into the NFL, the Baltimore Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
from 1961–1962, and finally back to the 49ers for his final year in football, 1963.
After military service in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Perry attended Compton Junior College where he teamed with future Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
member Hugh McElhenny
Hugh McElhenny
Hugh Edward McElhenny is a former American football running back in the National Football League who played from 1952–1964, for the San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and Detroit Lions. He was noted for his explosive, elusive running style and was frequently called "The...
. Together they won back-to-back national championships in 1946 and 1947. Perry then went directly into pro football joining the 49ers' in 1948. Nicknamed "The Jet," Perry was not known for being a powerful fullback, or particularly elusive; he simply had fantastic speed (9.7 100 yards).
Perry retired as the NFL career rushing leader, surpassing the old record of 5,860 yards held by Steve Van Buren
Steve Van Buren
Stephen W. Van Buren is a former professional American football halfback who played for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League from 1944–1951, and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.-Early life:...
, and which was later broken by Jim Brown
Jim Brown
James Nathaniel "Jim" Brown is an American former professional football player who has also made his mark as an actor. He is best known for his exceptional and record-setting nine-year career as a running back for the NFL Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965. In 2002, he was named by Sporting News...
on October 20, 1963. He was also the first NFL runner ever to have consecutive 1,000 yard rushing seasons (1953 and 1954), Perry's durability allowed him to play in three separate decades, from the 1940s to the 1960s, for 16 seasons. During the mid-1950s, Perry was a member of the San Francisco 49ers "Million Dollar Backfield
Million Dollar Backfield
The Million Dollar Backfield was a nickname given to two historical backfields in the National Football League. It was first used to describe the offensive attack of the then-Chicago Cardinals in 1947 after an unprecedented amount of money by Cardinals owner Charles Bidwill lured several of the...
", playing along side Hugh McElhenny, John Henry Johnson
John Henry Johnson
John Henry Johnson was an American football fullback. He played from 1954 to 1965 for the San Francisco 49ers, the Detroit Lions, and the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League...
and Y.A. Tittle. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
in 1969. Currently the 49ers "Million Dollar Backfield" is the only full-house backfield to have all four of its members enshrined in the Hall.
In addition to his football career, Perry also hosted a popular sports and music radio program, "Both Sides Of The Record," sponsored by Burgermeister Beer, on R&B-formatted KWBR (1310 AM; later known as KDIA
KDIA
KDIA is a radio station in Vallejo, California. It is a separate entity from the station at 1310 AM that held the KDIA call letters for many years. The 1640 AM frequency was licensed as part of an extension of the AM band in 1998, and adopted the abandoned KDIA call letters then.-KDIA 1310...
) beginning in 1954. The program was arranged by Franklin Mieuli
Franklin Mieuli
Franklin Mieuli was a San Francisco Bay Area radio and television producer who was best known as the principal owner of the Golden State Warriors from 1962 to 1986. The pinnacle of his twenty-four years with the franchise was its National Basketball Association Championship in 1975...
, a sports entrepreneur who worked in marketing for Burgie, in addition to being a part-owner of the 49ers and producer of the team's radio and television broadcasts. After retiring from football, Perry competed in the Professional Bowlers Association
Professional Bowlers Association
The Professional Bowlers Association is the major sanctioning body for the sport of professional ten-pin bowling in the United States. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the PBA membership consists of almost 4,300 members worldwide...
Tour.
Death
The San Francisco 49ers announced that Perry died on Monday April 25, 2011 in Arizona of complications from dementiaDementia
Dementia is a serious loss of cognitive ability in a previously unimpaired person, beyond what might be expected from normal aging...
at the age of 84.
49ers owner John York
John York
John C. York is a retired American cancer research pathologist, married to Marie Denise DeBartolo York, and former co-owner and current co-chairman of the San Francisco 49ers. The Yorks have four children: sons Jed and Tony, and daughters Jenna and Mara.York was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma...
said:
I was deeply saddened to hear of Joe Perry's passing. He was a dear friend to my family and I and to the entire 49ers organization. He was also an integral part of our rich history. A truly remarkable man both on and off the field, Joe had a lasting impact on the game of football and was an inspirational man to the generations of players that followed him. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to his wife, Donna, and his entire family. He will be sadly missed by all of us.
On June 9, 2011, it was announced that Perry and his fellow "Million Dollar Backfield" teammate, John Henry Johnson, who died on June 3, 2011, would have their brains examined by researchers at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
who are studying head injuries in sports. Both men were suspected of suffering form Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a progressive degenerative disease found in individuals who have been subjected to multiple concussions and other forms of head injury. A variant of the condition, dementia pugilistica, is primarily associated with boxing...
(CTE), a disorder linked to repeated brain trauma. Perry's widow, Donna, told the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
that she believes her husband suffered from CTE. She further told the newspaper that "When Joe was playing, they'd give them smelling salts and put them back in. "Now the equipment is better, and they're looking into ways to protect them. We have to look at what this is doing to our children."
External links
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: member biography
- Gallery of Joe Perry football cards
- Fox Sports: http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/San-Francisco-49ers-former-great-Joe-Perry-dies-042511/?gt1=49002