Lamar Lundy
Encyclopedia
Lamar J. Lundy, Jr. was an American
defensive end
with the Los Angeles Rams
of the National Football League
for 13 seasons, from 1957 to 1969. Along with Deacon Jones
, Merlin Olsen
, and Rosey Grier
, Lundy was a member of the Fearsome Foursome
, often considered one of the best defensive lines in NFL history. All four also did some acting; Lundy portrayed the boulder-hurling cyclops in the unaired pilot of Lost in Space
(this pilot was later made into episode 4 of the series, entitled "There Were Giants in the Earth").
Lundy was born in Richmond, Indiana
, and attended Purdue University
, where he was the first black student to receive a football
scholarship, and where he was named MVP of both the football and basketball
teams in his senior year. The 6'7" Lundy was drafted by both the NFL and the NBA
, but he opted for a career in football. Early in his professional career, Lundy (#85) was occasionally used as an offensive receiver, catching 35 passes for 584 yards and 6 touchdown
s. He scored an additional 3 touchdowns on interception returns (coincidentally, on the only 3 interceptions of his NFL career). When he retired as a player, Lundy became an assistant coach for the San Diego Chargers
, but was forced by illness to cease coaching.
Lundy died at age 71 on February 24, 2007. He was the first of the "Fearsome Foursome" to die. Lundy, who battled diabetes, Graves disease, myasthenia gravis
, cancer
, and heart disease
, was survived by two adult sons, two adult daughters, and many grandchildren.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
with the Los Angeles Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for 13 seasons, from 1957 to 1969. Along with Deacon Jones
Deacon Jones
David D. "Deacon" Jones is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, and the Washington Redskins. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.Jones specialized in quarterback sacks, a term attributed to him...
, Merlin Olsen
Merlin Olsen
Merlin Jay Olsen was an American football player in the National Football League, NFL commentator, and actor. He played his entire 15-year career with the Los Angeles Rams and was elected to the Pro Bowl in 14 of those seasons, a current record shared with Bruce Matthews...
, and Rosey Grier
Rosey Grier
Roosevelt "Rosey" Grier is an American actor, singer, Christian minister, and former professional American football player. He was a notable college football player for Pennsylvania State University who earned a retrospective place in the National Collegiate Athletic Association 100th anniversary...
, Lundy was a member of the Fearsome Foursome
Fearsome Foursome (football)
The "Fearsome Foursome" was a title first used in reporting American Professional Football, when referring to the dominating defensive lines of the San Diego Chargers of the American Football League in the early 1960s, the New York Giants, Detroit Lions and most widely, the Los Angeles Rams of the...
, often considered one of the best defensive lines in NFL history. All four also did some acting; Lundy portrayed the boulder-hurling cyclops in the unaired pilot of Lost in Space
Lost in Space
Lost in Space is a science fiction TV series created and produced by Irwin Allen, filmed by 20th Century Fox Television, and broadcast on CBS. The show ran for three seasons, with 83 episodes airing between September 15, 1965, and March 6, 1968...
(this pilot was later made into episode 4 of the series, entitled "There Were Giants in the Earth").
Lundy was born in Richmond, Indiana
Richmond, Indiana
Richmond is a city largely within Wayne Township, Wayne County, in east central Indiana, United States, which borders Ohio. The city also includes the Richmond Municipal Airport, which is in Boston Township and separated from the rest of the city...
, and attended Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
, where he was the first black student to receive a 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...
scholarship, and where he was named MVP of both the football and basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
teams in his senior year. The 6'7" Lundy was drafted by both the NFL and the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
, but he opted for a career in football. Early in his professional career, Lundy (#85) was occasionally used as an offensive receiver, catching 35 passes for 584 yards and 6 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s. He scored an additional 3 touchdowns on interception returns (coincidentally, on the only 3 interceptions of his NFL career). When he retired as a player, Lundy became an assistant coach for the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, but was forced by illness to cease coaching.
Lundy died at age 71 on February 24, 2007. He was the first of the "Fearsome Foursome" to die. Lundy, who battled diabetes, Graves disease, myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease leading to fluctuating muscle weakness and fatiguability...
, cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, and heart disease
Heart disease
Heart disease, cardiac disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases affecting the heart. , it is the leading cause of death in the United States, England, Canada and Wales, accounting for 25.4% of the total deaths in the United States.-Types:-Coronary heart disease:Coronary...
, was survived by two adult sons, two adult daughters, and many grandchildren.
Honors
- Selected to play in the 1959 NFL Pro BowlPro BowlIn professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
. - Selected to the NFL All-ProAll-ProAll-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
team in 1967. - Inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of FameIndiana Football Hall of FameThe Indiana Football Hall of Fame is a sports museum and hall of fame in Richmond, Indiana. It honors persons associated with high school, college and professional American football in Indiana. It also works to establish scholarships and endowments to promote football in the state of Indiana...
in 1975. - Inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of FameIndiana Basketball Hall of FameThe Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame is a sports museum and hall of fame in New Castle, Indiana. It honors men and women associated with high school, college and professional basketball in Indiana....
in 1990. - The National Rd. West Bridge was recently renamed "Lamar Lundy Memorial Bridge" in honor of him.