Verne Lewellen
| Date of birth | September 29, 1901 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Lincoln, Nebraska |
| Date of death | April 16, 1980 (aged 78) |
| Place of death | Rockville, Maryland |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Quarterback, halfback, fullback, punter |
| College | Nebraska |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1924–1932 | Green Bay Packers |
| As general manager | |
| 1954–1958 | Green Bay Packers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Career stats | |
| |
Verne Clark Lewellen (September 29, 1901 – April 16, 1980) was an American football player and executive.
A four-sport high school athlete, Lewellen stayed in Lincoln to attend Nebraska University, where he captained and quarterbacked the Cornhuskers to a 14-7 defeat of a Notre Dame squad in 1923. [1] Also a pitcher, the Pittsburgh Pirates were ready to sign him until an injury from a train wreck affected his pitching arm. Jim Crowley - who played against Lewellen in the 1923 Nebraska-Notre Dame matchup - recommended Lewellen to Packer coach Curly Lambeau.[2]
He played most of his nine-year career with the Green Bay Packers. Lewellen played in 102 games for the Packers from 1924 to 1932 (in 1927, the team "lent" him to the New York Yankees for three end-of-season games and earned all-league first team honors from 1926-29. [3] Under the Harlor Formula it is projected Lewellen would have made 4 Pro Bowls.
Completing a law degree from Nebraska University during his professional football career,[4] he ran successfully for Brown County (WI) District Attorney in 1928 against Packer teammate LaVern Dilweg and was re-elected in 1930. He lost the seat in the 1932 election and practiced law until his retirement.[5]
In 1950, he joined the Packers as a member of the executive committee, served as the Packers' general manager from 1954 through 1958 and business manager from 1961-'67.[6]
He was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1967 and the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1970.
The Professional Football Researchers Association named Lewellen to the PRFA Hall of Very Good Class of 2009 [7]
References
- ↑ ""The Nebraska 100: 64 Verne Lewellen"". Retrieved November 23, 2016.
- ↑ ""Verne Lewellen" (The Coffin Corner: Vol 12 No 1)" (PDF). Retrieved November 23, 2016.
- ↑ ""Verne Lewellen" (The Coffin Corner: Vol 12 No 1)" (PDF). Retrieved November 23, 2016.
- ↑ ""The Nebraska 100: 64 Verne Lewellen"". Retrieved November 23, 2016.
- ↑ ""Verne Lewellen" (The Coffin Corner: Vol 12 No 1)" (PDF). Retrieved November 23, 2016.
- ↑ ""Verne Lewellen" (The Coffin Corner: Vol 12 No 1)" (PDF). Retrieved November 23, 2016.
- ↑ "Hall of Very Good Class of 2009". Retrieved November 23, 2016.