Michigan Wolverines | |
---|---|
Position | Halfback |
Personal information | |
Born: | June 24, 1917 Youngstown, Ohio |
Died: | November 12, 2014 (age 97) Boardman, Ohio |
Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
Weight | 180 lb (82 kg) |
Career history | |
College | Michigan (1936–1938) |
High school | Boardman (OH) |
Norman B. Purucker (June 24, 1917 [1] – November 12, 2014 [2]) was an American football player.
A native of Youngstown, Ohio, Purucker was the son of Frederick Purucker, a pipe fitter at a steel mill, [3] who later worked as a meat cutter at a market. [4] The family moved to Boardman, Ohio, while Purucker was a child. He attended Boardman High School where he was a star in football, basketball and track and field. The Vindicator called him "the greatest all-around athlete in Boardman history." [2] In 1980, he became the first person inducted into the Boardman High School Hall of Fame. [2]
Purucker enrolled at the University of Michigan and played at the halfback and punter positions for the Michigan Wolverines football team from 1936 to 1938. He was also a sprinter on the Michigan track team in 1938 and 1939. [2]
Purucker signed with the Green Bay Packers in June 1939. [5] [6] but was released in September 1939 after reporting late due to his attendance at summer classes at Michigan. [7] He filed a $2,000 lawsuit against the Packers that he had been promised $175 per game, regardless of whether he played. Purucker further alleged that he was released after sustaining an injury in a game against the Texas All-Stars. [8]
In January 1942, Purucker was accepted as a physical instructor with the United States Navy. [9] He later worked as a real estate broker and income tax consultant. He died in Boardman, Ohio, in 2014 at age 97. [2]
Michigan Wolverines | |
---|---|
Position | Halfback |
Personal information | |
Born: | June 24, 1917 Youngstown, Ohio |
Died: | November 12, 2014 (age 97) Boardman, Ohio |
Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
Weight | 180 lb (82 kg) |
Career history | |
College | Michigan (1936–1938) |
High school | Boardman (OH) |
Norman B. Purucker (June 24, 1917 [1] – November 12, 2014 [2]) was an American football player.
A native of Youngstown, Ohio, Purucker was the son of Frederick Purucker, a pipe fitter at a steel mill, [3] who later worked as a meat cutter at a market. [4] The family moved to Boardman, Ohio, while Purucker was a child. He attended Boardman High School where he was a star in football, basketball and track and field. The Vindicator called him "the greatest all-around athlete in Boardman history." [2] In 1980, he became the first person inducted into the Boardman High School Hall of Fame. [2]
Purucker enrolled at the University of Michigan and played at the halfback and punter positions for the Michigan Wolverines football team from 1936 to 1938. He was also a sprinter on the Michigan track team in 1938 and 1939. [2]
Purucker signed with the Green Bay Packers in June 1939. [5] [6] but was released in September 1939 after reporting late due to his attendance at summer classes at Michigan. [7] He filed a $2,000 lawsuit against the Packers that he had been promised $175 per game, regardless of whether he played. Purucker further alleged that he was released after sustaining an injury in a game against the Texas All-Stars. [8]
In January 1942, Purucker was accepted as a physical instructor with the United States Navy. [9] He later worked as a real estate broker and income tax consultant. He died in Boardman, Ohio, in 2014 at age 97. [2]