February '12 Luncheon - Jerry Thornton '55

Fiji Luncheon – Husky Hall of Fame 

Mystery Guest   2/14/2012

Jerry Thornton '55 shares the glory days of his sports career.

What member of the Husky Hall of Fame played football with (or against) the following College All Americans and/or NFL players?

> Bronko Nagurski (End & FullBack)- All American at the U of Minnesota... Chicago Bears & NFL All-Time All Star

> Don Heinrich (QB)- Husky All American & NFL NY Giants

> Ollie Matson (RB)- U of San Francisco All-American... LA Rams & NFL Hall of Fame. Chicago > Cardinals traded him to LA for 11 players!

> YA Tittle (QB)- NY Giants & SF 49'ers NFL Hall of Fame

> Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch (E)- U of Wisconsin All-American... LA Rams & NFL Hall of Fame

> Matt Hazeltine (C)- University of California All American... SF 49'ers

> Doak Walker (RB/K)- Southern Methodist, 3 time All American... Detroit Lions, NFL Hall of Fame     [Greg Lewis, UW (RB), was the first recipient of the Doak Walker Award recognizing the Best Collegiate Running Back!]

> Hugh McElhenny (RB)- UDub All American... SF 49'er & NY Giant, NFL Hall of Fame

> Carroll Hardy (RB)- U of Colorado All-American...SF 49'ers. MLB player w/ Cleveland Indians & Boston Red Sox. Only player to pinch hit for Ted Williams!

> Bill McColl (E)- Stanford All American... Chicago Bears & NFL Hall of Fame

> Leo Nomellini (T)- U of Minnesota All-American...SF 49'ers & NFL Hall of Fame

> Ran back a kickoff for TD against the Ramblers in 1952

> Hint- individual was not inducted into the Husky Hall of Fame for his football exploits. 

Gary Craig '61,  Jim Hilton '56,  Bill Revere '54,  Dan Alexander '53,  Don McKay '51,  James Wagoner '07  (Idaho), and Charlie Mencke '05 (Idaho)

A product of West Seattle, Jerry joined the fraternity in the Fall of '51.  He was a walk-on who played frosh football and baseball.  In the fall of his sophomore year he was the back-up fullback behind "Nugget" - Jack Nugent '53.  Just before the opening game of the season, Jerry was called to active duty with the Navy, and he reported to his VF 894 Squadron at the Naval Air Station at Sand Point.  The Spring of '56 found Jerry back to the fraternity where he joined his younger brother, Tim '59.   Jerry Thornton '55 graduated in 1959 after being a member of the 1959 Husky Hall of Fame baseball team.  His wife, Darlene, was an Alpha Gam class of '59.  They had 5 sons, and today they have 12 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.  

Jerry spent 13 years with the Highline School District followed by 19 years as the Director of the Washington Center for Community Education -- Wash. State Dept. of Education.   He then added another 14 years as the Director of Continuing Education for City University.  

In his free time, Jerry dedicated 35 years as an official for high school and semi-pro football games.

In addition to his studies at UW, Jerry also earned a graduate degree in education from the University of Michigan.  Today he is the president of the West Seattle High School 50 Year Monogram Club.