| No. 40, 62, 66, 41 | |
| Linebacker, defensive lineman, offensive lineman | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: May 27, 1925 | |
| Place of birth: Dothan, Alabama | |
| Date of death: June 1, 2013 (aged 88) | |
| Place of death: Oakville, Ontario | |
| High School: Miami Senior High School Miami, Florida | |
| Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | Weight: 235 lb (107 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College: University of Florida | |
| NFL Draft: 1950 / Round: 13 / Pick: 166 | |
| Debuted in 1950 for the Chicago Bears | |
| Last played in 1955 for the Ottawa Rough Riders | |
| Career history | |
| * Chicago Bears ( 1950– 1953) | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| * CFL East All-Star (1955) | |
| Stats at NFL.com | |
| Stats at pro-football-reference.com | |
| Stats at DatabaseFootball.com | |
James Franklin Dempsey (May 27, 1925 – June 1, 2013) was an American college and professional football player who was a linebacker and lineman in the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL) for six seasons in the 1950s. Dempsey played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Chicago Bears of the NFL and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Ottawa Rough Riders of the CFL.
Early years[]
Dempsey was born in Dothan, Alabama in 1925.[1] He attended Miami Senior High School in Miami, Florida,[2] and he played high school football for the Miami Stingarees.
College career[]
Dempsey attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for coach Raymond Wolf's Florida Gators football team from 1946 to 1949.[3] He was a standout lineman on offense and defense for the Gators at the lowest point in the history of their football program, ironically dubbed the "Golden Era" by the players.[4] Dempsey graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1950, and he was later inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great" in 1971.[5][6]
Dempsey was remembered as a good-natured mischief maker and for the pranks and activities of his teammates that revolved around his World War II-era surplus Jeep.[7]
Professional career[]
The Chicago Bears selected Dempsey in the thirteenth round (166th pick overall) of the 1950 NFL Draft,[8] and he played in thirty-nine games for the Bears from 1950 to 1953.[9] He was a versatile player, and at different times, he played both offense and defense, including linebacker, guard and tackle.[1]
Dempsey played his final two professional seasons in the CFL, first for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1954 and the first part of 1955, and then for the Ottawa Rough Riders during the latter part of the 1955 season.[10] He was selected as a CFL East All-Star in the first CFL All-Star Game in 1955.[10]
Life after football[]
After Dempsey's professional football career ended, he remained in Canada and became the owner of a successful gun and sporting goods store.[7] He is now retired and lives in Oakville, Ontario.
See also[]
- Florida Gators
- Florida Gators football, 1940–49
- List of Chicago Bears players
- List of Florida Gators football players
- List of University of Florida alumni
- Oldest Living Pro Football Players - Frank Dempsey
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Pro-Football-Reference.com, Players, Frank Dempsey. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
- ↑ databaseFootball.com, Players, Frank Dempsey. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
- ↑ 2011 Florida Gators Football Media Guide, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, p. 180 (2011). Retrieved August 28, 2011.
- ↑ Tom McEwen, The Gators: A Story of Florida Football, The Strode Publishers, Huntsville, Alabama, pp. 136, 141, 148–151 (1974).
- ↑ F Club, Hall of Fame, Gator Greats. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
- ↑ Associated Press, "O'Connell Lauded for Actions," Sarasota Journal (May 3, 1971). Retrieved July 24, 2011.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Jack Hairston, Tales from the Gator Swamp, Sports Publishing, LLC, Champaign, Illinois, pp. 160–167 (2002).
- ↑ Pro Football Hall of Fame, Draft History, 1950 National Football League Draft. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
- ↑ National Football League, Historical Players, Frank Dempsey. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 CFLapedia.com, Players A–Z, Frank Dempsey. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
Bibliography[]
- Carlson, Norm, University of Florida Football Vault: The History of the Florida Gators, Whitman Publishing, LLC, Atlanta, Georgia (2007). ISBN 0-7948-2298-3.
- Golenbock, Peter, Go Gators! An Oral History of Florida's Pursuit of Gridiron Glory, Legends Publishing, LLC, St. Petersburg, Florida (2002). ISBN 0-9650782-1-3.
- Hairston, Jack, Tales from the Gator Swamp: A Collection of the Greatest Gator Stories Ever Told, Sports Publishing, LLC, Champaign, Illinois (2002). ISBN 1-58261-514-4.
- McCarthy, Kevin M., Fightin' Gators: A History of University of Florida Football, Arcadia Publishing, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina (2000). ISBN 978-0-7385-0559-6.
- McEwen, Tom, The Gators: A Story of Florida Football, The Strode Publishers, Huntsville, Alabama (1974). ISBN 0-87397-025-X.
- Nash, Noel, ed., The Gainesville Sun Presents The Greatest Moments in Florida Gators Football, Sports Publishing, Inc., Champaign, Illinois (1998). ISBN 1-57167-196-X.