Jim Ailinger
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James Joseph Ailinger (July 10, 1901 – March 27, 2001) was a dentist, an American
Ailinger played center and tackle for the
He played as a reserve on the line during the 1924 Buffalo Bisons (NFL) season.[2] He was part of an initiative to boost gate attendance for the Buffalo, New York franchise, mixing local talent such as Ailinger with big-name stars such as Benny Boynton, Eddie Kaw, Pete Calac and Swede Youngstrom. He was paid $50 U.S. for each game he was on the roster. After the 1924 NFL season, Ailinger swiftly retired despite an offer to return to the team in 1925. (As a future dentist, he was fearful of hurting his hands.) Ailinger put his NFL earnings toward tuition for dental school at the University of Buffalo.[3]
In addition to running a successful dental practice for over 60 years, Ailinger remained involved in sports. He served as an assistant football coach and assistant basketball coach at the
In 1998, he was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. He was, at the time of his death in 2001, the oldest surviving NFL player.[4] (Sam Dana, who was born in 1903, assumed that title after Ailinger's death.)
References
- ^ "Football's Living Legend," UBtoday - Spring/Summer, 1998.
- ^ "Jim Ailinger: Career Stats," NFL.com.
- ^ "He tackled Jim Thorpe," The Argus-Press - January 30, 1998.
- ^ "James Ailinger, Ex-N.F.L. Player, Dies at 99," New York Times - April 1, 2001.