Robert Derleth
Personal information | |
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Born: | Tackle | June 9, 1922
NFL draft: | 1944 / Round: 29 / Pick: 299 |
Career history | |
Career NFL statistics | |
Player stats at NFL.com |
Robert J. Derleth (June 9, 1922 – December 16, 2012) was an American football lineman. He played college football for the University of Michigan Wolverines football teams in 1942, 1943, 1945 and 1946 — missing the 1944 season due to military service. He also played professional football for the Detroit Lions in 1947.
Biography
Derleth was born in
After the 1943 season, Derleth was inducted into the U.S. Navy and assigned to aviation training cadet at the Iowa Pre-Flight School in Iowa City, Iowa. He also played football on the Navy's Iowa Seahawks team.[6][7] The 1944 Iowa Seahawks included star players such as Les Horvath, and defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes in 1944 by a score of 30 to 6.[8] Derleth also took up track while in the Navy as reflected in a June 1945 wire report: "Bob Derleth and Bobby Mickelson took up track for the first time this season. Proof that Derleth, a former Michigan football tackle, catches on quickly is illustrated by his 133 feet 7-inch cast of the discus which brought him the all-time Seahawk mark in the event."[9]
While Derleth was serving in the Navy, the
"Derleth reported for practice yesterday after being placed on inactive dutv by the Navy. The Marquette, Mich., lineman immediately was issued a uniform and put in considerable time at the right guard spot during scrimmage. The former aviation cadet said he was in 'pretty good' physical shape and was an inch taller and about 14 pounds heavier than the last time he played for Michigan. In 1942 he was six-two and weighed 203."[11][12]
In mid-October 1945, Derleth returned to Michigan after being placed on inactive duty by the Navy.[13] He saw action in the November 1945 "Homecoming" game against Minnesota.[14] During the 1946 season, Derleth returned to the starting lineup at the tackle position.[15] Derleth suffered a concussion in the 1946 game against Illinois and did not play the following week.[16]
After his 1946 season at Michigan, Derleth was drafted in by the
Derleth later became the president of Motor Wheel Corporation, a position he held from 1967 to 1979.[21] He died in December 2012 at a hospice in Lansing, Michigan, at age 90.[21]
References
- ^ "1942 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
- ^ "1943 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
- ^ Jerry Liska (1943-11-05). "Odds Favor Ann Arbor 11: Bob Derleth, of Marquette, Mich., to Play for Wolverines". Ironwood Daily Globe.
- ^ "Captain Hurt". Billings Gazette. 1943-12-29. ("A knee injury, suffered when he crashed into the boards, will keep Bob Derleth, Michigan's hockey captain, out a month.")
- ^ John U. Bacon, "Blue Ice: The Story of Michigan Hockey," p. 408
- ^ a b c "Michigan Tackle Signs With Lions". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune (AP story). 1947-05-21.
- ^ "Bob Derleth Out of Seahawk Line for Next Contest". Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune (AP story). 1944-10-10.
- ^ "Seahawks Lick Iowa In Second Half, 30-6". Wisconsin State Journal. 1944-11-26.
- ^ "Two Seahawks Make Records Look Easy". Council Bluffs Nonpareil (NEA wire story). 1945-06-04.
- ^ a b "Robert Derleth profile". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
- ^ a b "untitled". Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune (AP wire story). 1945-10-10. p. 7.
- ^ "Bob Derleth, Marquette, Returns to Michigan Lineup From War". Ironwood Daily Globe (AP story). 1945-10-10.
- ^ "Derleth Back on M Eleven: 1942 Tackle Reports After Navy Discharge". Detroit Free Press. October 10, 1945. p. 14.
- ^ "Michigan Beats Gophers, 26-0; Yerges Shines; Bierman-Coached Team Suffers 1st Defeat by Crisler". Wisconsin State Journal. 1945-11-04.
- ^ "1946 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
- ^ "Wolverines Told Gophers No Easy Team..." Ludington Daily News. 1946-10-29. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
- ^ "1947 AAFC DRAFT" (PDF). profootballresearchers.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-17. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
- ^ "Derleth of Marquette Will Play With Detroit". Ironwood Daily Globe (AP story). 1947-05-21.
- ^ "U-M Lineman Joins Lions". Detroit Free Press. May 21, 1947. p. 16.
- ^ "FOOTBALL AND AMERICA: WW II Honor Roll". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
- ^ a b "In Memory of Robert "Bob" Derleth: June 9, 1922 - December 16, 2012". Obituaries. Dignity Memorial. 2012-12-17. Retrieved 2012-12-17.