European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 30, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Wednesday january 30,1991 the stars and stripes 4 of in la a Gay % t nos Ujj \ s to red Grange the a a galloping ghost a returns opening kic.koff95 Yards for one of five touchdowns he scored for Illinois against Michigan in 1924. He passed for a sixth Tofile legendary grinder Grange Dies at 87 by Gerald Eskenazi the new York times Harold a a red Grange whose dramatic exploits As a football running Back for the University of Illinois and the Chicago bears More than 60 years ago made him an idol of his age and a legend to later generations died monday at Lake Wales Fla Hospital. He was 87. His wife of 49 years Margaret who is his Only survivor said grangers death was due to complications from pneumonia. He had been hospitalized since jul with his flaming hair and his Many notable achievements on the football Field a some so spectacular they still read like fiction a Grange fit easily into that group of superstars that helped elevate the 1920s into a Golden age of sports in the United states y he survived All the other larger than life heroes of that decade a babe Ruth Bill Tilden Johnny Weissmuller Jack Dempsey and Bobby Jones. A Grange became a charter member of the professional football Hall of Fame in 1963. He was also a member of the National football foundations College football Hall of Fame. A the Grange legend flowered one afternoon in 1924, when his Illinois team was facing undefeated Michigan. That Day was also dedication Day for memorial stadium at Illinois and 66,609 fans turned out for the game while Many people were still finding their scats Grange took the opening kick off .95 Yards for a touchdown. Then on the minis first play from scrimmage he broke through for a 67-Yard to. He followed that with scoring Rups of 54 and then 44 Yards. He astounded everyone present As Well As the larger football world by Rushing for 265 Yards and 4 touchdowns in the first 12 minutes of the game. A Quot i need a breather a he reportedly told his quarterback before going off the Field to rest for five minutes. Soon after he returned and scored his fifth touchdown of the Day on a 13-Yard run. For Good measure he tossed a 20-Yard scoring pass in the fourth Quarter As Illinois won 39-14, in 41 minutes of play he. Was responsible fur 402 Yards of offence including 64 Yards As a passer. For this performance and for his performances on other Golden afternoons Grange became known As the galloping ghost in tribute to sometimes elusive at other times crunching running style. Damon Runyon once wrote of him a the is three or four men rolled into one. 1 in is Jack Dempsey babe Ruth a1 Jolson Paavo Nurmi and Man even As a student Grange s Jersey number 77, took on almost mythic proportions. He was a three time All Macri can continually producing games that seemingly could not be topped. In his collegiate debut for example he ran 35 Yards for a touchdown against Nebraska in the first Quarter 65 Yards for another score in the second and 12 Yards for a third touchdown in the final period in his first big ten game against Iowa he caught three passes on a drive that took Illinois to the 2-Yard line. 1 Hen he scored and the Illihi went on to beat the Hawk yes for the first time in 22 games. Grangers collegiate career Mark of 2,071 Yards Rushing Over three seasons was actually bettered several times by other mini runners but he accomplished that figure with Only 388 curries a an average of 5.3 Yards a carry. The last of his Many records at Illinois 31 career touchdowns was broken last year when Howard Griffith ended his career with 33 ads. Grange also threw six scoring passes. Grangers collegiate exploits suddenly ended in november 1925, when he was persuaded to join the Chicago bears on thanksgiving Day to begin a remarkable tour that helped lift pro football into american consciousness. His abrupt shift also had a Long lasting effect on the relationship Between colleges and the nation a football league. The bears were owned and coached by George Halas himself a former Illinois player. Zuppke of Illinois angered by Halasz hiring Grange contacted the bears coach and told him that such actions could f jeopardize the College came Halas came to agree with Zuppke. Although Grange stayed with the Chicago pro eventually persuaded the nil to adopt a draft of collegians and not select players until their class graduated. Grange s professional Lour debut started with 8 games in 12. Days and by the time it ended in february 1926, he had earned $100,0011. But More Signil not red Grange reflects on his glory Days at his Florida Home in 1987. Cant than his earnings was the almost instantly credibility Grange gave to the nil something it had lacked in its first five years of existence. Grange s first tour with the bears orchestrated by a former theatrical magician named . A Cash and carry Lviv attracted lug crowds like the 66.000 fans in the Polo grounds for a meeting with the new York giants. A after a Brief career As an coach at the end of his playing Days in 1934, he left the game to try a variety of pursuits including acting lie returned to football As a radio and television analyst and announcer Many Collette games and 312 hears mime from 1947-61. Grange then retired ida., where he owned and an instance Agency and solved in die re. Estate business. To Indian Lake an Orange Grove became in
