| Profile | |
|---|---|
| Position | End |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1924-10-24)October 24, 1924 Ferris, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | June 22, 2010(2010-06-22) (aged 85) Longview, Texas U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Big Spring High School |
| College | The University of Texas |
| Other information | |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Service years | 1943–1945 |
| Rank |  Captain |
| Unit | United States Army Air Forces |
| Conflicts | World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross,Air Medal,Presidential Unit Citation (x2),Battle Star (x6) |
Ralph Eugene "Peppy"Blount (born October 19, 1924,Ferris, Texas - d. June 22, 2010)[1] was an Americancollegiate footballend and official; member of theTexas house of representatives; formerWorld War IIpilot of aB-25J and author of several books about life, war and football.
Blount was born in Ferris, TX and moved with his family toBig Spring, Texas when he was 5 years old.[1]
After graduating from Big Spring High School he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps. At 19, he was the youngest pilot of a B-25 bomber strafer in the South Pacific duringWorld War II. He earned more than 15 military decorations including theDistinguished Flying Cross, theAir Medal with three clusters, two Presidential Unit Citations and six majorBattle Stars. In 1945, just before the end of World War II,First Lieutenant Blount participated in the attack of the Japanesecargo shipKanju Maru atSaigon.[1]
After the war, he returned to theUniversity of Texas where he letter for three years in football (1945, 1947–48). WithquarterbackBobby Layne, he helped the team to win the Southwest Conference Championship and Cotton Bowl in 1945 and finish ranked #10. He was on the roster, but did not letter for the 1946 season, but in 1947 he helped the Longhorns win the Sugar Bowl and finish ranked #5 and in 1948 he helped them win the Orange Bowl.
He also lettered in basketball, where he played center, in 1946 and played baseball for Texas.[2][1]
While at Texas, he was a “principal” speaker on the high school speaking circuit. According to conference rules only coaches could be a principal speakers, so CoachDana X. Bible got around it by making Blount a member of the coaching staff.[3]
In 1946, he was elected to the state legislature and as a result lost eligibility for his scholarship, but Coach Bible allowed Blount to continue to live in the athletic dorm and maintained his dining room privileges at no charge. The G.I. bill paid for Blount’s tuition and books.[3]
He was the ninth-round draft choice of theChicago Bears in1948, but chose to stay and finished school rather than play for the Bears. He was signed by theNew York Bulldogs in 1949, where he was reunited with Layne, but released without playing for them.[4]
He never playedprofessional football, but became anon-field official, and was aline judge in theAmerican Football League in1966 and1967.
Blount started his career in politics. He first ran for and won office in 1946 unseating the incumbent, Cecil H. Barnes of San Angelo.[5] During his time in office he sponsored the legislation creating the Colorado River Municipal Water District in Howard County. He served in the legislature even while he was a student and football player. He served until September 1951 when he resigned to go into the oil business inTyler, Texas.[6] In 1956 he announced a run for the state Senate but switched to run for Congress whenBrady P. Gentry decided not to run.[7] He lost the race toLindley Beckworth.[8] In 1962 he was elected Gregg County Judge on a write-in ballot, the highest elective office ever achieved in the State of Texas by a write-in ballot on voting machines.[1] In 1982 he ran for District 1 of the State Senate but lost the Democratic Nomination to Ed Howard of Texarkana.[9]
He was a practicing attorney inLongview, Texas from 1956 till his retirement in February 2010 and was honored by the State Bar of Texas for his more than 50 years as an attorney. He was active in and a leader of several community organizations including the Masons and the Boy Scouts.[1]
He was inducted into both the Commemorative Air Force's Combat Airmen's Hall of Fame in Midland, Texas; and the Southwest Football Official's Hall of Fame.[1]
He wrote several books, includingWe Band of Brothers;Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Play Football;A Time For All Reasons; andAll Things Considered... It's Been a Good Life.[1]
His son,Jeb Blount, played college football at Tulsa and spent 3 years in the NFL where he earned a Super Bowl ring with the1976 Oakland Raiders.
Blount died at his home on June 22, 2010.[10]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
