| Born: | (1923-12-09)December 9, 1923 |
|---|---|
| Died: | June 2, 1995(1995-06-02) (aged 71)[1] |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Guard |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Weight | 191 lb (87 kg) |
| College | Ohio State |
| NFL draft | 1945, round: 13, pick: 131 |
| Drafted by | Green Bay Packers |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1942–1945 | Ohio State |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
William Charles Hackett[2] (December 9, 1923 – June 2, 1995)[3] was anAmerican footballguard atOhio State University. He was a consensusAll-American in 1944. After college, he became a doctor ofveterinary medicine and played a part in the founding of theCincinnati Bengals.
Hackett attendedOhio State University, where he played for theOhio State Buckeyes football team from 1942 to 1944 under coachPaul Brown and in 1945 under coachCarroll Widdoes.[4] He was a member of the Buckeyes'1942 national championship team. In 1944, as a 5'9", 191-poundguard, he was recognized as a consensus first-teamAll-American, having received first-team honors from theAssociated Press (AP),Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), andCollier's Weekly (Grantland Rice).[5]
After his undergraduate career at Ohio State, Hackett studied to become a veterinarian earning aD.V.M. in 1947 from Ohio State. Hackett moved toLondon, Ohio, and practiced general veterinary medicine for 10 years. In 1957, he took a job at Orleton Farms, Inc. as the livestock director. In 1963, he became the first veterinarian to serve on the Ohio State Racing Commission. While on the commission, he helped crack down on prohibited use of stimulants and depressants in race horses by establishing Ohio's race testing laboratory. In 1967, as founder and president of Ohio Feed Lot inSouth Charleston, Ohio, he focused on environmental cattle feeding operation. In conjunction with Searle Agriculture, Inc., he helped design and operate the first 150,000-ton capacity cattle waste fermenter for processing animal waste.[6]
Hackett died On June 2, 1995.[1] For his many accomplishments, he was honored several times including being named to the Ohio State University Athletic Hall of Fame and named Distinguished Alumnus by The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.[6][7]
Hackett played a part in the founding of theCincinnati Bengals. While visiting his former coachPaul Brown inLa Jolla, California, Hackett urged Brown to try to become theNFL commissioner the next time the job became vacant. Brown told Hackett that what he really wanted was to own a pro franchise.[8] Brown explained that, his son, Mike Brown, thought Cincinnati would be a good place for a franchise. Hackett forwarded the idea to Ohio Governor,Jim Rhodes, and John Sawyer, president of Orelton Farms inLondon, Ohio, to gain political and financial support for the franchise.[9][10] He served on the team's board of directors for many years.[6]
