 Towler, circa 1953 | |||||||||
| No. 32 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Halfback | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | (1928-03-06)March 6, 1928 Donora, Pennsylvania, U.S. | ||||||||
| Died: | August 1, 2001(2001-08-01) (aged 73) Pasadena, California, U.S. | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| College: | Washington & Jefferson | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1950: 25th round, 324th pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Daniel Lee "Deacon" Towler (March 6, 1928 – August 1, 2001) was anAmerican football player. He played in theNational Football League (NFL) as afullback for theLos Angeles Rams from 1950 through 1955. He was the NFL leading rusher in 1952 and ranked among the top four rushers each year from 1951 to 1954. He graduated fromWashington & Jefferson College.[1][2][3]
The football statistics websiteFootball Nation calls Towler "the greatest running back you don't know," and "a bright, shining star who lit up the NFL for an oh-so-brief but spectacular three-year period unlike any before or since."[4] "[F]or a three-year period in the early 1950s," saysFootball Nation, "Towler was the closest thing the NFL has ever produced to an unstoppable ball carrier."[4]
TheProfessional Football Researchers Association named Towler to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2006.[5]
After retiring from football, Towler was namedpastor of the Lincoln Avenue Methodist Church inPasadena, California.[6] He was also achaplain atCalifornia State University, Los Angeles and president of theLos Angeles CountyBoard of Education.