| No. 32, 33 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Guard,tackle,linebacker | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | (1919-12-01)December 1, 1919 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. | ||||||
| Died: | March 16, 2012(2012-03-16) (aged 92) Plymouth, Minnesota, U.S. | ||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 202 lb (92 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Minneapolis (MN) Edison | ||||||
| College: | Minnesota | ||||||
| NFL draft: | 1943: 11th round, 92nd pick | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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John Arthur Billman (December 1, 1919 – March 16, 2012) was anAmerican footballguard who played two seasons in theAll-America Football Conference (AAFC) with theBrooklyn Dodgers andChicago Rockets. He was drafted by thePhiladelphia Eagles in the eleventh round of the1943 NFL draft. He playedcollege football at theUniversity of Minnesota and attendedEdison High School inMinneapolis, Minnesota.
Billman playedhigh school football for the Edison High School Tommies.[1]
Billman played for theMinnesota Golden Gophers from 1939 to 1942.[1] He played in theEast–West Shrine Game on January 1, 1943.[1] He graduated with in 1943 with aBA in Liberal Arts and anassociates degree inMortuary Science.[1] Billman also joinedSigma Alpha Epsilon while at the University of Minnesota.[1]
Billman joined theNavy V7 program in 1941 and received orders for active duty the morning after his college graduation.[1] He trained in motor torpedo boat operations and was aPT boat captain with Squadron 9 in the South Pacific.[1] He was discharged in May 1946.[1]
Billman was selected by thePhiladelphia Eagles with the 92nd pick in the1943 NFL draft.[2] He played in two games for theBrooklyn Dodgers in 1946.[2] He played in two games for theChicago Rockets in 1947.[2]
Billman joined his father in themortuary business after his football career and expanded the business to include funeral chapels inWayzata,Minneapolis andSt. Louis Park.[1] He joined theNaval Reserve as a personnel officer in 1948 and served on active duty from 1950 to 1952.[1] He retired from the Naval Reserve in 1970 as a commander.[1] Billman later retired from the mortuary business in 1983. He was a direct descendant of theMayflower on his mother's side.[1]