Dick Arrington Explained

Dick Arrington
Birth Date:16 January 1942
Birth Place:Kiln, Mississippi, U.S.
Death Place:Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Position:G, and DT
College:University of Notre Dame
Nfldraftedyear:1965
Nfldraftedround:18
Nfldraftedpick:251
Nfldraftedteam:Cleveland Browns
Afldraftedyear:1965
Afldraftedround:Red Shirt 4
Afldraftedpick:31
Afldraftedteam:Boston Patriots
High School:Erie East High School
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lbs:232
Career Highlights:
Playing Years1:1963–1965
Playing Team1:Notre Dame

Richard L. Arrington (January 16, 1942 – March 14, 1993) was an American football guard who played for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team. He was recognized as a consensus All-American in 1970.

Early life

Arrington was born in Kiln, Mississippi in 1942.[1] [2] He would later move to Erie, Pennsylvania and graduate from Erie East High School.

Playing career

Arrington played for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team under coaches Joe Kuharich during the 1963 seasons and Ara Parseghian during the 1964 and 1965 seasons.[3] In 1964, as a starter on offensive line, he helped John Huarte win the Heisman Trophy. During the 1965 season, he was forced to play both ways when defensive right tackle Kevin Hardy was injured.[4] Following his senior year, as a 5-foot, 11-inch, 232-pound guard, he was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American, having received first-team honors from several publications and organizations including the Associated Press (AP), and United Press International (UPI).[5] In addition to being an All-American at Football, he also earned All-American honors in wrestling by placing 3rd in the 1965 NCAA wrestling tournament in Laramie, Wyoming. He is one of only four Notre Dame student-athletes ever to earn All-America honors in football and a second sport, joining Bob Golic, Raghib Ismail, and Edward "Moose" Krause.

After college football

Arrington was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 18th round (251st overall) of the 1965 NFL draft.[6] Instead of signing with Cleveland, he chose to sign a contract with the Boston Patriots of the American Football League.[7] After football, he held several positions in state and local government including Boston Licensing Board commissioner, probation officer, and deputy tax collector for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. On March 14, 1993, aged 51, Dick Arrington died of a heart attack at his Roxbury area of Boston home.

Notes and References

  1. Ancestry.com. Massachusetts Death Index, 1970–2003 [database on-line]. Richard L Arrington, died Boston, 14 Mar 1993, born Mississippi 16 Jan 1942.
  2. Web site: Richard Arrington, was official in Boston, Patriots lineman; at 51. https://web.archive.org/web/20140921194612/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8219216.html . dead . September 21, 2014 . March 17, 1993 . Boston Globe . August 22, 2014 .
  3. Web site: 63 Dick Arrington. Notre Dame University . 23 August 2014.
  4. Web site: Champions in Athletics: Black student-athletes make athletic history at Notre Dame. LaFleur . Pete. Notre Dame University . 23 August 2014.
  5. 2014 NCAA Football Records Book, Award Winners, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, pp. 4 & 14 (2014). Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  6. Web site: 1965 Cleveland Browns: Drafted players . pro-football-reference . 23 August 2014.
  7. News: Boston Patriots Sign Irish Guard. Pittsburgh Press. 82 . 167. Pittsburgh, PA . 56 . December 9, 1965 . August 23, 2014 .