Wayne Hawkins Explained

Wayne Hawkins
Number:65
Position:Guard
Birth Date:1938 6, mf=yes
Birth Place:Fort Peck, Montana, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lb:240
High School:Shasta
(Redding, California)
College:Pacific
Afldraftyear:1960
Afldraftround:First selections
Pastteams:
Highlights:
Statleague:AFL/NFL
Statlabel1:Games played
Statvalue1:136
Statlabel2:Games started
Statvalue2:104
Statlabel3:Fumble recoveries
Statvalue3:2
Pfr:HawkWa00

Wayne Allen Hawkins (June 17, 1938 – July 25, 2022) was an American professional football guard who played for ten seasons in the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Oakland Raiders from its founding in 1960 until 1970. He played college football for the Pacific Tigers and was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the AFL's first draft in 1960, he joined the Raiders through the allocation draft before the start of the first AFL season.

Early life and amateur career

Hawkins was born in Fort Peck, Montana, on June 17, 1938.[1] He attended Shasta High School in Redding, California.[2] He enrolled at the University of the Pacific and played college football for the Pacific Tigers.[3]

Professional career

The Denver Broncos selected Hawkins among their first selections in the 1960 AFL draft.[4] [5] However, he was assigned to the Oakland Raiders before the 1960 season.[6] He went on to become one of only twenty AFL players who played in the AFL for entirety of the league's 10-year run.[7]

Hawkins started as right guard for the Raiders from the teams' inception in 1960 thru the 1969 AFL season. He played on the Raiders' taxi squad in 1970, and announced his retirement in 1971.[8] He was later voted to the All-Time Raider team.[9] He earned AFL All-Star honors for five straight years beginning in 1963, and was on the 1967 AFL Champion team that competed in Super Bowl II against the Green Bay Packers. He is a member of the American Football League Hall of Fame.[10]

In Super Bowl II, Hawkins faced off against Jerry Kramer of the Green Bay Packers. Hawkins and Kramer are both from Jordan, Montana, and had the same doctor, while their mothers shared a friendship.[11]

Later life

During the mid 1980s, Hawkins collaborated with fellow former Oakland teammates Bob Svihus and Dave Dalby to author the book, Raider: How Offensive Can You Be? A 25-year History of the Oakland Raiders, published by Peninsula Publishing in Monterey, California.[12] In the real estate investment business, Hawkins was an avid golfer who supported Caring for Kids, an organization which benefits the Monterey Bay Boys & Girls Clubs and the Children's Miracle Network.[13] Each year, a group of retired professional football players, including many greats from the Pro Football Hall of Fame, compete in the Legends Golf Tournament held annually at The Spanish Bay Inn, Pebble Beach, and Spyglass Hill golf.[14]

On July 28, 2022, The Raiders announces Hawkins' death on July 25.[15]

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wayne Hawkins Stats. Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. July 28, 2022.
  2. Web site: Former teacher writes history of Shasta Union High School District. redding.com. October 17, 2013. October 19, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131019082557/http://www.redding.com/news/2010/jan/30/former-teacher-writes-history-of-shasta-union/?partner=RSS. dead.
  3. Web site: Wayne Hawkins . databaseFotball.com . October 17, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131018004320/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=HAWKIWAY01 . October 18, 2013 .
  4. Book: Bob. Boyles. Paul. Guido. The USA Today College Football Encyclopedia 2009-2010. 2009. 121. Skyhorse Publishing. 9781602396777. July 30, 2022.
  5. Book: 1960 Denver Broncos. 16. DenverBroncos.com. July 30, 2022.
  6. Web site: Wayne Hawkins With Raiders. Associated Press. Stockton Record. 26. Newspapers.com. April 15, 1960. July 29, 2022.
  7. Web site: American Football League Hall of Fame. Official Site of the American Football League Hall of Fame. October 17, 2013.
  8. Web site: Wayne Hawkins Is Planning To Retire . January 26, 1971 . July 29, 2022.
  9. Web site: Tales from the AFL. Legends Invitational. October 17, 2013.
  10. Web site: OAKLANDRAIDERSAmerican Football LeagueCharter Members. Official Site of the American Football League Hall of Fame. October 17, 2013.
  11. Web site: Tom LaMarre . Most Underrated Raider of All Time: Wayne Hawkins - Sports Illustrated Las Vegas Raiders News, Analysis and More . Si.com . July 29, 2022.
  12. News: Most Underrated Raider of All Time: Wayne Hawkins. Tom. LaMarre. March 21, 2021. July 28, 2022. SI.com. Sports Illustrated.
  13. Web site: Legends Invitational. Legends Invitational. October 17, 2013.
  14. Web site: Legends Invitational . Legends Invitational. October 17, 2013.
  15. Web site: Raiders mourn the passing of Wayne Hawkins . Raiders.com . July 29, 2022.