Dick Arrington

Dick Arrington

Born:	(1942-01-16)January 16, 1942 Kiln, Mississippi, U.S.
Died:	March 14, 1993(1993-03-14) (aged 51) Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Career information
Position(s)	G, and DT
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	232 lb (105 kg)
College	University of Notre Dame
High school	Erie East High School
AFL draft	1965, round: Red Shirt 4, pick: 31
Drafted by	Boston Patriots
NFL draft	1965, round: 18, pick: 251
Drafted by	Cleveland Browns
Career history
As player
1963–1965	Notre Dame
Career highlights and awards
Consensus All-American (1965)

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.[2]

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.[3] During the 1965 season, he was forced to play both ways when defensive right tackle Kevin Hardy was injured.[3][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.[2][4] 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.[4]

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.[2] On March 14, 1993, aged 51, Dick Arrington died of a heart attack at his Roxbury area of Boston home.[2]

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. "Richard Arrington, was official in Boston, Patriots lineman; at 51". Boston Globe. March 17, 1993. Archived from the original on September 21, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
3. "63 Dick Arrington". Notre Dame University. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
4. LaFleur, Pete. "Champions in Athletics: Black student-athletes make athletic history at Notre Dame". Notre Dame University. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
5. 2014 NCAA Football Records Book, Award Winners Archived 2018-11-26 at the Wayback Machine, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, pp. 4 & 14 (2014). Retrieved August 23, 2014.
6. "1965 Cleveland Browns: Drafted players". pro-football-reference. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
7. "Boston Patriots Sign Irish Guard". Pittsburgh Press. Vol. 82, no. 167. Pittsburgh, PA. December 9, 1965. p. 56. Retrieved August 23, 2014.