Dan Towler facts for kids
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| No. 32 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Halfback | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | March 6, 1928 Donora, Pennsylvania |
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| Died: | August 1, 2001 (aged 73) Pasadena, California |
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| Career information | |||||||||
| College: | Washington & Jefferson | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1950 / Round: 25 / Pick: 324 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
Daniel Lee "Deacon" Towler (born March 6, 1928 – died August 1, 2001) was an amazing American football player. He played as a fullback for the Los Angeles Rams in the National Football League (NFL). His career lasted from 1950 to 1955.
Dan Towler was a top player. In 1952, he led the entire NFL in rushing yards. From 1951 to 1954, he was always one of the top four rushers in the league. He went to Washington & Jefferson College before joining the NFL.
A Football Star
Many football experts remember Dan Towler as a truly special player. The website Football Nation called him "the greatest running back you don't know." They said he was a "bright, shining star" in the NFL.
For three years in the early 1950s, Towler was almost impossible to stop. He was known for his powerful running style. He helped his team, the Los Angeles Rams, win the NFL Championship in 1951.
Awards and Honors
Dan Towler received many awards during his career:
- He was a NFL champion with the Rams in 1951.
- He was named a First-team All-Pro in 1952. This means he was one of the best players in his position.
- He was also a Second-team All-Pro three times (1951, 1953, 1954).
- Towler was chosen for the Pro Bowl four times (1951, 1952, 1953, 1954). The Pro Bowl is a game featuring the league's best players.
- He led the NFL in rushing yards in 1952.
- He led the NFL in rushing touchdowns twice (1952 and 1954).
- The Professional Football Researchers Association honored him in their Hall of Very Good in 2006.
Life After Football
After his football career, Dan Towler continued to serve his community. He became a pastor at the Lincoln Avenue Methodist Church in Pasadena, California.
He also worked as a chaplain at California State University, Los Angeles. A chaplain helps students and staff with spiritual guidance. Towler also became the president of the Los Angeles County Board of Education. This meant he helped make important decisions about schools in Los Angeles County.
