Mel Farr facts for kids
Farr from 1965 UCLA yearbook
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| No. 24 | |||||||
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | November 3, 1944 Beaumont, Texas, U.S. |
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| Died: | August 3, 2015 (aged 70) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 210 lb (95 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Hebert (Beaumont, TX) | ||||||
| College: | UCLA | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1967 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
Melvin Farr (November 3, 1944 – August 3, 2015) was an American professional football player and a successful businessman. He was born in Beaumont, Texas.
Mel Farr played college football as a halfback for UCLA. He was a top player in 1965 and 1966. In 1966, he was chosen as an All-American. He gained over 1,000 yards in both 1965 and 1966. Later, he was added to the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 1988.
The Detroit Lions picked Farr in the first round of the 1967 NFL Draft. He played seven years as a running back for the Lions. As a rookie in 1967, he led the team in rushing and receiving. He was named the NFL Rookie of the Year. Farr was also chosen for the Pro Bowl twice, in 1967 and 1970. His football career was cut short by injuries.
After football, Farr became a successful car dealer. He started with one Ford Motor Company dealership in 1975. Over time, he grew his business to 11 dealerships in five states. By 1998, his company was one of the largest African-American owned businesses in the U.S.
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Early Life and High School Sports
Mel Farr was born in Beaumont, Texas, in 1944. His father was a truck driver, and his mother worked at home. He went to Hebert High School, a school for Black students in Beaumont. He graduated in 1963.
At Hebert High, Mel was a great athlete. He played football, basketball, baseball, and ran track. He was named all-state in football and track. His older brother, Miller Farr, also played in the NFL.
College Football at UCLA
Farr started his college football career at Santa Monica City College. He then moved to UCLA in 1964. He broke his arm that year but still played in 10 games.
In 1965 and 1966, Farr and Gary Beban were key players for UCLA. They were called the "dream backfield" by Sports Illustrated.
Success in 1965
In 1965, Farr was the main halfback for the UCLA Bruins. His team had a great record of 8 wins, 2 losses, and 1 tie. They won the AAWU championship. They also beat the top-ranked Michigan State team in the 1966 Rose Bowl. UCLA finished the season ranked No. 4 in the country.
Farr gained over 1,000 yards that year. He rushed for 821 yards and caught passes for 180 yards. He scored eight touchdowns. He ran 49 yards for a touchdown against USC. His average of 6.7 yards per carry was one of the best in the NCAA. At the end of 1965, he was named a first-team player for the All-Pacific Athletic Conference.
All-American Season in 1966
In 1966, Farr continued to shine for the UCLA Bruins. The team had a 9-1 record and was ranked No. 5. Farr gained 1,034 yards from scrimmage. He rushed for 809 yards and caught passes for 150 yards. He scored 11 touchdowns. He finished seventh in the voting for the Heisman Trophy, which goes to the best college player.
After the 1966 season, Farr was chosen as a first-team All-American. This means he was considered one of the best college football players in the nation. In 1988, Farr was honored by being inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame.
Playing for the Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions drafted Mel Farr in the first round of the 1967 NFL Draft. He was the seventh player picked overall.
Rookie of the Year
As a rookie in 1967, Farr had an amazing start. He rushed for 197 yards in one game against the Minnesota Vikings. He gained a total of 1,177 yards from scrimmage. He also ranked fifth in the NFL with 860 rushing yards. Farr led the Lions in both rushing and receiving that year. He was named the NFL Rookie of the Year.
Injuries and Pro Bowl Selections
In October 1968, Farr had a huge game against the Chicago Bears. He gained 210 yards and scored three touchdowns. The next week, he set a team record with 29 carries for 145 rushing yards. He led the NFL in rushing yards early in the 1968 season. However, he injured his left knee and missed five games. He finished the season with 972 yards from scrimmage.
Farr returned in 1969, but he got another serious knee injury. This injury was worse than the first. He played in only five games that season.
In 1970, Farr came back strong after two knee surgeries. He gained 930 yards from scrimmage. He rushed for 717 yards and caught passes for 213 yards. He was chosen for his second Pro Bowl after the 1970 season.
Farr and his teammate Lem Barney even sang background vocals on Marvin Gaye's famous song "What's Going On" in 1971!
Later Seasons and Retirement
In 1971, Farr signed a new contract with the Lions. However, injuries continued to bother him. He played in only nine games and started just one. Other players like Steve Owens took over the starting running back role. Farr rushed for only 64 yards that year.
In 1972, Farr was a backup to Steve Owens. He had his best game of the season against the San Diego Chargers, gaining 96 yards and scoring two touchdowns. He rushed for 216 yards in 1972.
In 1973, Farr played in 11 games, starting seven. He rushed for 373 yards. By mid-December, he was thinking about retiring. He called 1973 "one of the worst seasons for me." In March 1974, the Lions traded Farr to the Houston Oilers. Just 12 days later, Farr announced he was retiring from professional football.
Life After Football: Becoming a Car Dealer
As a teenager, Farr helped his father buy and sell old cars. They had a small car lot called Farr's New and Used. The Detroit Lions team owner, William Clay Ford Sr., was part of the Ford Motor Company. Farr worked for Ford during the off-season.
In November 1975, after retiring from the NFL, Farr used his savings to buy a Ford dealership in Oak Park, Michigan.
The "Superstar Dealer"
During a tough economic time in the 1980s, car sales were low. Farr started making TV commercials to promote his dealership. He dressed up as a superhero with a red cape, flying through the sky. He called himself "Mel Farr, your superstar dealer." He promised customers "a Farr better deal." These ads became very famous.
By 1997, Mel Farr's company, Mel Farr Auto Group, had grown a lot. He owned 14 car dealerships in five states. His company made over $500 million in sales each year. By 1998, his dealership group made $596.6 million. This made it the top Black-owned business in the United States. It was also the 33rd largest car dealership group in the whole country.
Farr's business focused on helping people with lower credit scores buy cars. In the early 2000s, his companies faced some challenges. There were concerns about how some cars were sold and financed. His business eventually closed in 2002.
Family and Later Years
Mel Farr was married three times. He had two sons, Mel Farr Jr. (born in 1966) and Mike Farr (born in 1967), and a daughter named Monet with his first wife, Mae Rutha. Both of his sons also played football at UCLA and later in the NFL.
From 2004 to 2009, Farr was married to Linda Johnson Rice. She was the head of Johnson Publishing Company, which published Ebony and Jet magazines. His third wife was Jasmine Rozier. They had a daughter named Melia, who was born shortly after Farr passed away.
Mel Farr died at his home in Detroit on August 3, 2015. He was 70 years old. He passed away from a heart attack. Farr also had a brain condition called CTE.
