Merv Pregulman facts for kids
Pregulman in 1948
|
|||||||||||
| No. 67, 84 | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Center, Tackle | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | October 10, 1922 Lansing, Michigan, U.S. |
||||||||||
| Died: | November 30, 2012 (aged 90) Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S. |
||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 215 lb (98 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| College: | Michigan | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1944 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
|
College Football Hall of Fame
|
|||||||||||
Mervin Pregulman (October 10, 1922 – November 30, 2012) was an American football player. He was also a successful businessman and a generous person who helped many charities.
He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines from 1941 to 1943. He was a tackle and center. In 1943, he was chosen as a first-team All-American.
After college, Mervin joined the United States Navy. He served in the Pacific Ocean during World War II. He had a very close call when his ship was attacked in 1945.
The Green Bay Packers picked him in the first round of the 1944 NFL draft. He played professional football for four years. He played for the Packers (1946), Detroit Lions (1947–48), and New York Bulldogs (1949).
Later, he became the president of a steel company called Siskin Steel & Supply Co. in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He also spent a lot of time helping his community. He was the president of the Siskin Foundation and served on other boards. In 2004, he received the Gerald R. Ford Award from the University of Michigan. He was also added to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982.
Contents
Early Life and School Days
Merv Pregulman was born on October 22, 1922, in Lansing, Michigan. He grew up there. His family was Jewish. His father, George Pregulman, became very wealthy through his businesses.
Mervin went to Lansing Central High School. It was near Michigan State University. In his last year of high school, Mervin was the captain of the all-state football team.
Playing College Football
Even though he grew up near Michigan State, Mervin chose to go to the University of Michigan. He played for Coach Fritz Crisler from 1941 to 1943. Mervin was a very flexible player on the offensive line. He could play as a guard, tackle, or center. He played each position very well.
1941 Season Highlights
In 1941, Mervin was a 19-year-old sophomore. He started as a right guard. In one game, he caught a pass from future Hall of Famer Otto Graham. Mervin ran it back 65 yards (59 m) for the winning touchdown. This helped Michigan win 14–7 against Northwestern.
That year, Mervin was recognized as a top player. He also won the Meyer Morton Award. This award was for the player who improved the most. The 1941 Michigan team had a great record of 6 wins, 1 loss, and 1 tie. They were ranked No. 5 in the country.
1942 Season Success
In 1942, the Michigan team won 7 games and lost 3. They finished the season ranked No. 7. Michigan played the Notre Dame Fighting Irish for the first time in 25 years and won 32–20.
Mervin was named to the All Big Ten team. The offensive line that year was very strong. It included Mervin and other great players like Julius Franks. They were known as the "Seven Oak Posts."
1943 Season and All-American Honors
In 1943, the Michigan football team had an amazing season. They won 8 games and lost only 1. They outscored their opponents by a lot. They were co-champions of the Big Ten Conference. The team finished ranked No. 3 in the country.
Their only loss was to Notre Dame, 35–12. But they beat other strong teams like Minnesota 49–6 and Ohio State 45–7. For the 1943 season, Mervin was named a first-team All-American.
Awards and Recognition
Mervin was known for being smart and playing hard. He could play any position on the line with skill. Sportswriter Grantland Rice called him the best combination center, guard, and tackle in the Midwest.
Mervin said he had three heroes in his life. They were Michigan Coach Fritz Crisler, line coach Biggie Munn, and a university professor named Axle Martin.
In 1969, Mervin was chosen for the Michigan Wolverines' all-time football team. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1982. He also joined the University of Michigan Hall of Honor in 1988. In 1986, he was part of the Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
In 2005, Mervin was named one of the 100 greatest Michigan football players ever.
A Hero in World War II
In 1944, Mervin joined the United States Navy. He became a gunnery officer on the USS Taluga. This ship was in the Pacific Ocean. The Taluga delivered oil and supplies to other Navy ships.
Mervin and the crew spent many months helping the U.S. Pacific Fleet. They supported attacks and landings in places like the Philippine Islands and Okinawa.
One morning, on April 16, 1945, ten kamikaze planes attacked their group of ships. One kamikaze plane flew towards the Taluga. It hit the ship's wheelhouse. Luckily, only 12 men were hurt, and the ship was soon working again. Mervin usually would have been in the wheelhouse. But he had gone on deck just before the attack. He later said, "If he had been five minutes later, I would have been in the wheelhouse and I certainly wouldn't be here."
After the war ended, the Taluga entered Tokyo Bay in Japan. Mervin's ship returned to the United States in February 1946.
Professional Football Career
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers picked Mervin in the first round of the 1944 NFL Draft. But he had to serve in the Navy first. After his military service, Mervin finally signed with the Packers in June 1946.
A sports writer said that the Packers made a great choice. Mervin had been a star at three positions in college. He played in nine games for the Packers in 1946.
Detroit Lions
In 1947, Mervin joined the coaching staff for the Michigan State Spartans football team. His old coach, Biggie Munn, was the head coach there.
Later in 1947, the Packers traded Mervin to the Detroit Lions. He played in all 24 games for the Lions in 1947 and 1948. During his time with the Lions, he caught three interceptions and recovered three fumbles. He also handled the team's kicking duties in 1948. He kicked two field goals and made 26 extra points.
New York Bulldogs
In 1949, the Lions traded Mervin to the New York Bulldogs. He played in all 12 games for the Bulldogs that year.
In June 1950, Mervin announced he was retiring from football. He decided to stay in Lansing, Michigan, and work in the furniture business.
Life After Football
After his football career, Mervin first worked in the furniture business.
In 1957, Mervin and his wife Helen moved to her hometown, Chattanooga, Tennessee. Helen's grandfather had started a company called Siskin Steel & Supply Co. in 1900.
In 1978, Mervin became the president and CEO of Siskin Steel. Under his leadership, the company grew a lot. It became one of the biggest businesses in Chattanooga. Mervin helped the company expand to other states. When he retired, his son John Pregulman took over as president.
Helping the Community
Mervin was very active in helping his community. He was the chairman of the Siskin Memorial Foundation for many years. He played a big part in building the Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation. This hospital is one of the best in the United States.
He was also president of the Jewish Community Federation of Chattanooga. He helped the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and The McCallie School. Mervin also helped raise money to build Finley Stadium. He was especially involved in improving health care. He received awards for his work from medical groups.
In 1997, Mervin and his wife Helen received Chattanooga's top award for their charity work. Mervin said that their charity work came from the heart.
In 1998, Mervin and Helen started a scholarship at the University of Michigan. It helps students who show leadership and want to work in the Jewish community. Mervin hoped this scholarship would encourage more young adults to become leaders.
In 2004, Mervin received the Gerald R. Ford Award. This is the highest honor for a former University of Michigan athlete. It is given for excellence in school, sports, and society.
See also
- University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
- List of select Jewish football players
