Ralph Horween facts for kids
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| Born: | August 3, 1896 Chicago, United States |
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| Died: | May 26, 1997 (aged 100) Charlottesville, Virginia, United States |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Fullback |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
| College | Harvard |
| High school | Francis W. Parker |
| Career history | |
| As coach | |
| 1923 | Chicago Cardinals (assistant) |
| As player | |
| 1921 | Racine Cardinals |
| 1921–23 | Chicago Cardinals |
| Career stats | |
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| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 U.S. Navy |
| Years of service | 1917–19 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant |
| Unit | USS Talofa, USS Connecticut, USS Maury, USS Gregory |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
Ralph Horween (born Ralph Horwitz; August 3, 1896 – May 26, 1997) was an amazing American football player and coach. He played as a fullback and halfback. He was also a great punter and drop-kicker.
Ralph played for the undefeated Harvard Crimson football teams in 1919 and 1920. These teams even won the 1920 Rose Bowl. He was chosen as an All-American, which means he was one of the best college players in the country.
After college, Horween played three seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Racine Cardinals and later the Chicago Cardinals. He also helped coach the Cardinals while he was playing.
Ralph's brother, Arnold Horween, was also a talented football player. He was an All-American at Harvard and played in the NFL for the Cardinals too. They were the last Jewish brothers to play in the NFL for a long time.
After football, Ralph went to Harvard Law School and became a patent attorney. He also worked for the government. He was a successful businessman, raising cattle and helping with his family's leather company, Horween Leather Company. Ralph Horween was the first NFL player to live to be 100 years old!
Contents
Early Life and Family
Ralph Horween's parents, Isidore and Rose, came to Chicago from Ukraine in 1892. His family changed their last name from Horwitz or Horowitz to Horween when he was young.
Ralph was born in Chicago. His brother, Arnold Horween, was two years younger than him. Ralph and Arnold were the last Jewish brothers to play in the NFL until the 2000s. That's when offensive tackles Geoff Schwartz and Mitchell Schwartz played.
Ralph played high school football at the Francis W. Parker School. He was 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 200 pounds.
In 1924, Ralph married Genevieve Brown. They were married for 64 years until she passed away in 1987. They moved to Virginia in 1952. Ralph had two sons, Ralph Stow and Frederick Stow.
Ralph Horween played fullback and halfback for the Harvard Crimson football team. These positions are also called running backs. He was known for his strong running, punting, and drop-kicking skills. He was named an All-American because he was so good. People said he was a "line plunger" with "tremendous power."
In 1916, Ralph kicked a 35-yard field goal. This helped Harvard beat Princeton 3–0. Princeton had been undefeated before that game!
During World War I, Ralph joined the United States Navy. He served as a Junior Lieutenant from April 1917 to July 1919. He was on several ships, including battleships and destroyers.
In both 1919 and 1920, Harvard's football team was undefeated. They won many games and scored a lot of points. In 1919, some experts thought Ralph might have been the best center in college football.
Ralph was part of the Harvard team that won the 1920 Rose Bowl against Oregon. Harvard won 7–6. Ralph got a chipped collarbone and a dislocated shoulder in that tough game. This was the only time Harvard football has ever played in a bowl game! Ralph graduated from Harvard in May 1920.
Playing Professional Football
Ralph Horween played 22 games in the National Football League (NFL). When he played professional football, he sometimes used the name Ralph McMahon or B. McMahon. This was a year after the NFL was first created.
He played for the Cardinals for three years. First, they were called the Racine Cardinals. Then, they became the Chicago Cardinals from 1921 to 1923. He was paid about $40 a week back then. His brother Arnold also played for the Cardinals with him.
In 1922, Ralph kicked a 34-yard field goal. This helped the Cardinals beat the Chicago Staleys 6–0.
In 1923, Ralph and his brother Arnold both scored in the same game! Ralph ran for a touchdown, and Arnold kicked two extra points. The Cardinals won 60–0 against the Rochester Jeffersons. They did it again later that year. Ralph scored a touchdown, and Arnold kicked a 35-yard field goal. The Cardinals beat the Oorang Indians 22–19.
In 1923, Arnold became the head coach of the Cardinals. Ralph joined him as an assistant coach, and they both kept playing. Ralph played in 11 games that season. He retired from football after the 1923 season.
Life After Football
Law Career and Business
After his football career, Ralph Horween went back to Harvard Law School. He earned his law degree in 1929. He became a patent attorney, which means he helped people protect their inventions. He had a successful law practice in Chicago.
Ralph was also a successful businessman. He raised cattle and helped run his family's leather company, Horween Leather Company. This company was very important because it supplied the leather for NFL footballs for many years! Ralph was in charge of manufacturing at the company.
He also worked for the government. He helped manage oil permits and handled cases about oil rules.
Horween Professorship
Ralph Horween created a special teaching position at the University of Virginia. It's called the Horween Professorship. This was to honor his father and remember his wife, Genevieve Brown Horween. This position focuses on research about small manufacturing businesses.
Living to 100 Years Old
In 1994, the NFL thought another player was the oldest living ex-NFL player. But they later found out they were wrong! Ralph Horween was still alive and was 99 years old at the time.
In 1996, Ralph Horween turned 100 years old. He was the very first NFL player to reach this amazing age!
He passed away in Charlottesville, Virginia, on May 26, 1997.
See also
- List of select Jewish football players
