Al DeMao

refer to caption

DeMao on a 1950 Bowman football card

No. 53

Position:

Center
Linebacker

Personal information

Date of birth:

February 29, 1920

Place of birth:

New Kensington, Pennsylvania

Date of death:

February 1, 2008 (aged 87)

Place of death:

Glen Burnie, Maryland

Career information

High school:

Arnold (PA)

College:

Duquesne

NFL draft:

1942 / Round: 11 / Pick: 96

Career history

Washington Redskins (1945–1953)

Career highlights and awards

70 Greatest Redskins

Career NFL statistics

Games played:	97
Interceptions:	8
Fumble recoveries:	5
Player stats at NFL.com

Albert Marcellus DeMao (February 29, 1920 – February 1, 2008) was an American football center in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins from 1945 to 1953. He played college football at Duquesne University and was drafted in the eleventh round of the 1942 NFL Draft.

Life and career

DeMao was born in New Kensington, Pennsylvania. He attended Duquesne University, graduating in 1942. He was a member of the university's undefeated 1941 football team, played in the 1941 Blue-Gray Game, and played in the 1941 College All-Star Game. Drafted by the Washington Redskins, he was unable to serve because he was drafted by the United States Navy instead. Commissioned a lieutenant, DeMao commanded a landing craft during the Normandy invasion, making nine dangerous trips to the beach to deliver soldiers to the shore. Discharged from the Navy in the fall of 1945, he joined the Redskins mid-season and played nine years for the team. He was a Pro Bowl player in 1950.^[1]

Since most professional football players received only minimal pay in the 1950s, DeMao took up employment in the off-season with liquor distributor Milton S. Kronheim & Co. After retiring from football in 1954, DeMao remained with the company, rising to vice president of sales.^[1]

DeMao remained active in NFL affairs in retirement. He founded the Redskins Alumni Association (a social and charitable organization for former Washington Redskins players) in 1957, NFL Alumni (a charitable organization to aid needy former NFL players) in 1967, and the Redskins Welcome Home Luncheon (a social event for players which kicks off each Redskins season).^[1]

DeMao married Marcella DeMao, but the couple had no children.^[2] DeMao greatly enjoyed working with children, however. He was active in Special Olympics and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, assisted with the St. John's College High School football team, and coached football teams with the Boys Club of America and the Catholic Youth Organization. He also raised funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation.^[1]

DeMao retired from Kronheim & Co. in 1986, shortly after his wife Marcella died early in the year. He married Violet DeMao at the end of 1986. Al DeMao died of pneumonia at Baltimore Washington Medical Center in Glen Burnie, Maryland, on February 1, 2008.^[1] He was survived by his wife, and interred at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Silver Spring, Maryland.^[2]

References

1 2 3 4 5 Holley, Joe (February 6, 2008). "Al Demao; Versatile Star Of the Postwar Redskins". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
1 2 "Albert DeMao". The Washington Post. February 5, 2008.

External links

Al DeMao at Find a Grave

Washington Redskins 1942 NFL Draft selections

Spec Sanders Rufus Deal Joe Zeno Harley McCollum Bob Fitch George Peters Frank Swiger John Goodyear Al DeMao Phil Ahwesh John Kovatch Bill DeCorrevont Marvin Whited Dee Chipman George Watts Gene Stewart Charlie Timmons Tiny Croft Steve Juzwik Al Couppee

Draft years 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1950 AAFC 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

80 Greatest Redskins

21 Terry Allen RB 1995–98
56 LaVar Arrington LB 2000–05
41 Mike Bass CB 1969–75
20 Cliff Battles B 1932–37
33 Sammy Baugh QB 1937–52
31 Don Bosseler FB 1957–64
53 Jeff Bostic C 1980–93
4 Mike Bragg P 1968–79
80 Gene Brito DE 1951–53, 1955–58
43 Larry Brown RB 1969–76
77 Bill Brundige DE 1970–77
65 Dave Butz DT 1975–88
21 Earnest Byner RB 1989–93
84 Gary Clark WR 1985–92
51 Monte Coleman LB 1979–94
53 Al DeMao C 1945–53
36 Chuck Drazenovich LB 1950–59
35 Bill Dudley RB 1950–51, 1953
17 Turk Edwards T 1932–40
44 Andy Farkas FB 1938–44
37 Pat Fischer CB 1968–77
28 Darrell Green CB 1983–2002
68 Russ Grimm G 1981–91
55 Chris Hanburger LB 1965–78
57 Ken Harvey LB 1994–98
56 Len Hauss C 1964–77
75 Terry Hermeling OT 1970–80
27 Ken Houston S 1973–80
70 Sam Huff LB 1964–67, 1969
66 Joe Jacoby T/G 1981–93
47 Dick James RB 1955–63
76 Jon Jansen OT 1999–08
80 Roy Jefferson WR 1971–76
9 Sonny Jurgensen QB 1964–74
22 Charlie Justice RB 1950, 1952–54
17 Billy Kilmer QB 1971–78
26 Paul Krause DB 1964–67
79 Jim Lachey T 1988–95
14 Eddie LeBaron QB 1952–53, 1955–59
72 Dexter Manley DE 1981–89
71 Charles Mann DE 1983–93
58 Wilber Marshall LB 1988–92
73 Mark May T 1981–89
79 Ron McDole DE 1971–78
63 Raleigh McKenzie G 1985–94
53 Harold McLinton LB 1969–78
40 Wayne Millner E 1936–41, 1945
49 Bobby Mitchell FL 1962–68
30 Brian Mitchell RB 1990–99
81 Art Monk WR 1980–93
3 Mark Moseley K 1974–86
29 Mark Murphy S 1977–84
21 Mike Nelms KR 1980–84
52 Neal Olkewicz LB 1979–89
23 Brig Owens LB 1966–77
26 Clinton Portis RB 2004–10
65 Vince Promuto G 1960–70
44 John Riggins RB 1976–79, 1981–85
11 Mark Rypien QB 1987–93
60 Chris Samuels OT 2000–09
83 Ricky Sanders WR 1986–93
76 Ed Simmons T 1987–93
87 Jerry Smith TE 1965–77
60 Dick Stanfel G 1956–58
74 George Starke T 1973–84
72 Diron Talbert DT 1971–80
42 Charley Taylor WR 1964–77
84 Hugh Taylor WR 1947–54
21 Sean Taylor S 2004–07
7 Joe Theismann QB 1974–85
67 Rusty Tillman LB 1970–77
85 Don Warren TE 1979–92
25 Joe Washington RB 1981–84
17 Doug Williams QB 1986–89

Administration

George Allen Head Coach 1971–77
Bobby Beathard General Manager 1978–89
Joe Bugel Offensive Line Coach 1981–89, 04–09
Ray Flaherty Head Coach 1936–42
Joe Gibbs Head Coach 1981–92
Richie Petitbon Defensive Coordinator 1978–92

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