Donn Moomaw

Donn Moomaw

Moomaw delivers the invocation at the first inauguration of Ronald Reagan, January 20, 1981
Date of birth (1931-09-03) September 3, 1931
Place of birth Santa Ana, California
Career information
Position(s) C, LB
College UCLA
NFL draft 1953 / Round: 1 / Pick: 9
Drafted by Los Angeles Rams

Donn Moomaw (born October 15, 1931) is a retired American football player and Presbyterian minister.

Moomaw played for UCLA as the center and linebacker for the team. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973.[1]

Moomaw later became a Presbyterian minister, most notably serving Los Angeles' Bel Air Presbyterian Church as pastor from 1964 to 1993. During this time, he became friends with California Governor Ronald Reagan and wife Nancy. Moomaw later gave the invocation and benediction at Reagan's 1981 presidential inauguration and 1985 presidential inauguration.

Moomaw was born in Santa Ana, California, and attended its Santa Ana High School.[1]

Football Career

Donn played linebacker in 1950, 1951, and 1952. During that time, he was named a two time All-American (in 1950 and consensus in 1952), making him the first in UCLA history. He was named MVP both in 1950 and 1952, and he was co-captain in 1952. His jersey number (#80) has been retired by the team, and he was inducted into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame in 1973, the same year he was inducted into the UCLA College Football Hall of Fame. In 1953, Donn was the first-round draft pick for the Los Angeles Rams.[2] His football legacy continues through the "Donn D. Moomaw Award for Outstanding Defensive Player in USC Game", which is still given today. [3]

Sex scandal

In 1993, he was forced to resign as a result of "sexual contact" with five women.[4] In 1997, he was allowed to return to the pulpit on a full-time basis at the 800-member Village Community Presbyterian Church in Rancho Santa Fe. Prior to that position, Rev. Moomaw was allowed to serve as the guest preacher at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 College Football Hall of Fame Member Biography, collegefootball.org
  2. ↑ "First Team All-American Profiles". www.uclabruins.com. UCLA Athletics. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  3. ↑ "Annual UCLA Football Awards". www.uclabruins.com. UCLA Athletics. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  4. ↑ Tanya Barrientos (22 March 1995). "In Ministry, Dealing With Temptations Of The Flesh The Concern Is That Affairs Can Be Harmful.". Philadelphia Inquirer.
  5. ↑ Dart, John (1997-07-26). "Rev. Moomaw Back in Pulpit After Suspension - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 2013-11-24.
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