Frank Pattee
| Position: | Halfback |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Date of birth: | March 11, 1924 |
| Place of birth: | Smith Center, Kansas |
| Date of death: | January 5, 2011 (aged 86) |
| Place of death: | Westlake Village, California |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Smith Center (KS) |
| College: | Kansas |
| NFL draft: | 1949 / Round: 23 / Pick: 228 |
Frank Sondles Pattee (March 11, 1924 – January 5, 2011) was an American football halfback. He was born in Smith Center, Kansas, the son of Addie (née Munson) and John Walter Pattee.[1][2] He became a star football player at Smith Center High School.[1] Frank played college football at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas.
Playing career
Pattee enrolled at Kansas in 1943, before joining the United States Navy where he served stateside in the U.S. Naval Air Force.[1][2] Frank later returned to Kansas where he played football from 1945 through 1948, lettering all four years.[3] He was the starting fullback on Kansas' 1948 Orange Bowl team as well as one of the starting linebackers.[2][4] Frank was instrumental as one of the most versatile players on the team which lead to him also filling in at several other positions while at Kansas and during the 1948 Orange Bowl game.[2][5] This versatility lead to him being named the team captain of the 1948 Kansas football team as well.[2] After his final season in 1948 he was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the 1949 NFL Draft, but he did not go on to play in any games for them.
Later life and legacy
Pattee married Betty Jo O'Neal on June 16, 1946 at the Danforth Chapel on the campus of Kansas.[1] After graduating in 1949, he chose not to pursue his football career to the pros where he was drafted in the sixth round of the 1949 AAFC as the 41st overall pick by the Baltimore Colts and in the 23rd round of the 1949 NFL Draft as the 228th overall pick by the Washington Redskins. Instead he initially pursued a career in business with the Cities Services Oil Co. and then later a career with the U.S. Department of Transportation.[1][6]
Frank and Betty Jo had two sons and two daughters, Frank Pattee Jr., Thomas Pattee, Jodie Knight, and Erin Brockovich.[1][7] His daughter Erin went on to fame as the main character of the movie of the same name, Erin Brockovich, starring Julia Roberts playing their daughter Erin, for which she won an Academy Award.
Pattee died on Wednesday, January 5, 2011 in Westlake Village, California. He was buried later that year in Pioneer Cemetery in Lawrence, Kansas alongside his wife.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Obituary". Lawrence Journal-World. January 6, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Mayer, Bill (December 22, 2007). "Mayer: KU tasted Orange in ‘47, ‘68". Lawrence Journal-World. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ↑ Kansas Football 2012 Media Guide. Lawrence, Kansas: University of Kansas. 2012. p. 186.
- ↑ Jayhawker. Lawrence, Kansas: 1948 Student Body of the University of Kansas. 1948. p. 234.
- ↑ "Former KU football player Pattee passes away". Kansas City Star. January 7, 2011.
- ↑ Eric, Adler (April 4, 2000). "True And False:Life Of The Real Erin Brockovich Is Far From Ideal". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
- ↑ Schneider, Karen S. (April 3, 2000). "Gutsy Beauty". People Magazine 53 (13). Retrieved October 12, 2012.
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