John Kimbrough
John Alec Kimbrough
“The Haskell Hurricane”
Born in Haskell Texas June 14, 1918, Kimbrough was a Texas A&M
fullback, Member of Texas Legislature, and star of two western
movies.
He was known as the "Haskell Hurricane" when he played
for the Texas A&M Aggies football team. The Aggies were an
undefeated 1939 national championship team when he played
fullback. In 1940 he finished
second to the University of Michigan's Tom Harmon in Heisman
Trophy balloting. According to his College Football Hall of Fame
biography, Jarrin' John was a punishing 6 ft 2 in tall 210 lb
running back known for breaking tackles with his high knee
action who was honored with induction into that organization in
1954.
In 1941, he started along side Tom Harmon in the New York Americans
backfield in the third American Football League and became the
team's primary running threat after Harmon left the team for
military service.
After the AFL folded in response to the Japanese attack on Pearl
Harbor, Kimbrough parlayed his gridiron fame and athletic good
looks into a Hollywood contract, though he only appeared in two
western motion pictures, Sundown Jim and The Lone Star
Ranger, both released in 1942.
Kimbrough played for the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America
Football Conference. As a rookie, he led the league in rushing
touchdowns with six. Unfortunately, his second run at a
professional football career was cut short by a series of heart
attacks that started when he was only 30 years old. He was
forced to leave the game in 1948 after three seasons with the
Dons.
He served one term in the state legislature (1953-55) before
becoming a rancher in Haskell.
John Kimbrough died May 8, 2006 in Haskell Texas Haskell County
Texas |