Dick Schafrath
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Dick Schafrath | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | March 23, 1937 (age 70) |
| Place of birth |  Canton, Ohio |
| Position(s) | Guard, Tackle |
| College | Ohio State |
| NFL Draft | 1959 / Round 2 / Pick 23 |
| Pro Bowls | 2 |
| Statistics | |
| Team(s) | |
| 1959-1971 | Cleveland Browns |
Richard Philip "Dick" Schafrath is a retired offensive lineman for the Cleveland Browns, former Ohio State Senator and author. During his tenure as an athlete, he won national football championships with the 1957 Ohio State University Buckeyes and the 1964 Cleveland Browns. Because of his strong work ethic and occasional stubborn determination friends and teammates nicknamed him “The Mule.”
Born March 21, 1937, Schafrath grew up on a Wooster, Ohio farm until he left home to attend Ohio State in 1956. Schafrath joined the Ohio State Buckeye football team and played under legendary coach Woody Hayes. The team would go on to win the national championship in 1957 and the 1958 Rose Bowl.
In 1959 Schafrath left Ohio State to become the second NFL draft pick and join the Cleveland Browns. In 1964 the team win the National Championship against the Baltimore Colts 27-0. Schafrath continued to play with the Browns for another 12 seasons, during which he went All Pro four times, played in the Pro Bowl six times and was voted the Team’s Most Valuable in 1963. He was also elected to the Browns Legends Club in 2003.
While Schafrath is known for his years as an athlete he also became known for his endless stunts and dares, including wrestling a bear, running 62 miles and canoeing across Lake Erie without stopping.
In 1986 Schafrath won a seat in the Ohio State Senate after running a successful campaign against state representative Tom Van Meter. He continued serving until his retirement from politics in 2000.
Fifty years after leaving Ohio State University, Schafrath returned to complete his college diploma. On August 27, 2006 at the age of 69 he graduated from OSU with a B.S. in Sports and Leisure Studies.
As part of his college coursework Schafrath wrote Heart of a Mule, an autobiography published by Gray & Company, Publishers in 2006.
