Joe Routt

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Joe Routt
Date of birth: October 18, 1914(1914-10-18)
Place of birth: Flag of Texas Chapel Hill, TX
Date of death: December 10, 1944 (aged 30)
Place of death: Belgium
Career information
Position(s): G
College: Texas A&M
College Football Hall of Fame

Joe Eugene Routt (October 18, 1914(1914-10-18)December 10, 1944) was an American football player and World War II soldier, son of Eugene Otis and Annie Belle (Clay) Routt. He attended Texas A&M College from 1933 to 1938 and received a degree in animal husbandry. As a guard on the football team, Routt was named to the All-American football teams of 1936 and 1937; he was the first All-American player for A&M. He played on the 1938 College All-Star team in Chicago and in the East-West Shrine game at San Francisco. Routt was commissioned a second lieutenant upon graduation from A&M and went on active duty in the United States Army in March 1942. In 1942 he played for the Army West All-Star football team against professional football teams. As an infantry officer in World War II he received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He was a captain and company commander in Holland when he was killed in action on December 10, 1944. He was buried at Margraten, Netherlands; on April 19, 1949, he was reburied at Brenham, Texas. Routt was married to Marilyn Maddox on March 1, 1942; they had two daughters. He was named to the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame and in 1952 to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.