Duane Putnam

Duane Putnam
Date of birth: September 5, 1928
Place of birth: Pollock, South Dakota
Career information
Position(s): Guard
College: Pacific
NFL Draft: 1952 / Round: 6 / Pick: 66
Organizations
As player:
1952-1959,1962
1960
1961		 Los Angeles Rams
Dallas Cowboys
Cleveland Browns
Career highlights and awards
Pro Bowls: 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958
Career stats
Playing stats at NFL.com

Charles Duane Putnam (born September 5, 1928) is a former American football offensive guard who spent ten seasons in the National Football League playing for the Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys, and the Cleveland Browns. After retiring, he coached the Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles and the St. Louis Cardinals.

Early life

Putnam was born in Pollock, South Dakota and attended Antioch High School in Antioch, California,[1] where he played football, basketball and track and field. After graduation, he served in the First Cavalry of the United States Army from 1946 to 1948.[2] He played college football at the University of the Pacific.

Playing career

Putnam was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the 6th round (66th pick overall) in the 1952 NFL Draft. He appeared in four Pro Bowls in 1955, 1956, 1958 and 1959. He was named to the All-Pro team in 1957, 1958 and 1959.[3]

Putnam was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1960 NFL Expansion Draft,[4] and played for the Cowboys for the 1960 season. After leaving the Cowboys, he played for the Cleveland Browns in 1961 before returning to play for the Los Angeles Rams. He retired from the Rams in 1962, after playing ten seasons in the NFL.[5]

Putnam was named a charter member of the Pacific Athletics Hall of Fame in 1982,[6] and was inducted into the Antioch Sports Legends Hall of Fame in 2007.[7]

Coaching career

After retiring, he was the assistant football coach at Los Angeles Valley College for two years.[2] He also served as assistant football coach for the Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles and the St. Louis Cardinals.[8] In 1974, he served as defensive line coach for the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League.[9]

Personal

Putnam's daughter, Pamela Gail Putnam (born 1952), was married to Michael Reagan, the eldest son of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan from 1971-1972.[10][11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Duane Putnam". databaseFootball.com. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Porter, David L. (1995). Biographical Dictionary of American Sports: 1992-1995 supplement for baseball, football, basketball, and other sports. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 507.
  3. ↑ "Duane Putnam". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Another Perspective". Bingham Books. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Duane Putnam". Oldest Living Pro Football Players. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
  6. ↑ "PACIFIC ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME". Pacific Tigers. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Duane Putnam". Antioch Sports Legends Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Duane Putnam". Antioch Sports Legends Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Strange and Burns To Meet In Finals of North-South". Hearald-Journal. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Michael Reagan, Governor's Son, to Marry Miss Pamela Putnam". New York Times. Sep 22, 1970. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  11. ↑ Boyle, Louise (December 31, 2012). "'You'll never get in trouble if you say I love you once a day': Ronald Reagan's touching letter to son on eve of his wedding". Daily Mail. Retrieved August 20, 2014.