Notes:
J. WILLIAM HOFFMAN, 92, EX-PRO FOOTBALL PLAYER WITH PRE-EAGLES
TEAM
The Morning Call, Jun 6, 1994
J. William "Bill" Hoffman, 92, of Luther Crest, South
Whitehall Township, a past professional football player and
All-Pro Lineman with the former Frankford Yellowjackets (the
predecessors of today's Philadelphia Eagles) died Saturday
in the Luther Crest Nursing Facility.
He and his wife, Dorothy H. (Danecker) Hoffman, who were married
64 years in March, formerly resided in Center Valley.
Hoffman was a graduate of Lehigh University, where he played
varsity football for four years. After receiving a degree in
engineering in 1924, he signed a contract with the the former
Frankford Yellowjackets, a pioneer in the National Football
League.
He was a member of the team in 1926, when it won the World
Championship and compiled a14-1-1 record. For winning the championship,
he received an engraved pocket watch, the predecessor to today's
Super Bowl Ring.That same year he became an All-Pro lineman,
playing at center on offense and as a nose tackle on defense.
In 1991, Hoffman was a guest at Luther Crest's Benefactors
Dinner (the community's major annual fund-raiser) along with
former Philadelphia Eagle Pete Retzlaff, guest speaker and
member of the 1960 championship NFL team. At the dinner, Retzlaff
was given a replica of the same type of pocket watch that Hoffman
had received after winning the1926 championship.
Hoffman was a supervisor in the Saucon steelmaking division
of the Bethlehem Steel Corp. for 30 years, retiring in 1966.
Born in Raubsville, he was a son of the late Jacob and Sallie
(Raub) Hoffman.
He was a member of Grace Moravian Church, Center Valley, to
which, in 1986, he and his wife contributed $50,000 to help
start construction of the new church.
He was a director of the Nebo Hunting Lodge, Pike County,
for many years.
Survivor: Wife.
Services: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in the church. No calling hours.
Arrangements, Trexler Funeral Home, Allentown. |
