Tom Farris
| No. 36, 65 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | September 16, 1920 Casper, Wyoming, U.S. | ||||||||
| Died: | November 16, 2002 (aged 82) Citrus Heights, California, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 185 lb (84 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Englewood (Chicago, Illinois) | ||||||||
| College: | Wisconsin | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1942: 11th round, 99th pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Thomas George Farris (September 16, 1920 – November 16, 2002) was an American professional football quarterback who played for the Chicago Bears from 1946–1947 in the National Football League (NFL), and the Chicago Rockets in 1948 in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). He was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 11th round of the 1942 NFL draft. He won the 1946 NFL Championship with the Bears.
Early life and education
[edit]Farris was born on September 16, 1920 in Casper, Wyoming. His attended Englewood High School in Chicago, Illinois. He then attended the University of Wisconsin,[1] where he played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers football team from 1939 to 1941.[2][3] While at Wisconsin, he received the $100 Walter Alexander scholarship.[4] Farris was selected as quarterback for the second 1941 All-Big Ten Conference football team.[5] He was named the captain of the Badgers for the 1941 season.[6] On March 24, 1942, Farris played in a charity basketball game against the Oshkosh All-Stars, who were the reigning National Basketball League champions.[7]
Professional career
[edit]After his college football career, Farris was an 11th round selection (99th overall pick) of the 1942 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers.[1] When the Packers were going to play the Chicago Bears, Farris said to coach Curly Lambeau, "I've never been on a winning team, so maybe I'm a jinx. How about making a deal to get me on the Chicago Bears".[8] However before the Packers' training camp, he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard to serve in World War II, from 1942 to 1945, and did not play for the team.[9][10][3] After being discharged, he signed for the Chicago Rockets. However, in 1946, the Bears did a player swap with the Packers, sending Charley Mitchell to Green Bay in order to get Farris.[10][11] He won the 1946 NFL Championship with the Bears.[12] He continued playing for the team in the 1947 NFL season.[13] On June 28, 1948, Farris was conditionally released by the Bears. The AAFC Rockets quickly signed him to play quarterback for them in the AAFC.[14] In the 1948 AAFC season, the Rockets went 1–13, finishing last in the AAFC Western Division.[15] Farris retired after that season.[1] During his career he was 6 foot 1 inch tall, and weighed 185 pounds.[1]
Personal life
[edit]Farris was married to Thelma Saunders Farris. He then worked 30 years for A&P Tea Company and 7 years for Lambert Marketing.[3] Farris died on November 16, 2002, in Citrus Heights, California, at age 82.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Tom Farris Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
- ^ "Karp Is 7th Badger Lost This Season". The Capital Times. February 8, 1940. p. 23. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Thomas Farris Obituary - IL". Chicago Tribune. November 19, 2002. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
- ^ "Johnny Kotz Awarded Alexander Scholarship". The La Crosse Tribune. Associated Press. April 29, 1942. p. 12. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
- ^ "Big Ten Coaches Announce 1941 All-Star Football Team Selections". The Daily Plainsman. Associated Press. November 24, 1941. p. 11. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
- ^ "Senior Quarterback Named Honorary Captain by Teammates". Marshfield News-Herald. Associated Press. December 3, 1941. p. 12. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
- ^ "Oshkosh Stars to Meet Badger Aces". Green Bay Press-Gazette. United Press International. March 24, 1942. p. 22. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
- ^ Pagel, Ray (February 17, 1942). "Farris Would Turn Tables on Bears". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. 25. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
- ^ Casserly, Hank (August 9, 1942). "Ex-Wisconsin Gridders Play Last Football". The Capital Times. Associated Press. p. 21. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
- ^ a b "Chicago Bears Get Quarterback Farris". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. August 18, 1946. p. 7. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
- ^ "Packers Trade Farris; How Can That Be?". Wisconsin State Journal. August 6, 1946. p. 12. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
- ^ "Championship - Chicago Bears at New York Giants - December 15th, 1946". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
- ^ "1947 Chicago Bears Roster & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
- ^ "Tom Farris Signed By Rockets". The Hammond Times. International News Service. July 2, 1948. p. 20. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
- ^ "1948 Chicago Rockets Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 26, 2025.