George Andrie obit

Former Dallas Cowboys star George Andrie had died

 

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Professional Football Player. He played the defensive end position for the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys from 1962 to 1972. Born George Joseph Andrie, he played football collegiately at Marquette University before being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 1962 NFL Draft. During his rookie year, he made the NFL-All-Rookie Team. In 1964, he was moved back to original position of right defensive end and later teamed with fellow Cowboy Bob Lilly to form the original "Doomsday Defense". He made crucial plays for the Cowboys in several big games including the 1967 "Ice Bowl" against the vaunted Green Bay Packers, Super Bowl V, and the 1971 NFC Championship Game. He was also a member of the Cowboys' first Super Bowl winning team in Super Bowl VI in January of 1972. He retired after the 1972 season, after battling back problems. During his NFL career, he was First-team All-Pro in 1969 and three times Second-team All-Pro (1966-1968). He also played in five Pro Bowls and was the MVP of the 1969 game. He played in 141 NFL games and recovered 13 fumbles, had 1 safety, and 1 interception. He was also in the top five in sacks among Cowboy players. After his NFL career was over, he worked in a beer distribution business with Bob Lilly before founding a promotional products company in 1979. In 2014, he diagnosed with dementia, a condition attributed to his football career. He passed away of congestive heart failure.

Prior to his professional career he played college football at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which dropped its program after his junior season.

Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Andrie graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1958. He chose to play football across Lake Michigan at Marquette, where his older brother Stan had played on the line in the early 1950s. The Marquette football team was historically known as the "Golden Avalanche", as well as the other Marquette nicknames of Hilltoppers and Warriors.

During his sophomore and junior seasons (1959 & 1960), he led the team in receiving both years from his slotback position. As a two-way player, he was also ranked among the team's tackle leaders, registering over 80 tackles as a defensive lineman. After a 3–6 season in 1960 under head coach Lisle Blackbourn, the university dropped the football program in December, citing financial issues.

After the school limited his scholarship to just the tuition fees, he explored an opportunity to transfer to Tulsa in 1961, but decided to return to Marquette, soon after visiting the school's campus. Unsure of his future at the professional level, he focused on academics and worked on his physical conditioning during his senior year.

In 1991, he was inducted into the Marquette Athletics Hall of Fame.

Some of his former teammates include: Calvin Hill, Ralph Neely, Chuck Howley, Bob Lilly, Mel Renfro, John Niland, Lee Roy Jordan, Clint Murchison, Tom Landry, Guy Reese, Don Meredith, Frank Clarke, Bob Fry, Billy Howton, Jerry Norton, Don Bishop, Dick Nolan, Eddie LeBaron, Don Perkins, Jerry Tubbs, Cornell Green, Amos Marsh, Lee Folkins, Mike Gaechter, Sam Baker, Pettis Norman, Jim Ray Smith, Larry Stephens, Jim Ridlon, Jake Kupp, Roger Staubach, Bullet Bob Hayes, Mel Renfro, Jim Boeke, Jim Colvin, Dick Van Raaphorst, Tony Liscio, Buddy Dial, Tommy McDonald, Dave Manders, Craig Morton, Dan Reeves, Jethro Pugh, Danny Villanueva, Leon Donohue, Walt Garrison, Rayfield Wright, Lance Rentzel, Tex Schramm, Blaine Nye, Sonny Randle, Mike Clark, Ron East, John Wilbur, Andy Stynchula, Bobby Joe Conrad, Ron Widby, Reggie Rucker, Larry Cole, Charlie Waters, Pat Toomay, Duane Thomas, Mike Ditka, Tony Liscio, Mark Washington, Herb Adderley, D. D. Lewis, Cliff Harris and Steve Kiner.

Career highlights and awards

 

    Super Bowl champion (VI)

    5× Pro Bowl (1965–1969)

    First-team All-Pro (1969)

    3× Second-team All-Pro (1966–1968)

    NFL sacks leader (1966)