Cecil Souders obit

 

Oldest Living NFL Players Cecil “Cy” Souders Has died

He was not on the list.

Cecil “Cy” Souders, 100, died early Monday, August 30, 2021, at his Hilliard home under the loving care of his family.

He was born on January 3, 1921, in Bucyrus to the late Calvin and Margaret (Wilson) Souders. The 1939 Bucyrus High School graduate was a gifted athlete and captained the Ohio All Stars in the Kumquat Bowl where he agreed to play football for LSU. After returning to Ohio, Ohio State assistant coach Ernie Godfrey and Cy’s girlfriend, Jean Hoover, convinced him to stay in Ohio and play for OSU. After enrolling in Columbus, Cy and Jean eloped and were married on November 18, 1939.

After playing football for the Buckeyes from 1942-1944, Cy joined the US Navy and played for the Bainbridge (MD) Commodores Naval football team. After his honorable discharge, Cy returned to Columbus to earn his degree and play the 1946 season when he was named an All-American and played in the East-West Shrine Bowl. Cy then played for the Detroit Lions from 1947-49 and was the oldest living NFL Alumni when he died. He was inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002 and Crawford County Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014. After football, Cy worked for Suburban Motor Freight Company. He was a salesman, became the manager of the Detroit Terminal, and later moved to Columbus before retiring from SMF as Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing in 1984 after 38 years of service.

Cy and Jean retired to Avon Park, Florida where they lived for 32 years before returning to Columbus in 2019. Cy loved playing golf and going to OSU football games.

After serving in the Navy during World War ll before starting his pro career as a 25th-round pick in the 1945 NFL draft. In three seasons with the Detroit Lions, he tallied 17 receptions for 203 yards and one touchdown. He was teammates with well known players such as Bill Dudley, Stan Batinski, Gus Dorias, Clyde LeForce, Bo McMillan, Lyle Fife, George Wilson, Roy Zimmerman, Bob Westfall and Frank Tripucka. When he died Ken Casanega became the oldest living former NFL player.

He is survived by his bride of 81 years, Jean Souders; daughter, Sharon (Martin) Cohen of Hilliard; and grandson, Randall Cohen. In addition to his parents, Cy was preceded in death by brothers, Hylen and Gene Souders.

Services will take place on Tuesday, September 7, 2021. The Souders family will receive friends from 1-1:45 pm at Wise Funeral Service, 129 W Warren St, Bucyrus, Ohio 44820 before proceeding to Oakwood Cemetery where a graveside service will begin at 2:00 pm with Rev. Jeremy McNeill of First Presbyterian Church officiating.