Al Bemiller obit

Bills two-time AFL champion, Al Bemiller passed away

 

He was not on the list.

One of Buffalo's longest-tenured AFL players, Al Bemiller, passed away on Wednesday. Bemiller was quite literally at the center of Buffalo's American Football League back-to-back championship teams as he manned the pivot on the Bills' offensive line for nine seasons from 1961-1969.

A seventh-round pick of the Bills in 1961, Bemiller was also drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals of the NFL but chose to sign with Buffalo for two reasons. One because it was closer to his native Hanover, Pennsylvania and two, because he was promised a starting job.

Right out of his first training camp Bemiller did win the starting job at center, a position he held for the next nine seasons appearing in 126 games with 123 starts. The highlight of his career were the two AFL titles in 1964 and 1965, earning AFL All-Star honors in 1965 in the process.

Originally recruited to Syracuse University for his wrestling exploits, the head football coach, Ben Schwartzwalder asked him to play for the football team. By his sophomore season Bemiller was a starter on the Syracuse offensive line and enjoyed great success as the then called Orangemen won a national championship that season (1959).

After his retirement from the Bills, Bemiller remained in Western New York working as a recreation director at Wyoming Correctional Facility. He also operated several businesses including a nightclub in Hamburg.

Bemiller was later a very successful wrestling coach at St. Francis high school in Athol Springs. Named to the position in 1978, Bemiller led the Red Raiders to three consecutive Catholic High School Athletic Association titles. He additionally served Western New York schools as an official for football and wrestling.

His commitment to Western New York after his playing days earned him the prestigious Ralph C. Wilson Distinguished Service Award in 2013. He was additionally inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.

A dedicated member of the Buffalo Bills Alumni Association for decades, Bemiller was 84-years old.

Bemiller was drafted as an offensive lineman by the Buffalo Bills in 1961, when he immediately became their starting center,[1] replacing Dan McGrew, although the latter was the All-AFL 2nd team center in the Bills' inaugural season of 1960. During the 1961 season, Bemiller played in all 14 games, between fellow rookie Billy Shaw at left offensive guard and second year pro Chuck Muelhaupt at right guard, under head coach Buster Ramsey. In 1962, he continued to play center next to Shaw and new right guard Tom Day under new head coach Lou Saban. These three linemen would play together up to 1963, when the Bills tied for first place in the AFL east division, but lost a playoff game to the Boston Patriots.

In 1964, Bemiller was switched to right offensive guard, playing between veteran center Walt Cudzik and right offensive tackle Dick Hudson, when the Bills won their first AFL championship. They repeated in 1965, when Bemiller became an AFL All-Star at right guard, still next to Hudson but with a new center, Dave Behrman. In 1966, under new head coach Joe Collier, Bemiller switched back to center, playing between Shaw and right guard Joe O'Donnell. From 1967 to 1969, he remained the starting center but also played left offensive tackle in 1967. In 1968, he played between Shaw and Bob Kalsu and in 1969, his final year, between Shaw and O'Donnell.

 

Bemiller was replaced the following year by Frank Marchlewski. In his nine-year career with the Bills, he never missed a game.

After playing for the Bills, Bemiller became a substitute teacher for the Buffalo Public Schools and could be seen on occasion at Hutchinson Central Technical High School in Buffalo, New York.[2] Bemiller also worked 33 years as a high school wrestling official for the Niagara Frontier Wrestling Officials Association of section 6 (NYS), from 1970-2003 and was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. Bemiller also worked 25 years as a recreation coordinator at Wyoming Correctional Facility in Attica. Bemiller's grandson, quarterback Jake Dolegala, was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2019

Christine McVie obit

Christine McVie, Fleetwood Mac singer-songwriter, dies aged 79

 

 She was not on the list.

Christine McVie, who played with Fleetwood Mac and wrote some of their most famous songs, has died aged 79, her family has said.

The British singer-songwriter was behind hits including Little Lies, Everywhere, Don't Stop, Say You Love Me and Songbird.

She died peacefully at a hospital in the company of her family, a statement said.

McVie left Fleetwood Mac after 28 years in 1998 but returned in 2014.

The family's statement said "we would like everyone to keep Christine in their hearts and remember the life of an incredible human being, and revered musician who was loved universally".

Born Christine Perfect, McVie married Fleetwood Mac bassist John McVie, and joined the group at the start of the 1970s.

Fleetwood Mac became one of the world's best known rock bands in the 1970s and '80s.

Their 1977 album Rumours - inspired by the break-ups of the McVies and the band's other couple, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks - became one of the biggest selling of all time, with more than 40 million copies sold worldwide.

McVie was one of eight members of the band inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

In the same year, after the success of their live album The Dance, she retired to Kent, saying a fear of flying meant she was leaving the band.

But she rediscovered her love of performing at a one-off appearance with the group at London's O2 arena in 2013 and returned to them a year later.

"It was amazing, like I'd never left. I climbed back on there again and there they were, the same old faces on stage," she told the Guardian newspaper at the time.

In 2017 she told BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs programme that she had developed agoraphobia after leaving the band.

A statement by the band said of McVie: "We were so lucky to have a life with her.

"Individually and together, we cherished Christine deeply and are thankful for the amazing memories we have. She will be so very missed."

In a post on Instagram, Stevie Nicks wrote: "A few hours ago I was told that my best friend in the whole world since the first day of 1975, had passed away.

 

"I didn't even know she was ill... until late Saturday night. I wanted to be in London, I wanted to get to London - but we were told to wait.

"So, since Saturday, one song has been swirling around my head, over and over and over. I thought I might possibly get to sing it to her, and so, I'm singing it to her now.

"I always knew I would need these words one day... It's all I can do now."

In a tweet, band co-founder Mick Fleetwood wrote: "This is a day where my dear sweet friend Christine McVie has taken to flight... and left us earthbound folks to listen with bated breath to the sounds of that song bird... reminding one and all that love is all around us to reach for and touch in this precious life that is gifted to us.

 

"Part of my heart has flown away today...I will miss everything about you Christine McVie."

'She had this ability to change people's lives'

Harry Styles was among those paying tribute - sharing a black-and-white picture of McVie with emojis of a bird and a black heart.

Crowded House lead singer Neil Finn, who played with Fleetwood Mac in Lindsey Buckingham's place on their last tour in 2018, wrote: "She was a unique and soulful musician, supremely gifted songwriter and a warm and wonderful friend and I am so grateful to have shared some hours in her beautiful presence."

Singer Sheryl Crow said: "The world feels weird without her here. What a legend and an icon and an amazing human being"

Merck Mercuriadis, owner of the Hipgnosis Songs Fund which bought McVie's back catalogue, described her as "arguably the greatest female English songwriter of all time".

Speaking at the Mobo Awards in London, Mercuriadis said: "She had this ability with the melody, the emotion and the lyric to just change people's lives."

Former US President Bill Clinton tweeted: "Don't Stop was my '92 campaign theme song - it perfectly captured the mood of a nation eager for better days. I'm grateful to Christine & Fleetwood Mac for entrusting us with such a meaningful song. I will miss her."

BBC 6 Music breakfast presenter Lauren Laverne began her Thursday programme paying tribute to McVie who she said "left such an incredible musical legacy, and a wonderful story.

"A girl from Cumbria making it into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, absolutely amazing".

Listeners have been sharing their memories on the People's Playlist segment of the show.

John Hadl obit

John Hadl, six time Pro Bowl quarterback who led both the Chargers and Rams, dies

 

He was not on the list.

Longtime NFL quarterback John Hadl, who starred for his hometown Kansas Jayhawks before embarking on a professional career that included six Pro Bowl appearances and three AFL title game appearances with the then-San Diego Chargers, died Wednesday at 82.

The university, where Hadl returned after his playing days as a coach and fundraiser, announced his death in a statement, citing his family. No cause was given.

“John Hadl had a generational impact on Kansas football,” Jayhawks athletic director Travis Goff said. “He was a once-in-a-lifetime Jayhawk student-athlete, a coach and mentor, a prolific fundraiser who developed profound relationships with countless, and the ultimate ambassador for KU.

Hadl was a two-sport star at Lawrence High School, a short drive from the Kansas campus, but made his name on the football field for the Jayhawks. He led the NCAA in punting as a sophomore, set a record for longest punt of 94 yards that still stands, and until 2007, held the record for longest interception return with a 98-yarder.

A Season to Remember : John Hadl Helped Rams Begin First Knox Era in 1973.

Hadl played both halfback and quarterback his final two seasons, helping Kansas go 14-5-2 over the span. The two-time All-American finished his career by leading the Jayhawks to their first bowl win against Rice in the 1961 Bluebonnet Bowl.

“Upon my arrival,” current Kansas coach Lance Leipold said, “I heard instantly from people across the state about John’s impact to this department, not just as a student-athlete and coach, but as someone who dedicated nearly 40 years of his life to the University of Kansas. His desire to enhance KU and make it as special as possible truly resonated with me.”

Hadl was chosen 10th overall by the Detroit Lions in 1962 in the NFL draft and 24th overall by the San Diego Chargers in the AFL draft, where he chose to pursue his career. Hadl would spend 11 seasons with the Chargers, taking them to three AFL title games, including a win in 1963, before the merger with the NFL, before finishing his career with the Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers and Houston Oilers.

After retiring in 1977, Hadl returned to Kansas as an assistant, helping the Jayhawks to the 1981 Hall of Fame Bowl. He later coached for the Rams, the Broncos and the Los Angeles Express of the USFL before again returning to Kansas in 1988, where he spent the next 30 years as a prolific fundraiser for the Williams Education Fund.

Hadl’s No. 21 is one of three numbers retired by Kansas along with No. 48 of Gale Sayers and No. 42 of Ray Evans. In 2020, the school celebrated his legacy by unveiling a statue of Hadl outside the the university’s football complex.

“To be the head coach of this program,” Leipold said, “and see his statue every day outside Anderson Family Football Complex is a firm reminder of the passion and love that John had for this program. Kelly and I send our condolences to the Hadl family and his loved ones.”

Career history

As a player:

 

    San Diego Chargers (1962–1972)

    Los Angeles Rams (1973–1974)

    Green Bay Packers (1974–1975)

    Houston Oilers (1976–1977)

 

As a coach:

 

    Kansas (1978)

    Quarterbacks coach

    Kansas (1979–1981)

    Offensive coordinator

    Los Angeles Rams (1982)

    Offensive assistant

    Denver Broncos (1983)

    Quarterbacks coach

    Los Angeles Express (1984–1985)

    Head coach

 

Career highlights and awards

 

    AFL champion (1963)

    NFL Man of the Year (1971)

    First-team All-Pro (1973)

    2× Pro Bowl (1972, 1973)

    NFL passing yards leader (1971)

    NFL passing touchdowns leader (1971)

    4× AFL All-Star (1964, 1965, 1968, 1969)

    2× Second-team All-AFL (1965, 1966)

    2× AFL passing yards leader (1965, 1968)

    AFL passing touchdowns leader (1968)

    Los Angeles Chargers Hall of Fame

    2× First-team All-American (1960, 1961)

    2× First-team All-Big Eight (1960, 1961)

    Kansas Jayhawks No. 21 retired

 

Career NFL statistics

Pass attempts:  4,687

Pass completions:            2,363

Percentage:       50.4

TD–INT: 244–268

Passing yards:    33,503

QB Rating:           67.4

Career history

As a player:

 

    San Diego Chargers (1962–1972)

    Los Angeles Rams (1973–1974)

    Green Bay Packers (1974–1975)

    Houston Oilers (1976–1977)

 

As a coach:

 

    Kansas (1978)

    Quarterbacks coach

    Kansas (1979–1981)

    Offensive coordinator

    Los Angeles Rams (1982)

    Offensive assistant

    Denver Broncos (1983)

    Quarterbacks coach

    Los Angeles Express (1984–1985)

    Head coach

 

Career highlights and awards

 

    AFL champion (1963)

    NFL Man of the Year (1971)

    First-team All-Pro (1973)

    2× Pro Bowl (1972, 1973)

    NFL passing yards leader (1971)

    NFL passing touchdowns leader (1971)

    4× AFL All-Star (1964, 1965, 1968, 1969)

    2× Second-team All-AFL (1965, 1966)

    2× AFL passing yards leader (1965, 1968)

    AFL passing touchdowns leader (1968)

    Los Angeles Chargers Hall of Fame

    2× First-team All-American (1960, 1961)

    2× First-team All-Big Eight (1960, 1961)

    Kansas Jayhawks No. 21 retired

 

Career NFL statistics

Pass attempts:  4,687

Pass completions:            2,363

Percentage:       50.4

TD–INT: 244–268

Passing yards:    33,503

QB Rating:           67.4