Donn Moomaw obit

Hall of Famer Donn Moomaw Passes Away

 

He was not on the list.

Donn Moomaw, the 1973 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee who starred as a two-way player for the UCLA Bruins from 1950-52, passed away Feb. 10 in Pasadena, California. He was 93 and the second oldest living Hall of Fame player.

"Donn Moomaw was a true giant in the game of football, not just for his dominance on the field at UCLA, but for the extraordinary life he led beyond the game," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "A two-time All-American and a member of the inaugural Academic All-America Hall of Fame class, he embodied the highest ideals of the scholar-athlete. His remarkable journey—from the gridiron to a life of service in the ministry—speaks to his deep character and unwavering commitment to others. We are extremely saddened by his passing, and we send our condolences to his family, friends, and the UCLA community."

Moomaw arrived on campus as an end before being shifted to center and linebacker by Hall of Fame coach Henry "Red" Sanders. He was a two-time First Team All-American (1950, 1952), earning consensus honors in 1952. Injuries in 1951 limited him to the All-America second team, but he was deemed an All-Conference first-teamer for the second of three consecutive years. He twice earned team MVP honors, garnering Lineman of the Year accolades as a senior.

Long after Donn Moomaw left the gridiron at the University of California-Los Angeles, the Presbyterian minister might have been heard preaching a sermon entitled, "Whither Thou Goest I Shall Go." It would have been a familiar theme to the greatest center-linebacker in UCLA football history, because Moomaw was a ball-hawk noted for his ability to diagnose play development. At the time, his 11 career pass interceptions tied him with Bob Waterfield on UCLA's all-time interception list.

At 6-4 and 220 pounds, Moomaw was strong, rangy and agile to perfection. Like a submarine commander, Moomaw stalked enemy ball-carriers and downed them with torpedo-like tackling thrusts. His finest season came when he was a senior in 1952. His defensive prowess paced the Bruins to an 8-1 record, the campaign marred only by a bitter 14-12 loss to archrival Southern California in a game that decided the Pacific Coast Conference title. Moomaw's personal acclaim skyrocketed. The Associated Press and United Press International selected Moomaw as the nation's Lineman of the Year in 1952, and he was named MVP in the North-South All-Star Game in Miami.

Moomaw also collected accolades off the field for his academic prowess, earning CoSIDA Academic All-America® First Team honors in 1952. He was inducted into the organization's inaugural hall-of-fame class in 1988. He was also a charter member of the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame (1984), UCLA retired his No. 80 jersey.

A first-round draft pick of the NFL's Los Angeles Rams in 1953, Moomaw ended up playing two seasons in the Canadian Football League. He left football to pursue a career in the ministry, and he graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1957 with a bachelor's degree in divinity. In 1968, he added a doctor of divinity from Sterling College.

He was senior pastor at Bel Air Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles from 1964-1993 and during this time met Ronald Reagan. Moomaw offered invocations at Reagan's 1967 and 1971 inaugurations as governor of California, as well as his 1981 and 1985 inaugurations as president of the United States. Moomaw served on the California State Board of Education from 1968-1972.

Born Oct. 15, 1931, in Santa Ana, California, Moomaw and his wife, the late Carol, were the parents to sons Dann Moomaw and Jonn Moomaw and daughters Nancy Goodwin, Michelle Le Beau and Carrie Brakebush, and grandparents to 10. Donn Moomaw had one brother, Dick Moomaw, and one sister, Jane Elson. There are no service plans at this time.

Career history

Los Angeles Rams (1953)*

Toronto Argonauts (1953)

Ottawa Rough Riders (1955)

 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only

Career highlights and awards

Consensus All-American (1952)

First-team All-American (1950)

Second-team All-American (1951)

3× First-team All-PCC (1950, 1951, 1952)

UCLA Bruins No. 80 retired