Concise Encyclopedia of Tufts History
Sauer, Anne
Branco, Jessica
Bennett, John
Crowley, Zachary
2000
Grinnell, William G. "Johnny", ca.1915-1997
William G. "Johnny" Grinnell, A1935, was born in Medford, Massachusetts. While a student at Tufts, Grinnell led the football team to one of its best seasons ever, with an 8-0 undefeated record. Grinnell was selected for the first All-American College Football team in 1934, and in 1997, became the first Tufts football player elected to the National College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana. | |
After studying at Tufts, Grinnell made a career in athletics, as a teacher and coach at Wilmington, Lexington, and Brookline high schools, as well as coaching football and basketball at Northeastern. During World War II he was a lieutenant senior grade in the Navy. A strong Tufts supporter, Grinnell was active in the Tufts Jumbo Club, serving as its first president, and he was a longtime member of the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston. | |
Grinnell died of congestive heart failure on June 26, 1997.He was posthumously inducted to the National College Football Hall of Fame that year. | |
Source: TA, Fall 1997 | |
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