Today in Wheeling History: August 14--Paul Rickards, a former Pitt quarterback who excelled in high school football at Wheeling High School, signed with the Los Angeles Rams (1948).
Paul Edward Rickards was born on June 30, 1926, in Wheeling, West Virginia. He attended Wheeling High School, where he excelled in multiple sports, including football, basketball, and track and field. Rickards was selected as the quarterback on the All-West Virginia team and received all-state honors in basketball. His athletic prowess was evident from a young age, setting the stage for his future accomplishments.
In 1944, Rickards enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh and, as an 18-year-old freshman, became the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Panthers football team. He led the NCAA in passing yardage that year with 997 yards. However, his college career was interrupted when he was inducted into the Army Air Force less than a week after the 1944 season ended. Rickards was discharged in the fall of 1946 and returned to the University of Pittsburgh for the 1947 season.
After college, Rickards had a brief professional football career. In 1948, he signed with the Los Angeles Rams but saw limited playing time due to the presence of Pro Football Hall of Famer Bob Waterfield. He later joined the Richmond Rebels of the new American Football League, where he played 17 games over the 1949 and 1950 seasons, compiling a total of 1,928 passing yards and 28 touchdown passes. Despite his short professional career, Rickards left a lasting impact on the sport.
Paul Rickards passed away on July 26, 1999, in Richmond, Virginia. His legacy as a talented athlete from Wheeling, West Virginia, remains a significant part of the city's sports history. His journey from a high school star to a professional football player serves as an inspiration to many aspiring athletes from his hometown.
To learn more: (https://shorturl.at/tEwPP) (https://shorturl.at/aSlZn) (https://shorturl.at/bHjPh) (https://shorturl.at/ghnn1)
Photo credits: The Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, Richmond News-Leader, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Richmond Times-Dispatch
Paul Edward Rickards was born on June 30, 1926, in Wheeling, West Virginia. He attended Wheeling High School, where he excelled in multiple sports, including football, basketball, and track and field. Rickards was selected as the quarterback on the All-West Virginia team and received all-state honors in basketball. His athletic prowess was evident from a young age, setting the stage for his future accomplishments.
In 1944, Rickards enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh and, as an 18-year-old freshman, became the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Panthers football team. He led the NCAA in passing yardage that year with 997 yards. However, his college career was interrupted when he was inducted into the Army Air Force less than a week after the 1944 season ended. Rickards was discharged in the fall of 1946 and returned to the University of Pittsburgh for the 1947 season.
After college, Rickards had a brief professional football career. In 1948, he signed with the Los Angeles Rams but saw limited playing time due to the presence of Pro Football Hall of Famer Bob Waterfield. He later joined the Richmond Rebels of the new American Football League, where he played 17 games over the 1949 and 1950 seasons, compiling a total of 1,928 passing yards and 28 touchdown passes. Despite his short professional career, Rickards left a lasting impact on the sport.
Paul Rickards passed away on July 26, 1999, in Richmond, Virginia. His legacy as a talented athlete from Wheeling, West Virginia, remains a significant part of the city's sports history. His journey from a high school star to a professional football player serves as an inspiration to many aspiring athletes from his hometown.
To learn more: (https://shorturl.at/tEwPP) (https://shorturl.at/aSlZn) (https://shorturl.at/bHjPh) (https://shorturl.at/ghnn1)
Photo credits: The Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, Richmond News-Leader, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Richmond Times-Dispatch
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