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Robert Edward Whitlow (February 15, 1936 – October 23, 2020) was an American professional football player who was a center in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, and Cleveland Browns. He played college football for the Arizona Wildcats.

Early life

Whitlow was born in Shelbyville, Indiana and attended Bloomington High School in Bloomington, Indiana, where he played high school football and participated in track and field as a shot putter.

College and military career

After high school, Whitlow attended and played college football at Compton Junior College in Compton, California, before transferring to the University of Arizona. He was also a shot putter in college. He left college in 1957 and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.

Professional career

After serving with the Marines, Whitlow qualified for the Summer Olympics trials in shot put, but decided to play football instead. He signed with the Chicago Bears in 1960, but was then traded to the Washington Redskins. Midway through the 1961 season, he was traded to the Detroit Lions, where he played through 1965 and played every offensive down in 1962 and 1963. Whitlow was then traded to the Atlanta Falcons during their inaugural 1966 season. He was then traded to the Los Angeles Rams for undisclosed draft picks, but never played for the Rams. In 1968, he was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers, but was waived before the end of the offseason. He was then signed by the Cleveland Browns and played for them for one season snapping for all placekicks and punts, but then had to retire after a hernia operation. He attempted to make a comeback in 1974 with the World Football League's Portland Storm, but failed.

During the Lions' 1963 season, Whitlow was the center for George Plimpton when Plimpton was practicing and playing with the team for the Sports Illustrated article that became the book Paper Lion.

Racing career

A longtime racing fan who idolized Richard Petty and A. J. Foyt, Whitlow became interested in dabbling in a racing career when he was still with the Lions, though the team and his wife forbade him from pursuing it. After retiring from football, he purchased a 1970 Dodge Charger and received a helmet from New Orleans Saints owner John W. Mecom Jr., who previously ran the Mecom Racing Team. He raced with No. 51 as a nod to his number from his playing days.

He explained in July 1973 that "racing and football have some of the same organizations. You've got to have organization to win in either sport. You've got to think about what you're going to do, and you have to be able to analyze what you're doing wrong." Otherwise, he stressed "there is simply no comparison" between the two sports.

Whitlow made his racing debut in United States Auto Club (USAC) stock cars at Texas World Speedway in April 1973, where he finished 20th and 20 laps behind winner Gordon Johncock. In June, he entered the NASCAR Winston Cup Series race there in a Ford Torino and placed 21st.

Coaching career

Whitlow was an assistant basketball coach for two seasons at Oakland Community College from 1986-1988. Whitlow was the head basketball coach at Madonna College from 1988 to 1989, posting a 13–17 record. He was a track and field coach at Northview High School in Johns Creek, Georgia.

Personal life

Between his retirement from football and beginning a racing career, Whitlow worked for a carpet business.

He died on October 23, 2020, in Forsyth County, Georgia at age 84.

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Cup Series

References

1. ^ "Northview Track and Field Coaches". Northview High School. Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
2. ^ "WHITLOW, ROBERT". Indiana Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
3. Rosenberg, I.J. "Whatever happened to: Bob Whitlow". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
4. "Rams, Falcons Trade". The Milwaukee Journal. July 18, 1967. p. 10. Archived from the original on May 12, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
5. "Rams Drop Former Star Trojan Back". The Spokesman-Review. August 31, 1967. p. 7. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
6. Bryson, Mike (August 27, 1968). "Several Veterans Among Players Cut". The Free Lance–Star. p. 20. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
7. "Former Pro Gridder Whitlow Finds New Sport". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. July 29, 1973. p. B2. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
8. Miegoc, Joe (April 26, 1974). "For Bob Whitlow, life is racing and football". Pocono Record. Retrieved February 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
9. Plimpton, George (1988). Paper Lion. ISBN 9780060915407.
10. ^ "Bob Whitlow is passing cars now, not footballs". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. AP. July 29, 1973. Retrieved February 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
11. Reinhard, Paul (July 28, 1973). "Allison Would Be Surprised If He Got Pole Today". The Morning Call. Retrieved February 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Stock Results". The Bryan-College Station Eagle. April 8, 1973. Retrieved February 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Former Gridder In Stock Car Race". The Durham Sun. AP. June 7, 1973. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
14. "1973 Alamo 500". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
15. "Bob Whitlow Madonna Basketball coach". Detroit Free Press. August 20, 1988. p. 38. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
16. Risak, C.J. (July 20, 1992). "Brand New Start:Sharpe to Lead Madonna's Men's Basketball" (PDF). Westland Observer. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
17. Clark, Sean (May 25, 1974). "Top USAC stock car drivers entered in Sunday's Festival". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved February 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
18. "Bob Whitlow, member of inaugural Falcons team, Forsyth resident, dies at 84". Forsythnews.com. October 23, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
19. "Bob Whitlow – 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
20. "Bob Whitlow – 1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 21, 2024.

External links

• Career statistics from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference
• Bob Whitlow driver statistics at Racing-Reference

• 1936 births
• 2020 deaths
• American football offensive linemen
• Arizona Wildcats football players
• Atlanta Falcons players
• Cleveland Browns players
• Detroit Lions players
• Military personnel from Indiana
• NASCAR drivers
• People from Shelbyville, Indiana
• Sportspeople from the Indianapolis metropolitan area
• Players of American football from Indiana
• Washington Redskins players