Forrest McPherson
Encyclopedia
Forrest W. McPherson was an American football player (center, guard and tackle), once considered the strongest man in pro football.
McPherson was born on October 22, 1911 in Fairbury, Nebraska
. He attended the University of Nebraska and made his professional debut in the NFL in 1935 with the Chicago Bears
until he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles
the same year. He played for the Green Bay Packers
and Philadelphia Eagles
over the course of his 10 year career. He also played for the 1938 Los Angeles Bulldogs
(Independent,) Los Angeles Dons
, Hollywood Bears. In 1934 he signed with the St Louis Gunners Pro Football Club but did not play with them. During his years as a player, McPherson played next to or against some of the greatest names in NFL history, including Steve Van Buren
, Bob Waterfield
, Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch
, and others. He was coached by legends like Earl Louis "Curly" Lambeau
the founder, a player, and the first coach of the Green Bay Packers
also George Halas
legendary founder of the NFL and Chicago Bears
. Forrest won a Championship with the Green Bay Packers
in 1944 under coach Lambeau.
One of his nicknames was Aimee, since he shared the same last name with infamous 1940s evangalist Aimee Semple McPherson
McPherson had two brothers that played pro football: Elmer out of UCLA and then pro for the New York Giants
and Corwin played for the Hollywood Bears. Forrest had two children Forrest Lee McPherson and Diana Lee Rodriguez and he was married two times to Marguerite and Mercedes McPherson.
Teams
Tackle Nebraska
Chicago Bears
1935, Philadelphia Eagles
1935-37, Green Bay Packers
1943-45; St Louis Blues 1943, Wilmington Clippers (Independent) 1937, Los Angeles Bulldogs
(Independent) 1938, St Louis Gunners (AFL) 1939, Los Angeles Bulldogs
(PCFL) 1940-42, 1946-47 Los Angeles Mustangs (PCFL) 1943, Hollywood Bears (PCFL) 1945-1948; Coach- Hollywood Bears 1948, All League (PCFL) 1941-1947.
McPherson was born on October 22, 1911 in Fairbury, Nebraska
Fairbury, Nebraska
Fairbury is a city in Jefferson County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 4,262 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Jefferson County....
. He attended the University of Nebraska and made his professional debut in the NFL in 1935 with the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
until he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
the same year. He played for the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
and Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
over the course of his 10 year career. He also played for the 1938 Los Angeles Bulldogs
Los Angeles Bulldogs
The Los Angeles Bulldogs were a professional American football team that competed from 1936 to 1948...
(Independent,) Los Angeles Dons
Los Angeles Dons
The Los Angeles Dons were an American football team in the now defunct All-America Football Conference from 1946 to 1949 that played in the Los Angeles Coliseum....
, Hollywood Bears. In 1934 he signed with the St Louis Gunners Pro Football Club but did not play with them. During his years as a player, McPherson played next to or against some of the greatest names in NFL history, including Steve Van Buren
Steve Van Buren
Stephen W. Van Buren is a former professional American football halfback who played for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League from 1944–1951, and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.-Early life:...
, Bob Waterfield
Bob Waterfield
Robert "Bob" Stanton Waterfield was an American football player.Waterfield attended Van Nuys High School, in Van Nuys, California and went on to play college football for UCLA. In 1943 he led the Bruins to the Pacific Coast Conference football championship...
, Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch
Elroy Hirsch
Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch was an American football running back and receiver for the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Rockets, nicknamed for his unusual running style.-Early life:...
, and others. He was coached by legends like Earl Louis "Curly" Lambeau
Curly Lambeau
Earl Louis "Curly" Lambeau was founder, player, and first coach of the Green Bay Packers professional American football team...
the founder, a player, and the first coach of the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
also George Halas
George Halas
George Stanley Halas, Sr. , nicknamed "Papa Bear" and "Mr. Everything", was a player, coach, owner and pioneer in professional American football. He was the iconic longtime leader of the NFL's Chicago Bears...
legendary founder of the NFL and Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Forrest won a Championship with the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
in 1944 under coach Lambeau.
One of his nicknames was Aimee, since he shared the same last name with infamous 1940s evangalist Aimee Semple McPherson
Aimee Semple McPherson
Aimee Semple McPherson , also known as Sister Aimee, was a Canadian-American Los Angeles, California evangelist and media celebrity in the 1920s and 1930s. She founded the Foursquare Church...
McPherson had two brothers that played pro football: Elmer out of UCLA and then pro for the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Corwin played for the Hollywood Bears. Forrest had two children Forrest Lee McPherson and Diana Lee Rodriguez and he was married two times to Marguerite and Mercedes McPherson.
Teams
Tackle Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
1935, Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
1935-37, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
1943-45; St Louis Blues 1943, Wilmington Clippers (Independent) 1937, Los Angeles Bulldogs
Los Angeles Bulldogs
The Los Angeles Bulldogs were a professional American football team that competed from 1936 to 1948...
(Independent) 1938, St Louis Gunners (AFL) 1939, Los Angeles Bulldogs
Los Angeles Bulldogs
The Los Angeles Bulldogs were a professional American football team that competed from 1936 to 1948...
(PCFL) 1940-42, 1946-47 Los Angeles Mustangs (PCFL) 1943, Hollywood Bears (PCFL) 1945-1948; Coach- Hollywood Bears 1948, All League (PCFL) 1941-1947.