| Cecil Souders | |
 | |
| Birth: | 3 January 1921 Bucyrus, Ohio, USA |
| Death: | 30 August 2021 Hilliard, Ohio, USA |
| Age: | 100 years, 239 days |
| Country: |  USA
|
| Centenarian | |
Cecil Belvedire "Cy" Souders (3 January 1921 – 30 August 2021) was an American centenarian who, at the time of his death, was the oldest living former NFL player.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Souders was born in Bucyrus, Ohio, USA on 3 January 1921. He played football for Bucyrus High School. He was team captain his senior year and was chosen to play with the Ohio High School All-Stars, which played against the Florida All-Stars in the Kumquat Bowl in St. Petersburg, Florida on 26 December 1938. He was captain of this team which played to a 0-0 tie.
College and military career[]
While at the Kumquat Bowl, Souders was recruited by Louisiana State University and planned to go there on a full scholarship. Returning to Ohio after the game, Ohio State University assistant coach Ernie Godfrey and Cy’s girlfriend, Jean Hoover, convinced him to stay in Ohio and play for OSU. Souders was a three-time college football All-American at OSU from 1942-1946. He also played in two East–West Shrine Games and one All Star game. He had been a member of the Buckeyes' "taxi squad" in 1939, but he left the team and was married. In 1942, he received a letter from new coach Paul Brown, and Souders returned to football, living near the stadium with wife Jean and daughter Sharon.
While on a two-year hiatus from Ohio State, he served in the United States Navy during World War II. He reported for duty during the 1944 season and served into late 1945.
NFL[]
Souders was drafted in the 25th round of the 1945 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins, but ended up playing three years with the Detroit Lions. In 1947 he played in 11 games (starting four) with 15 receptions for 184 yards and his only career touchdown. In 1948 he played in 12 games, starting six, with two receptions for 19 yards. In 1949, he played in 12 games, starting four, with no receptions. He ended his career with 17 receptions for 203 yards.
Personal life[]
Souders and Jean Hoover, who was a Bucyrus High School cheerleader, were married in 1939 in Kentucky. After football, he was a salesman for Suburban Motor Freight Company, managing the Detroit terminal. After 38 years, he became executive vice president, retiring in 1984. In 2002, Souders was inducted into the Ohio State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2016, he was inducted into the inaugural class of the Bucyrus City Schools Hall of Fame As of 2019, Souders and his wife of 80 years, Jean, were living in Avon Park, Florida though later moved back to Ohio.
Souders died in Hilliard, Ohio, USA on 30 August 2021 at the age of 100 years, 239 days.
Gallery[]
References[]
- Cecil Souders National Football League
- 'Fabric of American culture': 100 years later, NFL still kicking The Detroit News, 3 September 2019.
- 99-year-old former Ohio State football player Cy Souders recounts playing under four different head coaches thisweeknews.com, 26 January 2020
- Cecil Souders, former Ohio State national champion, dead at 100 Fox News, 1 September 2021