John Benjamin Hightower (December 5, 1918 – January 1, 2003) was an American football player.
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| Personal information | |||||
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| Born: | December 5, 1918 Beaumont, Texas, U.S. | ||||
| Died: | January 1, 2003 (aged 84) Austin, Texas, U.S. | ||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 184 lb (83 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Beaumont | ||||
| College: | Sam Houston State | ||||
| Position: | End | ||||
| NFL draft: | 1942 / round: 11 / pick: 92 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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Hightower was born in Beaumont, Texas, in 1918. He attended Beaumont High School and played college football at Sam Houston State from 1938 to 1941.[1] He was also a champion hurdler for the Sam Houston track team.[2]
He was selected by the Cleveland Rams with the 92nd pick of the 1942 NFL draft.[3] He played as an end for the Rams, on both offense and defense, during the 1942 season. He appeared in 10 games for the Rams, two as a starter, caught 19 passes for 317 yards and scored three touchdowns.[1]
In 1943, he was a starting end for the Detroit Lions. He appeared in eight games for the Lions, seven as a starter, and caught 10 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown.[1][3] His 1943 season ended early when he was had a recurrence with malaria from which he was first stricken in high school.[4][5]
Hightower missed the 1944 and 1946 seasons while serving in the United States Navy during World War II.[2] He played for the Camp Peary football team in 1944 and was selected as a first-team end on the Associated Press Mid-Atlantic Service team.[6]
After the war, he coached football at Sam Houston.[2] He also played during the 1946 season in the Pacific Coast Football League for the Los Angeles Bulldogs and Hollywood Bears.[1]
Hightower was married for 62 years. He lived in Austin, Texas, from 1960 until his death 2003 at age 84. He worked as a real estate professional working with ranch and far properties. He was inducted into the Sam Houston Bearkat Hall off Fame in 1989.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Ben Hightower". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
- ^ a b c d "John Benjamin Hightower". Austin American-Statesman. January 5, 2004. p. B4 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Ben Hightower". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
- ^ "Lion End Malaria Victim; Advance Sub". The Lansing State Journal. October 22, 1943. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ John N. Sabo (October 22, 1943). "Jack Matheson Gets Chance with Lions: Ex-Bronco Will Replace Hightower; Attack of Malaria Lays Star End Low". Detroit Free Press. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "All-Mid Atlantic Service". Charlotte Observer. December 5, 1944. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.