On Tuesday, the National Football Foundation announced the 2013 College Football Hall of Fame class. Included in the 12-member group is one of the best players in the history of Kentucky football: Steve Meilinger. The former UK star becomes the fourth Wildcat to be named to the College Football Hall of Fame.We just posted a release with details on Meilinger’s career and hope to have a feature on him Wednesday. In the mean time, here’s his hall of fame bio from the National Football Foundation:
One of the most acclaimed two-way stars of the mid-20th century, Steve Meilinger gained fame as “Mr. Anywhere” for his versatility and value to the Kentucky football program. He becomes the fourth Wildcat to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.The two-time First-Team All-America (1952, 1953) selection, under Hall of Fame head coach Bear Bryant, Meilinger led Kentucky to victory in the 1952 Cotton Bowl over TCU. The three-year All-Southeastern Conference honoree played end, halfback and quarterback on offense, while covering end, linebacker and defensive back on defense. He also served as the Wildcats’ two-year starting punter while returning punts and kickoffs. A first round selection by the Washington Redskins in the 1954 NFL Draft, Meilinger played six seasons in the league for the Redskins, Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers. He spent the entirety of his non-football life in military or public service. Immediately following his selection by the Redskins, Meilinger served two years as a tank commander in the U.S. Army’s 100th Tank Battalion of the 1st Armored Division before embarking on his pro football career. From 1962-83, Meilinger was a United States Marshal, and he was one of the original six marshals who founded the U.S. Federal Witness Protection Program. He also served two stints as a property valuation officer for the state of Kentucky.The Bethlehem, Pa., native is a member of the State of Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame, the University of Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame, the Fork Union Military Academy Hall of Fame, the Lehigh Valley (Penn.) Hall of Fame and the Liberty High School Hall of Fame.
Also, check out Mark Story’s piece in the Lexington Herald-Leader on Meilinger’s time at quarterback from a few years ago.
