William McGarvey Dudley (1921 - 2010)

Born 24 Dec 1921 in Bluefield, Tazewell, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Louise (Leininger) Dudley — married 29 Jul 1947 in Lynchburg, Virginia

Died 4 Feb 2010 at age 88 in Lynchburg, Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Marshall Satterwhite [send private message]

Biography

William Dudley was born in Appalachia, in Virginia. See Appalachia Project.

From wikipedia: "William McGarvey Dudley (December 24, 1921 – February 4, 2010), nicknamed "Bullet Bill", was an American football halfback, safety and return specialist who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Detroit Lions, and the Washington Redskins. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966 and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1972.

Dudley was born in Bluefield, Virginia and attended Graham High School. He made the football team his junior year, and in 1938 he kicked a 35-yard field goal in the season's finale and helped Graham beat favored Princeton High School, 10–7.

At the age of 16, Dudley was awarded an athletic scholarship by the University of Virginia football team by coach Frank Murray. As a result, he received a $500 grant, out of which he paid for room, board, and books. He also pledged and became a brother of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Although he was originally slated as a punter and placekicker, Dudley eventually came to play the halfback position. In his sophomore year, he began as the fifth back on the depth chart but, due to a teammate's injury, played several games.

By his third year, Dudley started every game and was the Southern Conference's leader in total offensive yards. He was also successful in his senior year, particularly during a game against the University of North Carolina. In that game, Dudley scored all three touchdowns for Virginia and kicked four extra points. That season, he became the first Virginia player to earn All-American honors and was awarded the Maxwell Award for best college football player of the year. He was also named the best college player of the year by the Washington D.C. Touchdown Club.Dudley also led the nation in four categories: touchdowns with 18; points scored with 134; rushing average with 6.2 yards a play; and touchdowns responsible for with 29.After the season, he played in the East–West Shrine Game, where he intercepted four passes and threw for his team's touchdown in a 6–6 tie. He also played in the College All-Star Game in Chicago."

Sources

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/GXZZ-HWV

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Dudley

• Cite This Record
• "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J5PY-M5S : 12 January 2021), William M Dudley, 04 Feb 2010; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).

• Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
  Find A Grave: Memorial #47580514 (accessed 12 March 2024)
  Memorial page for Bill “Bullet” Dudley (24 Dec 1921-4 Feb 2010), citing Spring Hill Cemetery, Lynchburg, Lynchburg City, Virginia, USA (plot: Section 104); Maintained by Find a Grave.

posted by D. Marshall Satterwhite.