Paul Hornung

Paul Vernon Hornung (born December 23, 1935 in Louisville, Kentucky) was an outstanding all-around athlete who played college basketball but is best known as an American football player.

Off the field

Obliged to serve in the United States Military, Hornung was called up to active duty in the army during the 1961 season but was able to get weekend leave to play on Sundays. His coach, Vince Lombardi was a friend of the then President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, and the president arranged an army furlough so Hornung could play in the NFL championship game against the New York Giants.

Related Topics:
United States Military - Vince Lombardi - President of the United States - John F. Kennedy - New York Giants

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Idolized by fans, and wealthy from numerous commercial endorsements, Paul Hornung enjoyed his success and the good life that fame and money brought. On more than one occasion, he was fined by his team?s coach for staying out past curfew. He is famously quoted as having once said: Never get married in the morning - you never know who you might meet that night.

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His penchant for high-living would prove disastrous when, in 1963, a major scandal erupted and Paul Hornung and another of the league's top stars, Alex Karras of the Detroit Lions, were suspended from football indefinitely for betting on games and associating with undesirable persons. Forthright in admitting to his mistake, Hornung's image went relatively untarnished, and in 1964 his suspension (and that of Karras as well) was re-evaluated by the League and Hornung returned to play for the Packers for another three seasons before injury problems forced him to retire at the end of the 1966 season.

Related Topics:
1963 - Alex Karras - Detroit Lions - 1964 - 1966

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Following his retirement he entered the business world, primarily as a real estate investor, but remained involved with professional football as the producer and host of a nationally televised sports program. He also did commentary on television broadcasts of college football for several years to a generally favorable reception.

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During a radio interview on March 30, 2004, Hornung, speaking about the recent lack of football success at Notre Dame, said, "We can't stay as strict as we are as far as the academic structure is concerned because we've got to get the black athletes. We must get the black athletes if we're going to compete." The response was immediate. The University replied with, "We strongly disagree with the thesis of his remarks. They are generally insensitive and specifically insulting to our past and current African-American student-athletes."

Related Topics:
Radio - March 30 - 2004 - Black

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Hornung said that he wasn't differentiating between races. "We need better ball players, black and white, at Notre Dame."

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Hornung wrote an autobiography, "Golden Boy", published in 2004. It covers a great deal of his early life and personal experiences that had not previously been publicized during his active career.

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