Chuck DeShane
Encyclopedia
Charles Frederick DeShane (December 10, 1918 - November 5, 2006) was a professional American football
player in the National Football League
for the Detroit Lions
from 1945 to 1949.
, DeShane was the starting
quarterback
for the University of Alabama
in 1939 and 1940 and was named to the All-Southeastern Conference
team his senior season. He coached
football from 1942 to 1944 at his alma mater, Creston High School
(Grand Rapids, Michigan
), before signing with the Lions.
From 1945 to 1946, Deshane played quarterback and linebacker
for the Lions. He played guard
from 1947 to 1949.
during the offseasons. He was married to his wife Evelyn for 31 years and had four children, 14 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. He died in Grand Rapids, Michigan
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
from 1945 to 1949.
Career
Born in Waukesha, WisconsinWaukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha is a city in and the county seat of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, in the Upper Midwest region of the United States. The population was 70,718 at the 2010 census, making it the largest community in the county and 7th largest in the state. The city is located adjacent to the Town of Waukesha...
, DeShane was the starting
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
in 1939 and 1940 and was named to the All-Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
team his senior season. He coached
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
football from 1942 to 1944 at his alma mater, Creston High School
Creston High School (Michigan)
Creston High School opened in 1923 as Creston Junior High School. The first class graduated in 1927.Creston High School is one of the five high schools in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It currently houses around 1045 students and around 55 teachers making the teacher to student ratio about 1:19, a little...
(Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
), before signing with the Lions.
From 1945 to 1946, Deshane played quarterback and linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the Lions. He played guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
from 1947 to 1949.
Personal life
DeShane was also a railroad conductorConductor (transportation)
A conductor is a member of a railway train's crew that is responsible for operational and safety duties that do not involve the actual operation of the train. The title of conductor is most associated with railway operations in North America, but the role of conductor is common to railways...
during the offseasons. He was married to his wife Evelyn for 31 years and had four children, 14 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. He died in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
.