Jim Musick
Encyclopedia
James Andrew Musick was an American football
running back
in the National Football League
for the Boston Redskins
from 1932 through 1936. He led the NFL in rushing in 1933.
to a family of some notoriety. Other famous relatives include authors John R. Musick
and Ruth Ann Musick
, as well as painter Archie Musick
. His family moved to southern California when Jim was a young boy. After attending Santa Ana High School Musick played college football
at the University of Southern California
from 1929 to 1931. It was at USC he earned the nickname "Sweet" Musick as he helped lead the Trojans to two Rose Bowl
victories and a national championship in 1931. Musick ranks 17th on the Trojans all-time career rushing list with 393 carries for 1,605 yards. While at USC Musick even had a brief flirtation with Hollywood, having an uncredited role along with fellow Trojan players and former player John Wayne
in the 1932 movie That's My Boy
) where he would play for four seasons. Musick led the NFL in rushing in 1933 with 173 carries for 809 yards, an average of 4.7 yards per carry, along with five touchdowns. For these accomplishments he was named to the 1933 NFL All-Star Team. Musick returned to the Redskins in 1935 only to suffer a season-ending knee injury three weeks into the season. In a bid to earn new contract with more money, Musick refused to report for training camp in 1936. The Redskins would not give into the demands and waived Musick. Picked up off waivers by the Green Bay Packers
in 1937 Musick prepared to report for training camp however he reinjured the knee while playing badminton two weeks prior to camp, effectively ending his NFL career.
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...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
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 Boston Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
from 1932 through 1936. He led the NFL in rushing in 1933.
Early life and college career
Jim Musick was born May 5, 1910 in Kirksville, MissouriKirksville, Missouri
Kirksville is the county seat of Adair County, Missouri, United States. It is located in Benton Township. The population was 17,505 at the 2010 census. Kirksville also anchors a micropolitan area that comprises Adair and Schuyler counties. The city is perhaps best known as the location of Truman...
to a family of some notoriety. Other famous relatives include authors John R. Musick
John R. Musick
John Roy Musick was an American historical author and poet best known for his Columbian Historical Novels.-Early life:Born in St. Louis County, Missouri on February 28, 1849, the son of Ephraim and Mary Musick. While a small boy his family moved to Adair County, Missouri where he received his...
and Ruth Ann Musick
Ruth Ann Musick
Ruth Ann Musick was an American author and folklorist specializing in West Virginia. She was the sister of artist Archie Musick and niece of author John R...
, as well as painter Archie Musick
Archie Musick
Archie Leroy Musick was an American painter. He studied under Thomas Hart Benton, Stanton MacDonald-Wright, and Boardman Robinson.- Early life and family:...
. His family moved to southern California when Jim was a young boy. After attending Santa Ana High School Musick played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
from 1929 to 1931. It was at USC he earned the nickname "Sweet" Musick as he helped lead the Trojans to two Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
victories and a national championship in 1931. Musick ranks 17th on the Trojans all-time career rushing list with 393 carries for 1,605 yards. While at USC Musick even had a brief flirtation with Hollywood, having an uncredited role along with fellow Trojan players and former player John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
in the 1932 movie That's My Boy
That's My Boy (1932 film)
That's My Boy is a 1932 film that stars Richard Cromwell and Dorothy Jordan. It features John Wayne in an uncredited role as a football player.-Cast:* Richard Cromwell - Tommy Jefferson Scott* Dorothy Jordan - Dorothy Whitney* Mae Marsh - Mom Scott...
Professional career
After graduation from USC in 1932, Musick signed with the Boston Redskins (now the Washington RedskinsWashington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
) where he would play for four seasons. Musick led the NFL in rushing in 1933 with 173 carries for 809 yards, an average of 4.7 yards per carry, along with five touchdowns. For these accomplishments he was named to the 1933 NFL All-Star Team. Musick returned to the Redskins in 1935 only to suffer a season-ending knee injury three weeks into the season. In a bid to earn new contract with more money, Musick refused to report for training camp in 1936. The Redskins would not give into the demands and waived Musick. Picked up off waivers by the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
in 1937 Musick prepared to report for training camp however he reinjured the knee while playing badminton two weeks prior to camp, effectively ending his NFL career.
Post NFL
While still a professional football player, Jim Musick began working in the offseason as a deputy for the Orange County (California) Sheriffs Department. After retirement from the NFL Musick took up law enforcement full-time except for a period during World War II when he served as a US Marine officer. In 1947 Musick won election to the first of seven consecutive terms as Orange County Sheriff, remaining at the post until retirement in 1975. Jim Musick died December 15, 1992 at a Santa Ana, California nursing home.Honors
- Named to the 1933 National Football League All-Star team.
- Inducted into the Orange County Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.
- The James A. Musick Facility, part of the Orange County Sheriff's Department, is named for him.