Joe Wendryhoski
Encyclopedia
Joseph Stanley "Joe" Wendryhoski (March 1, 1939 – November 6, 2008) was a professional American football
player who played guard
for five seasons in the National Football League
.
Wendryhoski was born on March 1, 1939 in West Frankfort, Illinois
, where he attended West Frankfort High School. He played college football at the University of Illinois
from 1958 to 1961 and was voted all-Big Ten Conference
in 1960.
At 6 feet (1.8 m), 2-inches tall and 245 pounds, Wendryhoski played Center
, Guard
and Offensive guard. He played briefly for the BC Lions
of the Canadian Football League
and was drafted by the Chicago Bears
in 1964 before being traded to the Rams. He played for the Los Angeles Rams for three seasons, from 1964 to 1966, appearing in a total of 31 games for the team. Selected by the team in the 1967 NFL Expansion Draft
, he was an inaugural member of the New Orleans Saints
, playing for the team in both 1967 and 1968 and played every offensive snap
as the starting center under head coach Tom Fears
, appearing in 14 games each season with the Saints. He recovered a fumble for the Saints in 1968, the only fumble recovery of his career.
Wendryhoski, along with several of his Saints teammates, appeared in the film Number One
, which starred Charlton Heston
as a fading New Orleans quarterback.
After retiring from the Saints, Wendryhoski served as a Vice President for the Saints Hall of Fame Museum (now located in the Louisiana Superdome
) from its inception in 1988. Wendryhoski lived in Metairie, Louisiana
, where he ran a real estate business, and also had a residence in Wisconsin.
He died at age 69 on November 6, 2008 after a short illness in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin
, after having battled with cancer.
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 who 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....
for five seasons 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...
.
Wendryhoski was born on March 1, 1939 in West Frankfort, Illinois
West Frankfort, Illinois
West Frankfort is a city in Franklin County, Illinois, USA. The population was 8,182 at the 2010 census. The city is part of the Metro Lakeland area.-History:...
, where he attended West Frankfort High School. He played college football at the University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
from 1958 to 1961 and was voted all-Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
in 1960.
At 6 feet (1.8 m), 2-inches tall and 245 pounds, Wendryhoski played Center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
, 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....
and Offensive guard. He played briefly for the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
and was drafted by the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1964 before being traded to the Rams. He played for the Los Angeles Rams for three seasons, from 1964 to 1966, appearing in a total of 31 games for the team. Selected by the team in the 1967 NFL Expansion Draft
1967 NFL Expansion Draft
The 1967 National Football League Expansion Draft was a National Football League draft in which a new expansion team, named the New Orleans Saints, selected its first players. On November 1, 1966, , NFL owners awarded its 16th team franchise to the city of New Orleans, Louisiana...
, he was an inaugural member of the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
, playing for the team in both 1967 and 1968 and played every offensive snap
Snap (football)
A snap starts each American football and Canadian football play from scrimmage.-Action:...
as the starting center under head coach Tom Fears
Tom Fears
Thomas Jesse Fears was a Mexican-American football wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams in the National Football League, playing nine seasons from 1948 to 1956.-Early life:...
, appearing in 14 games each season with the Saints. He recovered a fumble for the Saints in 1968, the only fumble recovery of his career.
Wendryhoski, along with several of his Saints teammates, appeared in the film Number One
Number One (1969 film)
Number One is a 1969 American film released by United Artists and directed by Tom Gries.The film stars Charlton Heston as Ron "Cat" Catlan, aging quarterback for the New Orleans Saints and Jessica Walter as his wife. Musician Al Hirt plays himself, as do several real-life members of the 1968 Saints...
, which starred Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston was an American actor of film, theatre and television. Heston is known for heroic roles in films such as The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, El Cid, and Planet of the Apes...
as a fading New Orleans quarterback.
After retiring from the Saints, Wendryhoski served as a Vice President for the Saints Hall of Fame Museum (now located in the Louisiana Superdome
Louisiana Superdome
The Mercedes-Benz Superdome, previously known as the Louisiana Superdome and colloquially known as the Superdome, is a sports and exhibition arena located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA...
) from its inception in 1988. Wendryhoski lived in Metairie, Louisiana
Metairie, Louisiana
Metairie is a census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States and is a major part of the New Orleans Metropolitan Area. Metairie is the largest community in Jefferson Parish. It is an unincorporated area that would be larger than most of the state's cities if it were...
, where he ran a real estate business, and also had a residence in Wisconsin.
He died at age 69 on November 6, 2008 after a short illness in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin
Twin Lakes, Wisconsin
Twin Lakes is a village in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 5,124 at the 2000 census.Lake Elizabeth and Lake Mary are the twin lakes.-Geography:Twin Lakes is located at ....
, after having battled with cancer.