Ki Aldrich
Encyclopedia
Charles Collins "Ki" Aldrich (June 1, 1916 – March 12, 1983) was an American football
player. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1960.
and attended high school in Temple, Texas
. He was an All-America
n center
at Texas Christian University
in Fort Worth, Texas
. At TCU, he played alongside two legendary quarterbacks — Sammy Baugh
and Davey O'Brien
. Aldrich's senior year, 1938, the Horned Frogs
won the National Championship, finishing 11-0 and winning the Sugar Bowl
.
made Aldrich the first selection in the 1939 NFL Draft
, in which his TCU teammates O'Brien and I. B. Hale
also were selected in the top ten. He played two seasons for the Cardinals before moving to the Washington Redskins
. After two seasons in Washington, he left to serve in the Navy
during World War II
. He returned to the Redskins in 1945, and retired in 1947.
.
, said of Aldrich: "That boy wanted to play football more than anyone I ever knew." Baugh called him "the toughest player I ever knew." Aldrich was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1960 and was named to the Southwest Conference's All-Time Team in 1969.
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. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1960.
Early life
Aldrich was born in Rogers, TexasRogers, Texas
Rogers is a town in Bell County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,117 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Killeen–Temple–Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and attended high school in Temple, Texas
Temple, Texas
Temple is a city in Bell County, Texas, United States. Located near the county seat of Belton, Temple lies in the region referred to as Central Texas. Located off Interstate 35, Temple is 65 miles north of Austin and 34 miles south of Waco. In the 2010 Census, Temple's population was 66,102, an...
. He was an All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n 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...
at Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
. At TCU, he played alongside two legendary quarterbacks — Sammy Baugh
Sammy Baugh
Samuel Adrian "Slingin' Sammy" Baugh was an American football player and coach. He played college football for the Horned Frogs at Texas Christian University, where he was a two-time All-American. He then played in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins from 1937 to 1952...
and Davey O'Brien
Davey O'Brien
Robert David O'Brien was an American football quarterback in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at Texas Christian University and was drafted in the first round of the 1939 NFL Draft. In 1938, O'Brien won the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, and the...
. Aldrich's senior year, 1938, the Horned Frogs
TCU Horned Frogs
The TCU Horned Frogs are the athletic teams that represent Texas Christian University, consisting of 18 varsity teams. The "horned frog" nickname and mascot refer to the Texas horned lizard, as known as the "horned frog". The women's athletics teams are often referred to often as the Lady Frogs...
won the National Championship, finishing 11-0 and winning the Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
.
Professional career
The Chicago CardinalsArizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
made Aldrich the first selection in the 1939 NFL Draft
1939 NFL Draft
The 1939 National Football League Draft was held on December 9, 1938.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round Two:-Round Three:-Round Four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
, in which his TCU teammates O'Brien and I. B. Hale
I. B. Hale
Insall Bailey "I. B." Hale was an American football offensive tackle at Texas Christian University who was voted an All-American. He was drafted in the first round of the 1939 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins, but never played football professionally.Hale later became a FBI agent in Fort...
also were selected in the top ten. He played two seasons for the Cardinals before moving to the Washington 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,...
. After two seasons in Washington, he left to serve in the Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He returned to the Redskins in 1945, and retired in 1947.
After football
After retiring from football, Aldirch served as the superintendent at the Lena Pope Orphanage in Ft. Worth, Texas. His first wife was the daughter of the founder. He died March 12, 1983 in Temple, TexasTemple, Texas
Temple is a city in Bell County, Texas, United States. Located near the county seat of Belton, Temple lies in the region referred to as Central Texas. Located off Interstate 35, Temple is 65 miles north of Austin and 34 miles south of Waco. In the 2010 Census, Temple's population was 66,102, an...
.
Legacy
His coach at TCU, Dutch MeyerDutch Meyer
Leo R. "Dutch" Meyer was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Texas Christian University from 1934 to 1952, compiling a record of 109–79–13. His TCU Horned Frogs football teams of 1935 and 1938 have been recognized...
, said of Aldrich: "That boy wanted to play football more than anyone I ever knew." Baugh called him "the toughest player I ever knew." Aldrich was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1960 and was named to the Southwest Conference's All-Time Team in 1969.