John Daniel Foldberg (April 22, 1928 – May 30, 2002) was an American military officer and football player. He played as an end for the Army Cadets at the United States Military Academy. Army head coach Earl Blaik rated him the best end he had ever coached. He was selected in the 1951 NFL draft, but pursued a 27-year military career. Foldberg served as an infantry officer in the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
| Career information | |
|---|---|
| Position(s) | End |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| College | Army |
| NFL draft | 1951, round: 22, pick: 261 |
| Drafted by | Detroit Lions |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Early life
editJohn Daniel Foldberg was born in Texas on April 22, 1928.[1] He attended Sunset High School in Dallas, Texas, where he played basketball as part of the 1944 state championship team.[2] His older brother, Hank, played football at Texas A&M before transferring to West Point where he was named a consensus All-American in 1946, and graduated from West Point in 1947.[3][4]
West Point
editLike his brother, Dan Foldberg also attended the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. He played football there as an end, and during the 1948 season, Foldberg was described as a consistently impressive player on what was a dominating Army team. The Cadets' only close game that year was a 14–13 victory over Penn. One source described the Army team as "the nearest thing to a paragon of perfection in the East."[5] That same year, Foldberg was named a United Press second-team All-American. For his senior year in 1950, Foldberg returned as the Cadet's only starting offensive lineman and was named the team captain.[6] That year, he was named a first-team All-American by unanimous consensus.[7]
During the 1950 season, legendary Army head coach Earl Blaik called Foldberg the best end he had ever coach.[8] Foldberg finished eighth in the vote for the Heisman Trophy, which is awarded annually to college football's most outstanding player.[9] Foldberg was invited to participate in the 1950 Blue–Gray Classic all-star game, where he served as the captain of the Rebel squad.[10]
Foldberg also played on the Army lacrosse team as a defenseman.[11] The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA), the college sport's governing body, named him a second-team All-American as senior in 1951.[12] Foldberg graduated from West Point as a member of the Class of 1951.[13]
Military career
editFoldberg was selected in the 22nd round of the 1951 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions as the 261st overall pick,[14] but remained in the Army as a career officer. He received his commission into the Infantry branch, and served in the 15th Infantry in the Korean War from 1952 to 1953. Foldberg was then assigned as cadre at Ranger School, from 1954 to 1956, and Airborne School, from 1956 to 1958. He returned to West Point to work as a tac officer from 1965 to 1967. Between 1967 and 1968, he served as the executive officer of 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, and the commanding officer of 1/501st Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. In the Republic of Viet Nam, he served as a battalion commander and the G3 operations officer in the 5th Infantry Division, and he was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart. In 1978, having attained the rank of colonel, Foldberg retired from the military to Tulsa, Oklahoma.[1]
Death
editDan Foldberg died on May 30, 2002, at the age of 74.[15]
References
edit- ^ a b Register of Graduates and Former Cadets of the United States Military Academy, 1999, p. 4–214.
- ^ Team Narratives, Texas Basketball Championships, retrieved May 15, 2009.
- ^ Hank Foldberg Archived July 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, For What They Gave on Saturday Afternoon, retrieved May 15, 2009.
- ^ Texas A&M, The Helmet Hut, retrieved May 15, 2009.
- ^ Army, The Helmet Hut, retrieved May 15, 2009.
- ^ Black Knight Platoons Storm Stadium Today, The Harvard Crimson, October 21, 1950.
- ^ 2007 NCAA Division Football Records Book, National Collegiate Athletic Association, p. 218, 2007.
- ^ Blaik Has His Problems, But Cadets Still Look Like National Champions, The Harvard Crimson, October 21, 1950.
- ^ 1950 Archived July 1, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Heisman.com, retrieved May 15, 2009.
- ^ Weather Factor in Blue-Gray, Ellensburg Daily Record, December 29, 1950.
- ^ Dave Pietramala, et al, Lacrosse: Technique and Tradition, p. 17, Baltimore: JHU Press, 2006, ISBN 0-8018-8410-1.
- ^ 1951 Men's All-Americans, United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association, retrieved May 15, 2009.
- ^ Dan Foldberg, For What They Gave on Saturday Afternoon, retrieved May 15, 2009.
- ^ Army Drafted Players, Pro Football Reference, retrieved May 15, 2009.
- ^ "John Daniel Foldberg". West-Point. Retrieved November 6, 2023.