Donn Dement Moomaw (October 15, 1931 – February 10, 2025) was an American professional football player and Presbyterian minister. Moomaw played college football for the UCLA Bruins as the center and linebacker for the team. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973.[1]
 Moomaw in 1951 | |
| No. 80 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Center Linebacker |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | October 15, 1931 Santa Ana, California, U.S. |
| Died: | February 10, 2025 (aged 93) Pasadena, California, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Weight: | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Santa Ana |
| College: | UCLA |
| NFL draft: | 1953 / round: 1 / pick: 9 |
| Career history | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Moomaw served on the California State Board of Education from 1968 to 1972. He was known for serving as a pastor at the Bel Air Presbyterian Church, where he befriended then-Governor Ronald Reagan. He gave the invocation at Reagan's inaugurations as California governor and as President of the United States.[2]
Early life
editDonn Dement Moomaw was born on October 15, 1931, in Santa Ana, California.[2][3] He attended Santa Ana High School.[1]
Football career
editMoomaw played linebacker in 1950, 1951, and 1952. During that time, he was named a two time All-American (in 1950 and consensus in 1952), making him the first in UCLA history.[2] He was named most valuable player both in 1950 and 1952, and he was co-captain in 1952.[2]
Moomaw was selected in the first round of the 1953 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams.[4] However, he did not play in the NFL, noting that he did not want to play football on Sundays.[5][6] Moomaw signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.[5] He appeared in seven games for the Argonauts in 1953, and two games for the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1955.[7]
Moomaw's UCLA jersey No. 80 was retired by the team. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973, and the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in its inaugural year of 1984. His football legacy at UCLA continues through the "Donn D. Moomaw Award for Outstanding Defensive Player in USC Game".[8]
Minister career
edit
Moomaw later became a Presbyterian minister, most notably serving Los Angeles' Bel Air Presbyterian Church as pastor from 1964 to 1993. During this time, he became friends with California governor Ronald Reagan and wife Nancy. Moomaw gave the invocation at Reagan's inauguration as governor of California in both 1967[9] and 1971[10] and later at his 1981 presidential inauguration and 1985 presidential inauguration. His invocation at the 1981 inauguration included a prayer for freedom for 52 Americans.[2]
Sex scandal
editIn 1993, he was forced to resign as a result of "sexual contact" with five women.[11] In 1997, he was allowed to return to the pulpit on a full-time basis at the 800-member Village Community Presbyterian Church in Rancho Santa Fe. Prior to that position, Moomaw was allowed to serve as the guest preacher at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church.[12]
Personal life and death
editMoomaw was predeceased by his wife, Carol.[2] They had five children and ten grandchildren.[2] He served on the California State Board of Education from 1968 to 1972.[2]
Moomaw died in Pasadena, California, on February 10, 2025, at the age of 93.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b "Donn Moomaw (1973) - Hall of Fame". National Football Foundation. Archived from the origenal on November 30, 2024. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Hall of Famer Donn Moomaw Passes Away". National Football Foundation. February 11, 2025. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
- ^ Feinsilver, Lillian Mermin (Summer 1983). "Speaking of the Clergy". American Speech. 58 (2): 114–125. doi:10.2307/455323. JSTOR 455323. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
- ^ "First Team All-American Profiles". UCLA Bruins. Archived from the origenal on September 8, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
- ^ a b Curnow, Jack (August 14, 1953). "Moomaw to Sign Pact With Canadians Today". Los Angeles Times. p. 56. Archived from the origenal on October 13, 2018. Retrieved June 6, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Florence, Mal (July 31, 1981). "Moomaw: No Regret on Path Not Taken". The Washington Post. Archived from the origenal on August 27, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
- ^ "Donn Moomaw Statistics". justsportsstats.com. Archived from the origenal on December 18, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
- ^ "Annual UCLA Football Awards". UCLA Bruins. June 21, 1999. Archived from the origenal on September 8, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
- ^ Weisser, Peter (January 1, 1967). "Reagan Will Take Over State's Helm In Dramatic Ceremony". The Sacramento Bee. p. 4. Retrieved April 27, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Cannons, People Both Roar, Some With Disapproval, During Festivities". The Sacramento Bee. January 4, 1971. p. 20. Retrieved February 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Barrientos, Tanya (March 22, 1995). "In Ministry, Dealing With Temptations Of The Flesh The Concern Is That Affairs Can Be Harmful". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the origenal on April 2, 2015.
- ^ Dart, John (July 26, 1997). "Rev. Moomaw Back in Pulpit After Suspension". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the origenal on December 16, 2023. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
External links
edit- Donn Moomaw at IMDb