This week in North Central West Virginia history.
Died March 23, 1977 – Known for football and coaching
Joseph Lee Stydahar died on March 23, 1977. He spent his early years in Shinnston, West Virginia, where he attended Shinnston High School. He played football and basketball before enrolling at West Virginia University. In 1936, he became the first lineman drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft. He played nine seasons with the Chicago Bears and helped the team win three championships. He was selected All-Pro five times. Stydahar served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After his playing career, he coached the Los Angeles Rams to a championship in 1951 and later led the Chicago Cardinals. He returned to the Bears as an assistant coach in the 1960s. In 1967, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was buried in Shinnston Memorial Cemetery. Lincoln High School’s sports complex is named Stydahar Field in his honor.
