Bob McCreary
{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1939)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Bob McCreary
| image =
| caption =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lbs = 256
| position = Offensive tackle
| number = 70
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1939|6|20}}
| birth_place = Lenoir, North Carolina, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| draftyear = 1961
| draftround = 5
| draftpick = 65
| high_school = Hudson
(Hudson, North Carolina)
| college = Wake Forest (1957–1960)
| pastteams =
- San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|1961}})*
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|1961}}–{{NFL Year|1962}})
- Calgary Stampeders ({{CFL Year|1963}})
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 9
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 4
| pfr = McCrBo21
| highlights =
}}
Bobby Joe McCreary (born June 20, 1939) is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Wake Forest University.
Early years
McCreary attended Hudson High School in Hudson, North Carolina. Although he never played football before his freshman season, he developed into an honorable-mention All-state football player as a senior. He also played basketball.
McCreary accepted a football scholarship from Wake Forest University. After sustaining a career-threatening knee injury as a freshman in 1958 (torn medial collateral ligament), he recovered to become a two-way offensive and defensive tackle.{{cite web| url=http://www.deaconclub.com/donor-spotlights/bob-mccreary/ | title=Bob McCreary bio | accessdate=February 3, 2018}}
Professional career
=San Francisco 49ers=
McCreary was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round (65th overall) of the 1961 NFL draft. He was waived on September 4.{{cite web| url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/51962930/ | title=Forty Niners Cut Four Linemen | accessdate=February 3, 2018}}
=Dallas Cowboys=
On September 6, 1961, McCreary was signed by the Dallas Cowboys.{{cite web| url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/61190874/ | title=Dallas Grabs Two Players Cut By SF | accessdate=February 3, 2018}} He began the season on the taxi squad, before being promoted to the active roster on October 20.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19611021&id=xswVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HhEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1702,251219 | title=Dallas Adds Rookie | accessdate=February 3, 2018}} McCreary appeared in nine games, with four starts at right tackle. He was released on September 3, 1962.{{cite web| url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/45377545/ | title=Bob Lilly Rejoin Cowboys | accessdate=February 3, 2018}}
=Calgary Stampeders (CFL)=
In 1963, McCreary was signed by the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL.
Personal life
After retiring from professional football, McCreary worked for twenty years in sales in the furniture industry, before starting his own home-furnishing business, McCreary Modern in 1986.
In 2008, he received the Gene Hooks Achievement Award from the Wake Forest Varsity Club.{{cite web| url=https://godeacs.com/news/2008/9/27/Bob_McCreary_Receives_Gene_Hooks_Achievement_Award.aspx | title=Bob McCreary Receives Gene Hooks Achievement Award | accessdate=February 3, 2018}} In 2013, McCreary was inducted into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame.{{cite web| url=https://godeacs.com/hof.aspx?hof=135 | title=Hall of Fame Inductees | accessdate=February 3, 2018}} McCreary has also been inducted into the Caldwell County Sports Hall of Fame.
In 2014, McCreary committed $7.5 million to Wake Forest University football's indoor practice facility project. The facility was declared to be named in honor of McCreary.{{cite web| url=https://godeacs.com/news/2014/7/1/Wake_Forest_To_Break_Ground_On_McCreary_Indoor_Center.aspx | title=Wake Forest To Break Ground On McCreary Indoor Center | accessdate=February 3, 2018}} The plaza outside gate 1 at Truist Field and video board inside the stadium are also named for McCreary, as is the strength and conditioning center.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://www.wfu.edu/stories/2017/man-behind-name/ The Man Behind the Name]
{{49ers1961DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCreary, Bob}}
Category:People from Caldwell County, North Carolina
Category:People from Lenoir, North Carolina
Category:Players of American football from North Carolina
Category:American football offensive tackles
Category:Wake Forest Demon Deacons football players