Bob Whitlow

{{Infobox NFL biography

| image =

| number = 66, 61, 51, 53

| position = Center

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1936|2|15|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Shelbyville, Indiana, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2020|10|23|1936|2|15}}

| death_place = Forsyth County, Georgia, U.S.

| high_school = Bloomington (IN)

| college = Compton JC
Arizona Wildcats

| pastteams =

Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|1960}})*
Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|1960}}–{{NFL Year|1961}})
Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|1961}}–{{NFL Year|1965}})
Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|1966}})
Los Angeles Rams ({{NFL Year|1967}})*
Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|1968}})*
Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|1968}})

| statlabel1 = Games played

| statvalue1 = 100

| highlights =

Indiana Football Hall of Fame (2000)
Monroe County, Indiana Sports Hall of Fame (2012)

| pfr = WhitBo24

}}

Robert Edward Whitlow (February 15, 1936 – October 23, 2020) was an American professional football player who was a center in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, and Cleveland Browns. He played college football for the Arizona Wildcats.

Early life

Whitlow was born in Shelbyville, Indiana and attended Bloomington High School in Bloomington, Indiana, where he played high school football and participated in track and field as a shot putter.{{Cite web|title=Northview Track and Field Coaches|url=http://titanstrackandfield.com/Page.asp?n=72986&org=northviewtrackandfield.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725013445/http://titanstrackandfield.com/Page.asp?n=72986&org=northviewtrackandfield.com|archive-date=2015-07-25|access-date=2015-07-24|work=Northview High School}}

College and military career

After high school, Whitlow attended and played college football at Compton Junior College in Compton, California, before transferring to the University of Arizona.{{Cite web|work=Indiana Football Hall of Fame|url=http://www.indiana-football.org/?q=node/700|title=WHITLOW, ROBERT|access-date=2015-07-24}} He was also a shot putter in college. He left college in 1957 and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.

Professional career

After serving with the Marines, Whitlow qualified for the Summer Olympics trials in shot put, but decided to play football instead.{{cite news |last1=Rosenberg |first1=I.J. |title=Whatever happened to: Bob Whitlow |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/football/whatever-happened-bob-whitlow/lFYJG5L9yhV3lRC7haQsIP/ |newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=22 October 2021}} He signed with the Chicago Bears in 1960, but was then traded to the Washington Redskins. Midway through the 1961 season, he was traded to the Detroit Lions, where he played through 1965 and played every offensive down in 1962 and 1963. Whitlow was then traded to the Atlanta Falcons during their inaugural 1966 season. He was then traded to the Los Angeles Rams for undisclosed draft picks, but never played for the Rams.{{cite news|title=Rams, Falcons Trade|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19670718&id=uVA0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=dH4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6381,4214765&hl=en|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|date=July 18, 1967|page=10|access-date=July 24, 2015|archive-date=May 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512232537/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19670718&id=uVA0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=dH4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6381,4214765&hl=en|url-status=dead}}{{cite news |title=Rams Drop Former Star Trojan Back|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19670831&id=imtWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=B-kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2587,4726986&hl=en|newspaper=The Spokesman-Review|date=August 31, 1967|page=7|access-date=July 24, 2015}} In 1968, he was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers, but was waived before the end of the offseason.{{cite news |title=Several Veterans Among Players Cut|first=Mike|last=Bryson|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19680827&id=xtpNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=24oDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5870,5827323&hl=en|newspaper=The Free Lance–Star|date=August 27, 1968|page=20|access-date=July 24, 2015}} He was then signed by the Cleveland Browns and played for them for one season snapping for all placekicks and punts, but then had to retire after a hernia operation.{{cite news |title=Former Pro Gridder Whitlow Finds New Sport|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Q5oeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Qs0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=5718,5821218&hl=en|newspaper=Spartanburg Herald-Journal|date=July 29, 1973|page=B2|access-date=July 24, 2015}} He attempted to make a comeback in 1974 with the World Football League's Portland Storm, but failed.{{cite news|last=Miegoc|first=Joe|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pocono-record-for-bob-whitlow-life/141829846/|title=For Bob Whitlow, life is racing and football|newspaper=Pocono Record|via=Newspapers.com|date=April 26, 1974|access-date=February 21, 2024}}

During the Lions' 1963 season, Whitlow was the center for George Plimpton when Plimpton was practicing and playing with the team for the Sports Illustrated article that became the book Paper Lion.{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S9TZAAAAMAAJ&q=whitlow | title=Paper Lion| isbn=9780060915407| last1=Plimpton| first1=George| year=1988}}

Racing career

{{Infobox NASCAR driver

| Total_Cup_Races = 2

| Years_In_Cup = 2

| Cup_Car_Team =

| Prev_Cup_Pos =

| Prev_Cup_Year =

| Best_Cup_Pos = 92nd (1973)

| First_Cup_Race = 1973 Alamo 500 (Texas World)

| Last_Cup_Race = 1974 Yankee 400 (Michigan)

| First_Cup_Win =

| Last_Cup_Win =

| Cup_Wins = 0

| Cup_Top_Tens = 0

| Cup_Poles = 0

}}

A longtime racing fan who idolized Richard Petty and A. J. Foyt, Whitlow became interested in dabbling in a racing career when he was still with the Lions, though the team and his wife forbade him from pursuing it. After retiring from football, he purchased a 1970 Dodge Charger and received a helmet from New Orleans Saints owner John W. Mecom Jr., who previously ran the Mecom Racing Team. He raced with No. 51 as a nod to his number from his playing days.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/corpus-christi-caller-times-bob-whitlow/141829503/|title=Bob Whitlow is passing cars now, not footballs|agency=AP|newspaper=Corpus Christi Caller-Times|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 29, 1973|access-date=February 21, 2024}}

He explained in July 1973 that "racing and football have some of the same organizations. You've got to have organization to win in either sport. You've got to think about what you're going to do, and you have to be able to analyze what you're doing wrong."{{cite news|last=Reinhard|first=Paul|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call-allison-would-be-surpri/141829705/|title=Allison Would Be Surprised If He Got Pole Today|newspaper=The Morning Call|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 28, 1973|access-date=February 21, 2024}} Otherwise, he stressed "there is simply no comparison" between the two sports.

Whitlow made his racing debut in United States Auto Club (USAC) stock cars at Texas World Speedway in April 1973, where he finished 20th and 20 laps behind winner Gordon Johncock.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/bryan-college-station-eagle-stock-result/141829748/|title=Stock Results|newspaper=The Bryan-College Station Eagle|via=Newspapers.com|date=April 8, 1973|access-date=February 21, 2024}} In June, he entered the NASCAR Winston Cup Series race there in a Ford Torino and placed 21st.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-durham-sun-former-gridder-in-stock-c/141829732/|title=Former Gridder In Stock Car Race|agency=AP|newspaper=The Durham Sun|date=June 7, 1973|access-date=February 21, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1973_Alamo_500/W/|title=1973 Alamo 500|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=February 21, 2024}}

Coaching career

Whitlow was an assistant basketball coach for two seasons at Oakland Community College from 1986-1988.{{Cite news|date=1988-08-20|title=Bob Whitlow Madonna Basketball coach|pages=38|work=Detroit Free Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87533168/bob-whitlow-madonna-basketball-coach/|access-date=2021-10-22}} Whitlow was the head basketball coach at Madonna College from 1988 to 1989, posting a 13–17 record.{{cite news |title=Brand New Start:Sharpe to Lead Madonna's Men's Basketball|first=C.J.|last=Risak|url=http://westland.lib.mi.us/pdf/observers/1992-07-20.pdf|newspaper=Westland Observer|date=July 20, 1992|access-date=July 24, 2015}} He was a track and field coach at Northview High School in Johns Creek, Georgia.

Personal life

Between his retirement from football and beginning a racing career, Whitlow worked for a carpet business.{{cite news|last=Clark|first=Sean|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/columbia-daily-tribune-top-usac-stock-ca/141829644/|title=Top USAC stock car drivers entered in Sunday's Festival|newspaper=Columbia Daily Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 25, 1974|access-date=February 21, 2024}}

He died on October 23, 2020, in Forsyth County, Georgia at age 84.{{cite web|url=https://www.forsythnews.com/life/people/bob-whitlow-member-inaugural-falcons-team-forsyth-residents-dies-84/ |title=Bob Whitlow, member of inaugural Falcons team, Forsyth resident, dies at 84 |publisher=Forsythnews.com |date=2020-10-23 |access-date=2020-10-28}}

Motorsports career results

=NASCAR=

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

==Winston Cup Series==

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"
colspan=43\| NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
Year ! Team ! No. ! Make ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! 15 ! 16 ! 17 ! 18 ! 19 ! 20 ! 21 ! 22 ! 23 ! 24 ! 25 ! 26 ! 27 ! 28 ! 29 ! 30 ! {{Tooltip\|NWCC\|NASCAR Winston Cup classification}} ! Pts ! Ref
1973 ! Negre Racing ! 08 ! Ford \| RSD \| DAY \| RCH \| CAR \| BRI \| ATL \| NWS \| DAR \| MAR \| TAL \| NSV \| CLT \| DOV \| style="background:#CFCFFF;"\| TWS {{small\|21}} \| RSD \| MCH \| DAY \| BRI \| ATL \| TAL \| NSV \| DAR \| RCH \| DOV \| NWS \| MAR \| CLT \| CAR \| colspan=2\| ! 92nd ! 0 ! {{cite web\|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/whitlbo01/1973/W\|title=Bob Whitlow – 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Results\|work=Racing-Reference\|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC\|access-date=February 21, 2024}}
1974 ! Whitlow Racing ! 51 ! Dodge \| RSD \| DAY \| RCH \| CAR \| BRI \| ATL \| DAR \| NWS \| MAR \| TAL \| NSV \| DOV \| CLT \| RSD \| MCH \| DAY \| BRI \| NSV \| ATL \| POC \| TAL \| style="background:#DFFFDF;"\| MCH {{small\|19}} \| DAR \| RCH \| DOV \| NWS \| MAR \| CLT \| CAR \| ONT ! NA ! - ! {{cite web\|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/whitlbo01/1974/W\|title=Bob Whitlow – 1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Results\|work=Racing-Reference\|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC\|access-date=February 21, 2024}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"

colspan=43| NASCAR Winston Cup Series results

Year

! Team

! No.

! Make

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! 17

! 18

! 19

! 20

! 21

! 22

! 23

! 24

! 25

! 26

! 27

! 28

! 29

! 30

! {{Tooltip|NWCC|NASCAR Winston Cup classification}}

! Pts

! Ref

1973

! Negre Racing

! 08

! Ford

| RSD

| DAY

| RCH

| CAR

| BRI

| ATL

| NWS

| DAR

| MAR

| TAL

| NSV

| CLT

| DOV

| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| TWS
{{small|21}}

| RSD

| MCH

| DAY

| BRI

| ATL

| TAL

| NSV

| DAR

| RCH

| DOV

| NWS

| MAR

| CLT

| CAR

| colspan=2|

! 92nd

! 0

! {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/whitlbo01/1973/W|title=Bob Whitlow – 1973 NASCAR Winston Cup Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=February 21, 2024}}

1974

! Whitlow Racing

! 51

! Dodge

| RSD

| DAY

| RCH

| CAR

| BRI

| ATL

| DAR

| NWS

| MAR

| TAL

| NSV

| DOV

| CLT

| RSD

| MCH

| DAY

| BRI

| NSV

| ATL

| POC

| TAL

| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MCH
{{small|19}}

| DAR

| RCH

| DOV

| NWS

| MAR

| CLT

| CAR

| ONT

! NA

! -

! {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/whitlbo01/1974/W|title=Bob Whitlow – 1974 NASCAR Winston Cup Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=February 21, 2024}}

References

External links

{{Footballstats |nfl=WHI690568 |ESPN= |cfl= |cbs= |si= |yahoo= |pfr=WhitBo24 }}
{{Racing-Reference driver|Bob_Whitlow}}

Category:1936 births

Category:2020 deaths

Category:American football offensive linemen

Category:Arizona Wildcats football players

Category:Atlanta Falcons players

Category:Cleveland Browns players

Category:Detroit Lions players

Category:Military personnel from Indiana

Category:NASCAR drivers

Category:People from Shelbyville, Indiana

Category:Sportspeople from the Indianapolis metropolitan area

Category:Players of American football from Indiana

Category:Washington Redskins players