Gasper Urban
{{Short description|American football player (1923–1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Gasper Urban
| number = 36, 18
| position = Guard, linebacker
| birth_date = {{birth date|1923|3|18}}
| birth_place = Lynn, Massachusetts, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1998|5|17|1923|3|18}}
| death_place = St. Augustine, Florida, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lb = 215
| high_school = Classical (Lynn)
| college = Notre Dame
| draftyear = 1946
| draftround = 17
| draftpick = 160
| pastteams =
- Chicago Rockets (1948)
| highlights =
- 3× National champion (1943, 1946, 1947)
| statleague = AAFC
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 14
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 1
| statlabel3 = Interceptions
| statvalue3 = 1
| pfr = U/UrbaGa20
}}
Gasper George Urban (March 18, 1923 – May 17, 1998) was an American professional football player who played one season with the Chicago Rockets of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). He was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 17th round of the 1946 NFL draft. He played college football at the University of Notre Dame.
Early life
Gasper George Urban was born on March 18, 1923, in Lynn, Massachusetts. He played high school football at Lynn Classical High School in Lynn.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/u/urba00600.html | title=Gasper Urban | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=24 January 2025}} He was a team captain his senior year in 1941, earning All-North Shore honors and helping Classical win the Class A state title with a 13–0 record.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-item/163808976/ | title=Itemizing the Sports | work=The Daily Item | date=November 12, 1942 | accessdate=24 January 2025 | author=Southward, Harvey, L. | pages=12}}
College career
Urban was a member of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish of the University of Notre Dame from 1942 to 1943. The 1943 Fighting Irish were national champions. He then served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He then returned to play for the Fighting Irish from 1946 to 1947 and alternated with George Connor at tackle. Notre Dame won the national championship both seasons. Urban graduated from Notre Dame in 1948.
Professional career
Urban was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 17th round, with the 160th overall pick, of the 1946 NFL draft.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/U/UrbaGa20.htm | title=Gasper Urban | publisher=Pro Football Reference | accessdate=24 January 2025}} He signed with the Chicago Rockets of the All-America Football Conference in 1948. He played in all 14 games, starting one, for the Rockets during the 1948 season and recorded one interception. The Rockets finished the year with a 1–13 record.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cra/1948.htm | title=1948 Chicago Rockets Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees | publisher=Pro Football Reference | accessdate=24 January 2025}} Urban became a free agent after the season.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/u/urba00600.html | title=Gasper Urban NFL Transactions | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=24 January 2025}}
Personal life
After his football career, Urban became a sales trainee with Paramount Pictures.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-item/163808766/ | title=Boy from Classical grew up a winner | work=The Daily Item | date=November 19, 1982 | accessdate=24 January 2025 | pages=9}} He was called back into the Marines during the Korean War. He was later a New England branch manager for Columbia Pictures. He died on May 17, 1998, in St. Augustine, Florida.
References
{{reflist}}
{{1943 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football navbox}}
{{1946 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football navbox}}
{{1947 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football navbox}}
{{Los Angeles Rams 1946 draft navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Urban, Gasper}}
Category:American football guards
Category:American football linebackers
Category:American football tackles
Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish football players
Category:Chicago Rockets players
Category:Sportspeople from Lynn, Massachusetts
Category:Players of American football from Essex County, Massachusetts
Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II
Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the Korean War