George Seeman
{{Short description|American football player (1916–1998)}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = George Seeman
| number = 68
| position = End
| birth_date = {{birth date|1916|4|3}}
| birth_place = Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1998|08|31|1916|4|3}}
| death_place = Hanover, New Hampshire, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lbs = 195
| high_school = Omaha Central {{nowrap|(Omaha, Nebraska)}}
| college = Nebraska
| draftyear = 1940
| draftround = 8
| draftpick = 69
| pastteams =
- Green Bay Packers (1940)
- Milwaukee Chiefs (1940)
|highlights =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 1
| pfr = S/SeemGe20
}}
George McHenry Seeman Jr.{{efn|Sometimes spelled Seemann.}} (April 3, 1916 – August 31, 1998) was an American professional football end. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, where he was an All-Big Six Conference selection as a senior in 1939. He was selected in the eighth round of the 1940 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers and appeared in one game that season before being released. After his football career, Seeman served in World War II and then moved to Massachusetts, while he spent his last years in New Hampshire.
Early life
Seeman was born on April 3, 1916, in Lincoln, Nebraska.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star/165020802/|newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 3, 1938|page=9|title=Meet A Husker}} {{Open access}} He attended grade school and high school in Omaha, Nebraska, being a standout end for the football team at Omaha Central High School.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-nebraska-state-journal/165035939/|newspaper=Lincoln State Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 14, 1936|page=11|title=Meet A Husker}} {{Open access}} In addition to football, Seeman also competed in track and field and wrestling in high school.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/central-high-register/165036038/|newspaper=Central High Register|via=Newspapers.com|date=March 29, 1935|page=4|title=Papa Schmidt's Defending Intercity Champions Work Hard For Coming Track Season}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/central-high-register/165036157/|newspaper=Central High Register|via=Newspapers.com|date=February 8, 1935|page=4|title=Bextenmen Whip Viking Grapplers}} {{Open access}} As a senior at Omaha Central, he won the state heavyweight wrestling championship.
Seeman enrolled at the University of Nebraska in 1935.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/s/seem00200.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=George Seeman Stats|access-date=February 12, 2025}} He played for the Nebraska Cornhuskers freshman football team that year. He made the varsity team as a sophomore in 1936 and played at guard. However, while playing a touch football game in early 1937, he suffered a leg injury that resulted in him missing the entire season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-nebraska-state-journal/165036900/|newspaper=Lincoln State Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 4, 1939|page=11|title=George Seemann To Lead Cornhuskers}} {{Open access}} He later returned to the Cornhuskers at end and was named honorable mention All-Big Six Conference in 1938 and the second-team All-Big Six as a senior in 1939.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star/165037281/|newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 30, 1938|page=10|title=All-Big Six 1938}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world/165037324/|newspaper=Tulsa World|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 29, 1939|page=12|title=All Big-Six Teams|agency=Associated Press}} {{Open access}} He served as a team captain as a senior. Additionally, Seeman lettered in wrestling one year at Nebraska and won the Big Six title.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-obituary-for-george-s/165037413/|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 6, 1998|page=30|title=Seemann}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/165037502/|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 9, 1998|page=29|title=Ex-Husker Dies at 82|author=White, Rob}} {{Open access}} After his senior football season, he was invited to compete at the Chicago Charities College All-Star Game.
Professional career
Seeman was selected in the eighth round (69th overall) of the 1940 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers, and he signed with the team in April 1940.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette/165038466/|newspaper=Green Bay Press-Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|date=April 9, 1940|page=13|title=George Seemann, Star End of Nebraska, Signs With Packers}} {{Open access}} In August, before joining the Packers for training camp, he played against the Packers in the Chicago All-Star Game.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m9o2_k8zu4QC&dq=george+seeman+%22dave+robinson%22&pg=PA247|title=Packers by the Numbers: Jersey Numbers and the Players who Wore Them|page=247|author=Maxymuk, John|date=2003|isbn=9781879483903|publisher=Prairie Oak Press}} He initially made the Packers' roster but was later released on September 17, 1940, after having appeared in only one game as a backup.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette/165038700/|newspaper=Green Bay Press-Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 17, 1940|page=19|title=Lambeau Objects to Selection of New Official to Referee Game With Bears}} {{Open access}} Shortly afterwards, he signed with the Milwaukee Chiefs of the American Football League (AFL); however, he did not appear in any games for the Chiefs.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette/165038932/|newspaper=Green Bay Press-Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 19, 1940|page=23|title=Seemann Joins Chiefs At Milwaukee Workout|agency=Associated Press}} {{Open access}}
Later life and death
Seeman joined the United States Army Air Forces in 1941. He coached an Army football team and was also the athletic director for the 35th division.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-world-herald/165039287/|newspaper=Evening World-Herald|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 17, 1941|page=12|title=Miss Suzanne Roeder and Lt. George Seemann Engaged}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star/165039420/|newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 11, 1941|page=5|title=George Seemann athletic officer|agency=United Press}} {{Open access}} In the Army Air Forces, Seeman reached the rank of captain.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/165039643/|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 15, 1944|page=56|title=Airs Officers Back From Overseas}} {{Open access}} He served in World War II and piloted a B-25 bomber, serving over 50 combat missions in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands. He received several honors for his service, including the Distinguished Flying Cross with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters, and the Purple Heart.
Seeman married Suzanne Roeder, and after the war, they moved to Raynham, Massachusetts. He had two daughters and a son. He was interested in real estate and served with the board of directors for the Taunton Savings Bank. He later moved to Glen, New Hampshire, and died in Hanover on August 31, 1998, at the age of 82. In his final years, he had suffered from Alzheimer's disease.
References
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{{Packers1940DraftPicks}}
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Category:Players of American football from Lincoln, Nebraska
Category:Omaha Central High School alumni