Jim Weatherwax
{{Short description|American football player (born 1943)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox gridiron football person
| name =
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1943|1|9|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Porterville, California, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| team =
| number = 71
| status =
| position1 = Defensive tackle
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 7
| weight_lb = 260
| college = Cal. State, Los Angeles
West Texas A&M
San Bernardino Valley College
| high_school = Redlands
| NFLDraftedYear = 1965
| NFLDraftedRound = 11
| NFLDraftedPick = 150
| NFLDraftedTeam = Green Bay Packers
| AFLDraftedYear = 1965
| AFLDraftedRound = Red Shirt 5
| AFLDraftedPick = 38
| AFLDraftedTeam = San Diego Chargers
| playing_years1 = 1966–1967, 1969
| playing_team1 = Green Bay Packers
| career_highlights =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 34
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 3
| statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue3 = 1
| statlabel4 =
| statvalue4 =
| statlabel5 =
| statvalue5 =
| NFL = jim-weatherwax
}}
James Michael Weatherwax (born January 9, 1943) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at San Bernardino Valley College, California State University, Los Angeles and West Texas A&M University.
Early life
James Michael Weatherwax was born 9 Jan 1943, in Tulare County, California. He was the son William G. and Oletta (Stewart) Weatherwax. He was a graduate of Van Nuys High School in Van Nuys, California. Weatherwax played basketball under Jerry Tarkanian at Redlands High School and also played football.{{cite web |last1=Summers |first1=Danny |title=From the Sidelines: A trip down Packers memory lane |url=https://gazette.com/cheyenneedition/from-the-sidelines-a-trip-down-packers-memory-lane/article_dc884b46-fc12-11e9-b03e-d7b98c8f5420.html |website=Cheyenne Gazette |access-date=October 23, 2020 |date=November 6, 2019}} A two-way player, Weatherwax was named to the San Bernardino County all-star team in 1960.{{cite news |title=Weatherwax One Of Biggest Men On Field |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61694358/an-article-about-redlands-high-school/ |access-date=October 23, 2020 |work=Redlands Daily Facts |via=Newspapers.com |date=August 23, 1960}} He grew ten inches between his sophomore and senior years.{{cite web |last1=Kahn |first1=Harvey M. |title=Ex-Redlands, SBVC football player Jim Weatherwax appeared in first Super Bowls |url=https://issuu.com/iecn/docs/cc-01-28-2015/11 |website=Inland Empire Community Newspaper |access-date=October 23, 2020 |date=January 28, 2015}} In college, Weatherwax started at the two-year San Bernardino Valley College and later stopped at West Texas A&M University and Cal State-Los Angeles.
Football career
Weatherwax was selected in the 11th round (150th overall) of the 1966 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers.{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Obrey |title=Weatherwax Was Surrounded by NFL Hall of Fame Talent |url=https://redlandsconnection.com/2018/02/10/weatherwax-was-surrounded-by-nfl-hall-of-fame-talent/ |website=Redwoods Connection |access-date=October 23, 2020 |date=February 10, 2018 |archive-date=October 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027030024/https://redlandsconnection.com/2018/02/10/weatherwax-was-surrounded-by-nfl-hall-of-fame-talent/ |url-status=dead }} He was also drafted by the San Diego Chargers in that year's American Football League draft.{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Obrey |title=NFL draft: Redlands local circle connected to six picks in football's national grab bag |url=https://www.redlandscommunitynews.com/sports/nfl-draft-redlands-local-circle-connected-to-six-picks-in-football-s-national-grab-bag/article_040a39e6-8b0f-11ea-a3a9-a3bbcca33ee9.html |website=Redlands Community News |access-date=October 23, 2020 |date=April 30, 2020}} Weatherwax chose Green Bay for its recent success, claiming that it wasn't much of a choice to make.{{cite news |title=Rookie Jim Weatherwax Just Waits and Worries |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61692897/an-article-about-the-begninning-of-jim/ |access-date=October 23, 2020 |work=Danville Register |via=Newspapers.com |date=August 26, 1966}} During his sophomore season in 1967, Weatherwax broke the starting lineup for three games after injuries to the two players above him on the depth chart, Lionel Aldridge and Bob Brown.{{cite news |title=Weatherwax Likes New Spot |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61696613/an-article-about-woes-on-the-packers/ |access-date=October 23, 2020 |work=Wisconsin State Journal |via=Newspapers.com |date=September 28, 1967}} Weatherwax played through broken ribs in the 1967 season at the behest of coach Vince Lombardi.{{cite news |last1=Summers |first1=Danny |title=Hometown hero with lots of heritage |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61694745/an-article-about-jim-weatherwaxs/ |access-date=October 23, 2020 |work=San Bernardino County Sun |date=January 26, 1997}} He played in both Super Bowl I and Super Bowl II as a reserve.{{cite web |last1=Reischel |first1=Rob |title=Memory lane with former Packers: Jim Weatherwax |url=http://archive.jsonline.com/sports/packers/115396629.html/ |website=Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel |access-date=October 23, 2020}} Weatherwax saw playing time on the defensive line and on special teams.{{cite web |last1=Glaser |first1=Kyle |title=INLAND SUPER BOWL: Redlands' Weatherwax got taste of first Super Bowls |url=https://www.pe.com/2016/02/06/inland-super-bowl-redlands-weatherwax-got-taste-of-first-super-bowls/ |website=The Press-Enterprise |access-date=October 23, 2020 |date=February 6, 2016}}{{cite web |title='Cherry on your career' |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2008/02/01/cherry-on-your-career/ |website=Los Angeles Daily News |access-date=October 23, 2020 |date=February 1, 2008}} He did not play in 1968 after having knee surgery in September; he returned to practice the following July.{{cite news |last1=Remmel |first1=Lee |title=Useasoned Packer Offensive Line to Get Veteran Test |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61694110/an-article-about-packers-training-camp/ |access-date=October 23, 2020 |work=Green Bay Press-Gazette |via=Newspapers.com |date=July 30, 1969}}
After the 1969 season, Weatherwax was out of the NFL due to knee injuries. Green Bay waived him on September 3, 1970 and the St. Louis Cardinals conditionally picked Weatherwax up, although he failed a physical and the team declined to sign him.{{cite web |title=Cards Return Weatherwax |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/09/04/archives/cards-return-weatherwax.html |website=New York Times |access-date=October 23, 2020 |date=September 4, 1970}}
After football
Weatherwax postponed his wedding, initially scheduled for December 1966, due to the Packers deep playoff run that season.{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Lindsay H. |title=Vince Lombardi's guys savor Super Bowl memories and Green Bay's new success |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2011/01/29/vince-lombardis-guys-savor-super-bowl-memories-and-green-bays-new-success/ |website=Denver Post |access-date=October 23, 2020 |date=January 29, 2011}} After his football career was over, Weatherwax worked as a manager and was part owner of a Marie Callendar's restaurant in El Toro, California. Weatherwax moved to Loveland, Colorado, and became an avid bass fisherman.{{cite news |last1=King |first1=Kelley |title=For the love of the game |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61692515/an-article-about-jim-weatherwaxs/ |access-date=October 23, 2020 |work=Fort Collins Coloradoan |via=Newspapers.com |date=February 6, 2011}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://lagoldeneagles.com/honors/hall-of-fame/jim-weatherwax/56 Cal State-Los Angeles HOF profile]
{{San Diego Chargers 1965 draft navbox}}
{{Green Bay Packers 1965 NFL draft picks}}
{{Super Bowl I}}
{{Super Bowl II}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Weatherwax, Jim}}
Category:American football defensive tackles
Category:Cal State Los Angeles Diablos football players
Category:Green Bay Packers players
Category:West Texas A&M Buffaloes football players
Category:Sportspeople from Porterville, California
Category:Sportspeople from Redlands, California
Category:Players of American football from San Bernardino County, California
Category:People from Loveland, Colorado
Category:Players of American football from Tulare County, California