John Lookabaugh
{{Short description|American football player (1922–1993)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = John Lookabaugh
| image = John Lookabaugh2.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| number = 25, 15
| position = End
| birth_date = {{birth date|mf=y|1922|9|13}}
| birth_place = Ridgeley, West Virginia, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|mf=y|1993|5|16|1922|9|13}}
| death_place = Pomona, New Jersey, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lb = 216
| high_school = Ridgeley (WV)
| college = Maryland (1941–1942)
| undraftedyear =
| pastteams = * Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|1946|1947}})
- Wilmington Clippers (1946–1947)
| highlights =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 9 or 11
| statlabel2 = Receptions
| statvalue2 = 12
| statlabel3 = Receiving yards
| statvalue3 = 145
| statlabel4 = Touchdowns
| statvalue4 = 1
| pfr = LookJo20
}}
John Edgar Ellsworth Lookabaugh (September 13, 1922 − May 16, 1993){{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerl/look00400.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=Jack Lookabaugh Stats|access-date=July 22, 2023|archive-date=July 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230722173838/https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerl/look00400.html|url-status=dead}} was an American football end who played two seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins. He played college football for the Maryland Terrapins and also spent time with the Wilmington Clippers in the American Football League (AFL).
Biography
Lookabaugh was born on September 13, 1922, in Ridgeley, West Virginia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LookJo20.htm|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|title=John Lookabaugh Stats}} He attended Ridgeley High School and played football and basketball, being a end in the former while playing center in the latter.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/cumberland-evening-times/128673538/|newspaper=Cumberland Evening Times|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 5, 1938|page=6|title=Ridgeley Trounces Berkeley Crew 25-6}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/cumberland-evening-times/128673588/|newspaper=Cumberland Evening Times|via=Newspapers.com|date=February 25, 1941|page=16|title=Ridgeley Hi Crew Rolls Over Bruce}} {{Open access}} He began attending the University of Maryland, College Park in 1941 after graduating from Ridgeley, playing for the freshman football and basketball teams.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-star/128673874/|newspaper=Evening Star|via=Newspapers.com|date=February 6, 1942|page=49|title=Terp Cubs' Lookabaugh Routs G. W. High Five}} {{Open access}} He was one of the star players of the freshman basketball squad.
In 1942, Lookabaugh was briefly on the Maryland varsity football team before being called to service in World War II. He enlisted in the United States Navy and was sent to the Bainbridge Naval Training Center in Maryland, where he played football as a tackle for their military service team.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/courier-post/128674502/|newspaper=Courier-Post|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 24, 1945|page=8|title=Millville Athlete Signed by Redskins}} {{Open access}} At 6 ft 4 in, he was the tallest player on the Bainbridge football team and was a member until being discharged in December 1945.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun/128674596/|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 23, 1945|page=14|title=John Lookabaugh, Bainbridge Star Tackle, Out Of Service}} {{Open access}}
After his military service, Lookabaugh was signed by the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) to play end.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/cumberland-evening-times/128674761/|newspaper=Cumberland Evening Times|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 19, 1946|page=20, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/cumberland-evening-times/128674866/ 21]|title=Catching Baugh's Pass For Touchdown Gives Gaffney Top Thrill; Lookabaugh Makes Good|author=Kegg, J. Sutter}} {{Open access}} At the start of the season, he was released and was sent to the Redskins' farm team, the Wilmington Clippers.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-millville-daily/128675051/|newspaper=The Millville Daily|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 12, 1946|page=12|title=Sport Sauce|author=DTG}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-star/128675142/|newspaper=Evening Star|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 2, 1946|page=11|title=Tired Redskins Irked By 2-a-Day Drills; Offer Futile Protest|author=Atchison, Lewis F.}} {{Open access}} He appeared in seven games for the Clippers, six as a starter, although statistics are incomplete.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1946aflwil.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=1946 Wilmington Clippers (AFL)}}
At the end of October, following a Redskins loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, they recalled Lookabaugh from the Clippers.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-journal/128675898/|newspaper=Journal-Every Evening|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 30, 1946|page=18|title=Clippers Play Exhibition Tiff}} {{Open access}} He appeared in between three and five games near the end of the season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-journal/128676127/|newspaper=The Daily Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 18, 1993|page=3|title=The 'Chief' goes for last touchdown|author=Curio, George}} {{Open access}} In the 1946 season with Washington, Lookabaugh caught six passes for 67 yards, averaging 11.2 yards-per-reception while having a long of 19. In the off-season, he played basketball for the Cumberland Amvets.
Lookabaugh was re-signed for the 1947 season and had three touchdowns in an exhibition game.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-millville-daily/128676401/|newspaper=The Millville Daily|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 4, 1947|page=3|title=J. Lookabaugh Stars With Three Touchdowns}} {{Open access}} He initially made the team but was later sent back to the Clippers, where he teamed up with quarterback Tommy Mont, whom he had been teammates with at the University of Maryland.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-journal/128676550/|newspaper=Journal-Every Evening|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 21, 1947|page=23|title=Clippers Best In Home Park}} {{Open access}} Lookabaugh appeared in a total of six NFL games in the 1947 season, catching six passes for 78 yards and his only career touchdown, from all-time great Sammy Baugh, with a long of 31 yards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LookJo20/touchdowns/|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|title=John Lookabaugh Career Touchdown Log}} His career was ended by a knee injury which affected him for the rest of his life. He finished his NFL career with 9 or 11 games played (sources conflict), 12 receptions for 145 yards and one touchdown.
Lookabaugh lived most of his life in Millville, New Jersey and worked as a painting contractor for over 40 years after his NFL career.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-of-atlantic-city-obituary-for-john/128676985/|newspaper=Press of Atlantic City|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 18, 1993|page=14|title=Holly City Midget Football co-founder, NFL player John Lookabaugh, 70, dies}} {{Open access}} He was a co-founder of the Holly City Midget Football League and coached there for five years.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-journal-obituary-for-john-e-l/128677075/|newspaper=The Daily Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 18, 1993|page=4|title=John E. Lookabaugh, 77}} {{Open access}} He was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Millville. Lookabaugh died on May 16, 1993, in Pomona, New Jersey, at the age of 70.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lookabaugh, John}}
Category:American football ends
Category:Maryland Terrapins football players
Category:Washington Redskins players
Category:People from Mineral County, West Virginia
Category:Wilmington Clippers players
Category:Sportspeople from Mineral County, West Virginia
Category:Players of American football from West Virginia
Category:Maryland Terrapins men's basketball players