14 Facts About Dick Kempthorn

Richard James Kempthorn was an American collegiate athlete, Air Force pilot, and businessman from Canton, Ohio, US.

Dick Kempthorn played college football on the undefeated national champion 1947 and 1948 Michigan Wolverines football teams and was the Most Valuable Player on the 1949 team.

Dick Kempthorn later served as a jet fighter pilot in the Korean War where he received the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Dick Kempthorn turned down an opportunity to play professional football to join his father in the automobile business.

Dick Kempthorn played high school football for Canton McKinley High School.

Dick Kempthorn first played with the Wolverines during 1947 spring practice.

Dick Kempthorn joined a 1947 Michigan football team that was loaded with talent returning from the war.

Dick Kempthorn missed three games due to the knee injury and returned to star on defense against Indiana.

Dick Kempthorn was back on the injury list after the Indiana game and later recalled that, after the knee injury, he was unable to execute the spinning movement required of a back in the single wing offense.

Dick Kempthorn's vicious tackling was the keynote of the inspired Michigan line that made a shambles of a Minnesota team that was rated one of the best in years.

Dick Kempthorn stayed on briefly to help Bennie Oosterbaan as an assistant backfield coach in 1950.

Dick Kempthorn had purchased a new pair of pigskin gloves for the Ohio trip and gave them to Ortmann early in the game when Ortmann complained that his hands were getting numb.

Dick Kempthorn was the 123rd pick in the 1948 NFL draft and the second round pick of the Cleveland Browns in the 1949 AAFC Secret Draft.

Dick Kempthorn flew more than 100 missions as a jet fighter pilot and received the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery.