Hall of Famer Sam Francis dead at 88

LINCOLN, Neb., April 23 (UPI) -- Sam Francis, a star fullback at Nebraska and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, died Tuesday at his home in Springfield, Mo. He was 88.

Francis was an All-American in both football and track during his collegiate career and finished second to Larry Kelley of Yale in voting for the 1936 Heisman Trophy. He helped Nebraska post a 19-7 overall record and a pair of Big Six Conference titles in three seasons of football.

The top overall pick in the 1937 NFL draft, Francis played four seasons of professional football with the Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers and Brooklyn Dodgers.

Francis was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1977.