French, Barry Alden “Bear”

1940 SF Washington/1947 Purdue graduate. Born in Chamberlain. Served four years in WWII and returned to Purdue to get his degree while playing pro football and teaching at a vocational school. Injuries shortened the pro career of this versatile offensive and defensive lineman who played in 49 NFL games from 1947-52 with Baltimore Colts and Detroit Lions. Had 29 NFL starts. Could and did play all positions on NFL offensive and defensive lines as well as having two career kick returns on his pro resume. Missed the entire 1948 NFL season when fractured his left forearm in two spots during a pre-season scrimmage. Looked as if his career was over when the 240-pound Sioux Falls man broke his arm in the same spot in the 1949 training camp. However, with a development of a special pad by the team trainer and a remarkable attitude, French played the 1949 season after only a couple of weeks of being out.  An All-American at Purdue who was a three-year starter (1941, 1942 and 1946 — French was a WWII Army veteran from 1942-46). After Purdue’s 1941 spring football practices, French was voted most promising freshman on the team and was awarded an engraved gold watch. With 50 seconds left in the Purdue game on Oct. 10, 1942, at highly favored Northwestern, French broke through the Wildcat line to block Allen Pick’s game-tying PAT to preserve Purdue’s 7-6 win. As a Purdue senior in 1946, French won several honors including being named to some All-Opponents teams such as that from Ohio State. In high school, French was a multi-sport star and team captain who was the 1940 state shot put championship as he helped the SFW Warriors win four state team track titles and two football state titles while he was in high school. French is also unique because he was drafted into the NFL twice. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 1944 Draft (19th round, 194th overall) while he was still serving in the military, but French continued to serve. After the 1950 seasons with injuries mounting up, French decided to leave the NFL as an opportunity opened for him to serve as a player and line coach for Ottawa in the CFL. However, Pittsburgh drafted him in the fourth round (45th pick overall) and the Steelers traded him to the Lions for two players. He played the 1951 season with the Lions to end his NFL career. Later in life, ran a network of almost 400 bowling centers in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.