My Famous Uncle Don

My mother had 2 brothers, Don and Lynn. Uncle Don was a couple years younger than my mother. I had heard that he played football and even played in the Rose bowl. My first memory of him was in 1960 when he graduated from Medical School in Toronto, Canada. Our family drove from St. Louis, where we lived at the time, to his graduation.

There were 10 children there to see it. The Farnsworth 6 and the Robison 4. I guess we were quite the spectical because we ended up in the paper with the title, "A Doc and his Flock." The next time I saw Uncle Don was my senior year in high school. He had cancer and had come to see his sister. It wasn't too long after that he died. I didn't know him very well, but what I did know of him, I loved! He was tall, rugged, movie star handsome, and so loving and gentle. I knew he loved me. I was in Provo this month going through more of my mother's things and found his wedding anouncement.

I scanned it and sent it to my children. My son, Brent (Major 49ers fan), read that my uncle had played the 49ers! The internet search commenced. He played for the Fort Ord Warriors in 1954.

Don is number 45 carrying the ball. Brent also found an article in Life magazine! Well, I HAD to buy it!! The magazine just got here. So exciting!! It was October 29, 1951 issue. It's all about how Frank Gifford and his Southern Cal team knocked Berkely (The team on which Uncle Don played) off the top of the football heap. AND....there was a picture of my Uncle Don! He's famous!! He and the coach were yelling at the refs for a pile-on.

I love my Uncle Don.