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 BILL
MUNSON,
FOOTHILL COLLEGE - PLAYER
Inducted: 2003, posthumously
Bill was a Central Valley
product having lived and grown up in Lodi since the age of 6. He attended Lodi
High and is one of the most distinguished athletes that ever played at Lodi
High.
He was a football, basketball,
and baseball athlete who won 6 letters in his junior and senior years at Lodi.
He was the quarterback in the T formation and a blocking back in the single
wing, and also starred as a defensive back. Bill was a 4 year 3 sport star and
was awarded the Conkin Memorial Trophy as the outstanding senior athlete in
1959. An award that included the criteria of athletics, scholarship and citizenship
.
Being one of the top Q.B.s
in the state he was selected to play in the prestigious Los Angeles Shrine -
North South game, and the Elks Valley All Star game. Bill transferred to Foothill
College in the fall of 1959. He played one year at Foothill College for Bill
Abbey and then transferred to Utah State University. Bill played Q.B. and defensive
back for John Ralston and Tony Knapp. He again received the most outstanding
athlete award at Utah State. After his senior year he was again selected to
play in another Shrine game but this was the grandaddy of all Bowl games, the
East-West Shrine game, and was voted the games Most Valuable player.
 In
1963, after he finished his college career, Bill was the #1 draft choice of
the Los Angeles Rams and started there for 5 years until he was traded to the
Detroit Lions in 1968. At Detroit he was their leader and had 8 great seasons.
Harland Svare, the Rams coach, said Bill had the quickest release I had ever
seen. He also played Q.B for Seattle, San Diego, and Buffalo. In 18 years he
played in 107 games, Attempted, 1,877 passes and completed 999 for 12,151 yards.
He had 85 touchdowns passes and a 53.2 % which in the 70s was outstanding.
Bill was married to his
high school sweetheart Beverly. They have two sons, Tom and Terry and one daughter,
Krista all of whom are married with families.
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