Les Richter, a 1982 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame who played guard for the Cal Bears from 1949-51, died Saturday, June 12 in Riverside, Calif. He was 79.

Spectators seldom recognize the greatness of interior linemen because their productivity is often concealed beneath flashy backfield action. The fans in the stands seldom miss the destructive violence of linebackers, who look their best in the open. And nobody misses a great kicker's efforts because he's a center-stage performer. Richter, a guard, linebacker and kicker, was great in all three assignments.

Richter was a 6-2, 230-pound bulldozer on offense and an aggressive, single-minded scrimmage line protector on defense. His greatness was recognized with a deluge of awards that began with team captain and included the Andy Smith Award for most time played, membership in the All-Time All-Pacific Coast Team, East-West Shrine and College All-Star games, a Most Valuable Player citation, Helms Hall of Fame and, best of all, All-America honors by United Press, Associated Press, International News Service and other recognized selectors.

Richter was named to the first-team All-America team in 1950 and '51. He also kicked 40 PATs in 1951 to set a Pacific Coast record. He played in two Rose Rowls with the Golden Bears

After graduating as class valedictorian at Cal, Richter served as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Infantry for two years during the Korean War. The Fresno, Calif., native followed his military tour with a nine year stint (1954-62) in the NFL as a Los Angeles Ram, earning All-Pro honors eight times on defense. In 1959, he began a career in motorsports as general manager of Riverside International Raceway, quickly rising to president. NASCAR brought him into their ranks in 1983, and he became a trusted advisor to then-NASCAR Chairman/CEO Bill France Jr. He was named NASCAR's executive vice president of competition in 1986 and the senior vice president of operations in '92.

He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, and the Riverside Sport Hall of Fame, and a trophy is named for him at Fontana's Auto Club Speedway, a facility Mr. Richter helped develop.

He is survived by his wife Marilyn of 55 years, a son, daughter and three granddaughters.