Eddie LeBaron, a 1980 College Football Hall of Fame inductee from the University of the Pacific, passed away April 1. He was 85 years old.

Born Jan. 7, 1930, in San Rafael, Calif., he attended high school in Oakdale, Calif., before beginning his college football career at Pacific when he was just 16. LeBaron played four years for College of the Pacific (now University of the Pacific) in Stockton, Calif. He spent his freshman year in 1946 playing for College Football Hall of Fame Coach Amos Alonzo Stagg during the legend’s last season as a coach. He then played three years under Coach Larry Siemering, leading the Tigers to records of 9-1, 7-1-2 and 11-0 in those years.

During his senior season, the Tigers averaged 52 points per game while holding their opponents to an average of six. LeBaron was an All-America selection at quarterback in 1949, and he also played safety and punter. He was named the MVP of the East-West Shrine Game, and he quarterbacked the College All-Stars to a 17-7 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in 1950. LeBaron notched 19 games in which he played the full 60 minutes, and he completed 197 passes for 3,838 yards and 45 touchdowns during his college career. He also ran for six touchdowns, and he scored once on an 82-yard run after a pass interception.

After graduation, LeBaron served as a United State Marine Corps lieutenant,t and he spent 9 months in Korea, where he was wounded twice and decorated with a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for his heroic efforts. He taught at the Marine Base in Quantico, and he was released from service in 1952.

He played 11 seasons in the NFL with the Washington Redskins (1952-53, 1955-59) and the Dallas Cowboys (1960-63), going to four Pro Bowls and leading the league in passing in 1958. Between seasons during his pro career, LeBaron obtained a law degree from George Washington University in 1959.

LeBaron practiced law in Nevada from 1964-76 before becoming the general manager of the Atlanta Falcons 1977-82, and he would be named pro football’s “Executive of the Year” in 1980. He then served as the Falcons’ executive vice president/chief operating officer from 1982-85. Following that, LeBaron went to Sacramento in 1988 to practice law, and he retired as an attorney and partner in Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro in 1997.

LeBaron is a member of the Pacific Athletics Hall of Fame and Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame, and he has received two Distinguished Alumni Awards from the Pacific Alumni Association.

LeBaron married Doralee in 1954 and together they had three sons: Edward “Wayne” III, Richard and William, plus five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

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