Leonard P. (Deke) De Concini
- Post by: mcalibrary
- December 19, 2023
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INDUCTEE
“Deke” attended Mount Carmel Township High School and played football under Coaches Al Masciontoni and Charlie Karlow. He played most positions, but he was notes as a fine “Pulling Guard”. Both his coaches are members of out Hall of Fame.
He attended Fordham University on a Football scholarship. While there he was coached by “Sleppy Jim” Crowley, one of the legendary Four Horsemen of Notre Dame. One of his teammates at Fordham was Steve Filipowicz, another Hall of Famer.
He played in the 1941 Cotton Bowl against Texzas A & M, led by All American “Jarrin Jack” Kimbrough. Deke scored a touchdown, but it was note enough to overcome the Kimbrough led Aggies who won 13-12.
The following year he played in the Sugar Bowl, where the Fordham Rams defeated Missouri 2-0.
After graduation he joined the Navy, and played for the Pensacola, Florida Naval Air Station under Coach Patsy Clark. He was a flight instructor during the war, and later a carrier fighter pilot. He remained in the Naval Reserve and retired as a Commander.
Deke spent 35 years with American National Insurance Company, both as a General Agent and Sales Director for the North Central States and Alaska.
He and his wife Donna raised five boys and 2 girls and have 12 grandchildren.