Lester J Hoerner

Professional Football Player. For six seasons (1947 to 1952), he played at the fullback position in the National Football League with the Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Texans. Born Lester Junior Hoerner, he attended Dubuque High School and played collegiate football at the University of Iowa. While with the Hawkeyes (his studies yielded to his service in the US Army during World War II), he earned All-American honors twice (1942 and 1946). Hoerner was selected by the Cleveland Rams during the 17th round of the 1945 NFL Draft, and marked his NFL debut in 1947, following the franchise's relocation to Los Angeles (1946); he appeared in 4 games that season with them. He would play on the 1949 Rams' squad which appeared in the NFL Championship Game (defeated by the Philadelphia Eagles 14 to 0), followed by their 1950 team that played in the NFL Title Game (defeated by the Cleveland Browns 30 to 28); Hoerner rushed for 86 yards, scoring 2 touchdowns. In 1950 along with Paul "Tank" Younger and Dan Towler, he formed the famed ground attack known as the "Bull Elephant Backfield"; they were a significant force behind Los Angeles' capturing of the 1951 NFL Title, in a rematch against the Browns (defeating Cleveland 24 to 17), with Hoerner scoring the first touchdown of the contest. In addition, the game played on December 23rd, 1951 was noted for being the first nationally-televised broadcast from coast-to-coast. He concluded his career in 1952 with the doomed Dallas Texans' team which compiled a dismal 1-11 record and folded at season's end. In 63 career regular season games, he amassed 2,172 rushing yards with 30 touchdowns, and 80 receptions for 1,180 yards with 4 touchdowns; he achieved Pro-Bowl status in 1950. He died following a stroke.