American Airlines In Flight Magazine July/August 1998

Bob Blechen - Semi Pro Football

THE STATS - First season: 1949, Covina (California) High School . Last season: Who knows. This month, Blechen, sixty-two, is cracking helmets again; this time as the starting offensive tackle for the Los Angeles Falcons of the semipro American Football Association. He has ten grandkids and has been bald since 1967. Perhaps fearing he might outlast the game itself, in 1990 the AFA ignored policy and made him the association's only active Hall of Famer.

THE NICKNAME: Father Football

THE MOMENT: Understandably, there have been plenty. But a game between the San Jose Bandits and the Orange County Rhinos stands out. Blechen wasn't on either team, but he showed up to watch. When the Rhions fell short on players, surprise, Blechen had his gear with him and jumped in. He made twenty-some tackles and was named the most valuable defensive player. "That was probably the most awesome game I've ever had," he says. And when was that ? "Gee, I don't know. Mid-Sixties maybe ?"

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