Bob Sykes (American football)
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| Position: | Fullback | ||||||||
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| Born: | March 15, 1927 Oakland, California | ||||||||
| Died: | August 4, 2020 (aged 93) Laguna Niguel, California | ||||||||
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| High school: | St. Aloysius (New Orleans, Louisiana) | ||||||||
| College: | San Jose State | ||||||||
| Undrafted: | 1952 | ||||||||
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Robert Eugene Sykes (March 15, 1927 – August 4, 2020)[1] was an American football fullback in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. He played college football at San Jose State.
Early life and education
[edit]Born in Oakland, California, Sykes graduated from St. Aloysius College (now Brother Martin High School) in New Orleans.[2] After high school, Sykes served in the United States Army Air Forces as a private first class during World War II.[1]
Following his military service, Sykes returned to California to enroll at Santa Rosa Junior College, where he played on the football team in 1948 and 1949. He then transferred to San Jose State College (now University), where he played for the San Jose State Spartans football team in 1950 and 1951.[3]
Pro football career
[edit]Undrafted in the 1952 NFL draft, Sykes signed with the Washington Redskins as a free agent. In four games with one start at fullback, Sykes had four carries for 10 yards and one reception for five yards.[2]
Post-football life
[edit]After retiring from football, Sykes owned a Dodge dealership in Santa Clara, California, Bob Sykes Dodge.[1][4] Sykes died in Laguna Niguel, California, on August 4, 2020, aged 93.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Robert E. Sykes, 1926-2020". The Mercury News. August 15, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
- ^ a b "Bob Sykes". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
- ^ "Bob Sykes". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
- ^ Advertisement in San Francisco Examiner, September 20, 1963, p. 15.
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- 1927 births
- 2020 deaths
- Players of American football from Oakland, California
- American football fullbacks
- San Jose State Spartans football players
- Washington Redskins players
- Players of American football from New Orleans
- Santa Rosa Bear Cubs football players
- American automobile salespeople
- United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II
- Military personnel from California
- United States Army Air Forces soldiers
- 20th-century American sportsmen
- American football running back, 1920s birth stubs