Leo Rucka, American football player, Died at 84

  Dead Famous

Leopold Victor “Leo” Rucka was born on August 18, 1931, in Wooster, Texas, and died on January 4, 2016.

He was an American professional football player.

He played Linebacker/Center for the San Francisco 49ers during the 1956 NFL season.

Rucka was drafted in the 2nd round of the 1954 NFL Draft.

Leo was picked 23rd overall.

He graduated from Crosby High School (Texas) in 1950, Where he excelled in football, basketball, and all other major sports.

Before his death resident of Crosby, TX.

His wife Lillian Rucka and himself had been together over 60 yrs.

The couple had five children, eleven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Leo attended College at Rice University.

He was inducted into the Rice Football Hall of Fame in 1996.

Along His senior year at Rice, he helped the Rice Owls defeat the University of Texas in the final seconds for the southwest conference title.

Leo had described it as his “biggest college thrill”.

Leopold also co-captained the team the season they won the Cotton Bowl Championship in 1954 against Alabama.

Rucka played in 5 NFL games, He has 1 documented fumble recovery, nothing else was recorded.

Leopold left the NFL to fulfill Army obligations as an aviation engineer.

Leopold served in the Far-East for 20 months.

Rucka was named to the All-Service Team.

As an NFL athlete, he was 6’3″, 212 lbs.

He was nicknamed by his teammates as “The Quite Man”.

Leo Rucka passed away at 84 years old.