Farewell: Leon Crenshaw

Leon Crenshaw, a huge defensive tackle who played in 10 games for the Packers in 1968, has died.

You may remember Crenshaw as Kurt Schmitz of Columbus, Ga., did, reminding us in an e-mail: "He's a character in Jerry Kramer's 'Instant Replay' (a book which I read roughly 50 times when I was a kid in Appleton)."

Indeed he is. I read that book roughly 50 times when I was a kid in Sheboygan.

Here's what Kramer wrote about the 6-foot-6 Crenshaw in that diary of the 1967 season: "A rookie tackle named Leon Crenshaw, from Tuskegee Institute, ... reported to training camp a week ago weighing 315 pounds. Dr. Lombardi has reduced him to 302."

Crenshaw was listed as weighing 280 pounds on the 1968 roster. He wore No. 70.

He was 65 when he died in Columbus, Ga., on Aug. 22, according to the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.

Crenshaw was retired from teaching at Terrell County High School in Dawson, Ga. He also had been a minister, serving True Divine Baptist Church in Phenix City, Ala. He held degrees from the Tuskegee Institute and the University of Georgia and had studied for a doctorate at Vanderbilt University.

Schmitz added this in his e-mail: "What surprised me is that I have lived in this area for 19 years and had no idea Crenshaw was living among us. Had we met at any time I am sure the name would have rung a bell. The man no doubt had some interesting stories about his short time in Green Bay."

Especially if Lombardi is dogging you to lose weight.

-- Jeff Ash, jash@greenbaypressgazette.com