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'''Richmond McDavid Flowers | [[Image:Richmond Flowers Jr.jpg|right|thumb|Richmond Flowers, Jr]] | ||
'''Richmond McDavid Flowers Jr''' (born [[June 13]], [[1947]] in Dothan) is a former NFL football player and standout amateur hurdler. | |||
Flowers' father, [[Richmond Flowers | Flowers' father, [[Richmond Flowers Sr]], served as [[Alabama Attorney General]] from 1963-1967 and was noted for his staunch opposition of [[George Wallace]]. Richmond, Jr was hampered as a child by dyslexia, asthma and anemia. He wore orthopedic shoes, but learned to excel at golf, shooting a round of 82 at age 13. As he got older and his asthma faded, he took up football at Sidney Lanier High School in [[Montgomery]]. He earned a starting position at halfback during his junior year and also began competing in track & field, where he earned notice for beating state records in the 120-yard high hurdles, 180-yard low hurdles and the long jump. He set a national high school record on the 120 highs in April [[1965]] and beat former Olympic medalist Blaine Lindgren at a meet in Modesto, California. | ||
Flowers | Though he was recruited to the [[Alabama Crimson Tide football team]] by the legendary [[Bear Bryant]], Flowers was adamant about leaving the state for college because of the wide disrespect shown to his father. He instead signed with the Tennessee Volunteers and became the team's leading receiver as a junior. He moved to running back in his senior season and scored the winning touchdown in the Volunteer's win over the [[1968 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1968 Crimson Tide]]. Meanwhile he set an NCAA record in the 120 highs at the NCAA Championships as a sophomore. As a junior he came within a tenth of a second of the world record and won eight straight races before blowing his right hamstring in a workout on [[June 2]]. The injury prevented him from qualifying at the U. S. Olympic trials where fellow Americans Willie Davenport and Ervin Hall won gold and silver. | ||
Flowers currently resides in [[Pelham]] | In [[1969]] Flowers was drafted in the 2nd round of the NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys and played as a safety with them for two seasons, including the [[1971]] Super Bowl, and then played two more with the New York Giants. He finished his football career with a year in the World Football League, retiring after the [[1975]] season to attend the [[University of Alabama School of Law]]. | ||
After graduating, Flowers moved to Chicago and worked as a commodities trader. He prospered for a while, but lost big on a bad investment in soybeans in [[1983]]. He was censured for exceeding trading limits and fined by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. His wife, Lucia, divorced him and he moved back to Dallas. He re-established contact with high school classmate [[Diane Flowers|Diane Dowdy]] and later married her and moved to Florida to be close to his children. After his house was damaged in Hurricane Andrew in [[1992]] he returned to [[Birmingham]] and took a job selling nutritional products. | |||
Flowers currently resides in [[Pelham]]. He was inducted into the [[Alabama Sports Hall of Fame]] in [[2002]]. | |||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
* Wagner, Neal (February 10, 2011) "[http://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/2011/02/10/super-bowl-alumni-calls-pelham-home/ Super Bowl alumni calls Pelham home]." ''Shelby County Reporter'' | * Wagner, Neal (February 10, 2011) "[http://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/2011/02/10/super-bowl-alumni-calls-pelham-home/ Super Bowl alumni calls Pelham home]." ''Shelby County Reporter'' | ||
* Sielski, Mike (n. d.) "Flowers: 'Fastest white boy alive'." ESPN Classic | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Flowers, Richmond}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Flowers, Richmond}} | ||
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[[Category:Living people]] | [[Category:Living people]] | ||
[[Category:Football players]] | [[Category:Football players]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Track and field athletes]] | ||
[[Category:Alabama School of Law alumni]] | |||
[[Category:Alabama Sports Hall of Fame]] | [[Category:Alabama Sports Hall of Fame]] | ||
Latest revision as of 11:26, 13 June 2016
Richmond McDavid Flowers Jr (born June 13, 1947 in Dothan) is a former NFL football player and standout amateur hurdler.
Flowers' father, Richmond Flowers Sr, served as Alabama Attorney General from 1963-1967 and was noted for his staunch opposition of George Wallace. Richmond, Jr was hampered as a child by dyslexia, asthma and anemia. He wore orthopedic shoes, but learned to excel at golf, shooting a round of 82 at age 13. As he got older and his asthma faded, he took up football at Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery. He earned a starting position at halfback during his junior year and also began competing in track & field, where he earned notice for beating state records in the 120-yard high hurdles, 180-yard low hurdles and the long jump. He set a national high school record on the 120 highs in April 1965 and beat former Olympic medalist Blaine Lindgren at a meet in Modesto, California.
Though he was recruited to the Alabama Crimson Tide football team by the legendary Bear Bryant, Flowers was adamant about leaving the state for college because of the wide disrespect shown to his father. He instead signed with the Tennessee Volunteers and became the team's leading receiver as a junior. He moved to running back in his senior season and scored the winning touchdown in the Volunteer's win over the 1968 Crimson Tide. Meanwhile he set an NCAA record in the 120 highs at the NCAA Championships as a sophomore. As a junior he came within a tenth of a second of the world record and won eight straight races before blowing his right hamstring in a workout on June 2. The injury prevented him from qualifying at the U. S. Olympic trials where fellow Americans Willie Davenport and Ervin Hall won gold and silver.
In 1969 Flowers was drafted in the 2nd round of the NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys and played as a safety with them for two seasons, including the 1971 Super Bowl, and then played two more with the New York Giants. He finished his football career with a year in the World Football League, retiring after the 1975 season to attend the University of Alabama School of Law.
After graduating, Flowers moved to Chicago and worked as a commodities trader. He prospered for a while, but lost big on a bad investment in soybeans in 1983. He was censured for exceeding trading limits and fined by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. His wife, Lucia, divorced him and he moved back to Dallas. He re-established contact with high school classmate Diane Dowdy and later married her and moved to Florida to be close to his children. After his house was damaged in Hurricane Andrew in 1992 he returned to Birmingham and took a job selling nutritional products.
Flowers currently resides in Pelham. He was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.
References
- Wagner, Neal (February 10, 2011) "Super Bowl alumni calls Pelham home." Shelby County Reporter
- Sielski, Mike (n. d.) "Flowers: 'Fastest white boy alive'." ESPN Classic