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20th Century Top 50: Utah
|
|
Rank |
Profile |
|
1 |
Merlin
Olsen , Logan
All-America defensive tackle at Utah State went on to sterling 15-year career
with Rams; 1974 NFL player of the
year. |
|
2 |
Natalie
Williams , Salt Lake City
Two-time NCAA player of the year in volleyball at UCLA was also two-time
All-America in basketball; 1998 ABL MVP, now with WNBA's Utah
Starzz. |
|
3 |
Jim
McMahon , Roy
Set 71 NCAA passing records at BYU; Bears' second-leading alltime passer (11,203
yards); led club to Super Bowl XX
win. |
|
4 |
Mac
Speedie , Salt Lake City
Browns receiver set AAFC record with 211 receptions from 1946 to '49; had
NFL-best 62 catches with Cleveland in
'52. |
|
5 |
Gene
Fullmer , West Jordan
State's first world boxing champ won middleweight title in 1957, over Sugar Ray
Robinson. |
|
6 |
Bruce
Hardy , Copperton
Bingham High legend was two-time state MVP in football and basketball; tight
end with Dolphins from 1978 to
'89. |
|
7 |
Lewis
Feild , Kamas
World all-around rodeo champion in 1985, '86, '87; bareback titlist in '85,
'86. |
|
8 |
LaVell
Edwards , Orem
All-Conference halfback at Utah State in 1950 has coached BYU football team to
251 wins, 19 conference titles and '84 national
championship. |
|
9 |
Larry H.
Miller , Salt Lake City
One of U.S.'s top fast-pitch softball hurlers in 1970s; under his ownership,
Jazz has gone to playoffs 14 straight
years. |
|
10 |
Blaine
Lindgren , Magna
Won silver in 110-meter high hurdles at 1964 Olympics, gold in high hurdles
at '63 Pan Am
Games. |
|
11 |
Jay
Silvester , Tremonton
Five-time AAU discus champion was in four Olympics, winning silver at 1972
Games. |
|
12 |
Dick
Motta , Sandy
Cut from Jordan High basketball team as senior in 1948; rebounded to win 935
games as NBA coach, including '78 championship with
Bullets.
|
|
13 |
Bruce
Hurst , St. George
All-state basketball player at Dixie High; 2-0 for Red Sox in 1986 World
Series; 145-113 career mark in
majors. |
|
14 |
Rulon
Jones , Ogden
Utah State star was UPI's 1986 AFC Defensive Player of the Year with Broncos,
setting team record with 13 1/2
sacks. |
|
15 |
Al
Cornum , Provo
Coached Highland High golf team to nine state titles from 1962 to '74;
315-67 dual-meet
record.
|
|
16 |
Alma
Richards , Parowan
Cleared 6'4" to win gold medal in high jump at
1912 Olympics. |
|
17 |
Arnie
Ferrin , Ogden
Only four-year All-America in Utah basketball history; won NBA championship with
Lakers in 1949-50; former Utah athletic
director. |
|
18 |
Marv
Bateman , Salt Lake City
Led nation in punting as junior and senior at Utah in 1970 and '71; averaged
40.9 yards in six seasons with Cowboys and
Bills. |
|
19 |
Vance
Law , Provo
All-Star third baseman with Cubs in 1988 hit .256 in 11 seasons in majors; son
of Vern Law, a top pitcher for
Pirates. |
|
20 |
Gifford
Nielsen , Provo
Led nation in passing yards and TDs as BYU junior in 1976; was effective backup
in six NFL seasons with
Oilers. |
|
21 |
Missy
Marlowe , Salt Lake City
Twelve-time All-America gymnast at Utah; won 1992 Broderick Cup as nation's top
female
athlete.
|
|
22 |
Shawn
Bradley , Castle Dale
BYU basketball star is one of five NBA players to have 20-point, 20-rebound,
10-block
game. |
|
23 |
Ab
Jenkins , Salt Lake City
Set more than 60 auto endurance records; set world record in 1927 by driving
from New York to San Francisco in 76
hours. |
|
24 |
Dick
Nemelka , Salt Lake City
Three-sport All-America at West High led BYU basketball team to 1966 NIT
championship; won '71 ABA title with Utah
Stars. |
|
25 |
John
Thompson , St. George
Led Dixie High to 1925 state basketball title; four-time All-America at
Montana
State.
|
|
26 |
Denise
Parker , South Jordan
Won bronze medal at 14 as member of 1988 U.S. Olympic archery team; won '87 Pan
Am Games archery title and '99 U.S. national
crown. |
|
27 |
Jan
Bucher , Salt Lake City
American freestyle skier won 64 individual World Cup events; world titles in
1986,
'89.
|
|
28 |
Julie
Krommenhoek , American Fork
From 1994 to '98, four-time All-America set Utah women's basketball marks for
career points, steals, free throw percentage and
three-pointers. |
|
29 |
Danny (Little Red)
Lopez , Fort Duchesne
WBC featherweight champion defended belt eight times from 1977 to
'80. |
|
30 |
Fred
Roberts , Riverton
All-WAC forward at BYU played 13 seasons in NBA; scored career-high 10.8 points
per game with Bucks in
1990-91.
|
|
31 |
Lori
Parrish-Salvo , Kaysville
Utah basketball, track and volleyball star from 1976 to '81; 1,432 points in
basketball is sixth best in school
history. |
|
32 |
Danny
Vranes , Salt Lake City
Undefeated wrestler in four years at Utah in 1930s; three-year tackle on
football
squad. |
|
33 |
Scott
Mitchell , Springville
Set 10 NCAA passing records at Utah from 1987 to '89; now backup quarterback
for
Ravens. |
|
34 |
Dick
Felt , Lehi
BYU defensive back intercepted 18 passes over seven AFL seasons with Titans and
Patriots in
1960s. |
|
35 |
Frank
Christensen , Salt Lake City
In 1932 Utah fullback became school's first UP (now UPI) All-America; rushed for
304 yards as rookie with Lions in
'34. |
|
36 |
Fern
Gardner , Dweyville
Joined Utah Shamrocks amateur softball team at age 14; 174 wins as women's
basketball coach at Utah from 1975 to
'83.
|
|
37 |
Gene
Upshaw , Robstown
NAIA All-America offensive lineman at Texas A&I; Raiders stalwart from 1967
to '82; NFL Players Association
president. |
|
38 |
Rex
Layne , Lewiston
As 3-to-1 underdog, won 10-round heavyweight decision over Jersey Joe
Walcott in
1950. |
|
39 |
Elmer (Bear)
Ward , Brigham City
Utah State center was school's first All-America, in 1934; played for Lions in
'35 NFL Championship Game
victory. |
|
40 |
Devin
Durrant , Provo
All-America at Provo High in 1979 averaged school-record 27.9 points for BYU in
1984.
|
|
41 |
Jay Van
Noy , Richmond
Utah State defensive backled nation in interceptions in 1948; only pro
action came in brief '51 stint with baseball's
Cardinals. |
|
42 |
Stan
Watts , Murray
Weber State basketball standout coached BYU to two NIT titles and 372 wins
from 1949 to
'72.
|
|
43 |
Phil
Olsen , Logan
All-America defensive tackle at Utah State; Patriots' top pick in 1970;
played four years with brother Merlin on
Rams.
|
|
44 |
Jay Don
Blake , St. George
1980 NCAA golf champion and '81 collegiate player of the year at Utah State; has
one win, five runners-up in 13 seasons on PGA
Tour. |
|
45 |
Herman
Franks , Salt Lake City
Major league catcher for six seasons; managed Giants to four second-place
finishes and 367 wins from 1965 to
'68.
|
|
46 |
Bruce
Summerhays , Salt Lake City
All-America golfer at Utah in 1966 won more than $1 million on Senior tour in
1999. |
|
47 |
Wilma
Swenson , Grantsville
Fast-pitch softball star of 1940s and '50s tossed nearly 50 no-hitters for
Utah
Shamrocks.
|
|
48 |
David
Freed , Salt Lake City
Captained Utah tennis team in 1930s; defeated Bill Maxwell to take '54 U.S.
Senior singles title; U.S. Davis Cup captain in '60 and
'61. |
|
49 |
Occie
Evans , Salt Lake City
All-state in football, basketball and baseball at LDS High in
mid-1920s. |
|
50 |
Doug
Howard , Salt Lake City
All-America infielder at Highland High; hit .427 for BYU in 1970; All-WAC
basketball player and Cougars' leading scorer in '68-69,
'69-70. |
