Bill Lund dies at 84

09.30.2008

Bill Lund, a versatile two-way halfback on the 1946 and '47 clubs, has passed away a month shy of what would have been his 84th birthday. A resident of the Cleveland suburb of Chagrin Falls, he died last Saturday of complications from MDS, a type of bone marrow cancer that he had been battling for several years.

His death means there are just three surviving members of the 1946 Browns: Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Dante Lavelli, center Mike "Mo" Scarry and middle linebacker Lou Saban.

Born just south of Cleveland in Akron on Oct. 27, 1924, Lund was a star quarterback and halfback at Cuyahoga Falls High School, where he also played basketball and ran track.

He went on to play all three sports at Case Tech, now Case Western Reserve University, and in football was a triple threat as a runner, passer and kicker. He was outstanding there in track as well, winning the national AAU championship in what was then called the broad jump, now the long jump, in 1944 with an effort of almost 25 feet.

In addition, as a sprinter, he was consistently timed in 9.7 seconds in the 100-yard dash.

Then it was off to the Navy, where he served as an ensign aboard a destroyer in the Pacific Theatre in the last part of World War II.

After the war, he signed with the Browns and was part of an All-America Football Conference championship team both seasons. In 1946, he rushed 23 times for 72 yards and a touchdown, had four pass receptions for 64 yards and two scores, intercepted a pass, averaged 15 yards on two punt returns and returned a kickoff 32 yards.

He accounted for three TDs -- two rushing and one receiving -- again in 1947. He had 14 carries for 105 yards, a healthy 7.5 yards-per-attempt average, and caught six passes for 110 yards, averaging 18.3 yards per reception.

He continued as a kickoff returner, averaging 18.5 yards on two tries, and intercepted two passes.

Not bad for a player who, at just 178 pounds, was the second-lightest member of the team.

Lund's wife of 62 years, Adrian, is among his survivors. Funeral arrangements are pending.