Former Trojan All-American Cleary, 73, Dies of Heart Failure

Former USC All-American football player Paul Cleary died of heart failure at his home in Laguna Beach on Monday. He was 73.

Cleary is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Orange County Sports Hall of Fame.

He was a longtime president of R.J. Noble Company, an asphalt paving, construction and engineering firm based in the City of Orange.

He graduated from Santa Ana High in 1940, was captain of the 1942 Santa Ana College (now Rancho Santiago Community College) football team that won a national championship, and served in the Army during World War II before attending USC in 1946. He was the captain of USC’s 1948 Rose Bowl team.

Cleary had been in failing health since 1992, when he had hip-replacement surgery. His recuperation was complicated by a severe infection and blood poisoning.

He is survived by his wife Jean, sons Paul Jr. and Tim, daughters Cynthia and Laurel, nine grandchildren and one great grandchild. Fairhaven Mortuary is handling arrangements, which have not been finalized.

For more information, call Jim Grace at R.J. Noble Co., (714) 637-1550.