Al Pollard, 73; Prep Star Played for Army, Eagles

Al Pollard, one of Southern California’s most renowned prep football players, who went on to play for the legendary Vince Lombardi at Army and later played in the National Football League, has died. He was 73.

Pollard died Sunday of lymphoma at his home in the Philadelphia suburb of Devon.

He was a star T-formation halfback at Loyola High School, scoring 23 touchdowns his senior year. He was also an exceptional passer, punter and kick returner, as well as a fine defensive player.

Paul Zimmerman, a former Times sports editor, wrote that Pollard was “the most widely sought prep star since Glenn Davis left Bonita High and went to Army.”

After playing briefly at Loyola University in Los Angeles, Pollard left in 1949 for West Point, where he played under Lombardi, then Army’s backfield coach.

After a 1950 season in which Pollard led Army in scoring and averaged 7.3 yards per carry, he was among 90 cadets--including the son of head Coach Red Blaik--who resigned from the academy in connection with a cribbing scandal.

Pollard then signed with the New York Yanks of the National Football League. After the Yanks waived him in November 1951, he was claimed by the Philadelphia Eagles and played for them from 1951 to 1953.

He later played for the British Columbia Lions and the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League.

While in Canada, Pollard became involved in several business ventures, operating a restaurant and a beverage distributorship.

He also began a career in broadcasting, becoming sports director for a radio station in Vancouver. In 1969, he rejoined the Eagles as a color commentator on their broadcasts, a post he held until 1976.

After leaving the Eagle broadcasting booth, Pollard ran a tennis and ice-skating facility in Pennsylvania and worked in sales for a commercial printing business.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Patricia; sons John and Kurt; daughter Melissa Mozer; and eight grandchildren.