E. Jones, 80; Football Star Had Handicap

Ellis Jones, an All-American football player for the University of Tulsa during the 1940s despite having just one arm, has died. He was 80.

Jones died Feb. 24 at a hospital in Greeley, Colo., of injuries sustained in a fall at his home.

Playing when collegiate ranks were depleted by wartime manpower requirements, Jones was a standout on offense and defense for the Oklahoma team. Tulsa’s 1943 squad included 24 players who were classified 4-F, unsuitable for military service.

“He was one of the best football players I ever saw, in that he absolutely worked at full speed all the time,” said Glenn Dobbs, who was an All-American halfback on Tulsa’s excellent football squad in 1942.

“He was intelligent, tough, strong, fast, and nobody ever thought about him just having one arm after they saw him do something one time,” Dobbs added.

“They knew he was a winner.”

Jones grew up in Abilene, Texas, but lost his arm at the age of 11 after falling out of a tree and suffering a compound fracture. The arm was amputated eight inches below the shoulder after he developed gangrene.

“It never occurred to me that I could not keep playing football,” Jones told a reporter years later.

“I guess I was too dumb to think I could not do it.”

He started three years at left guard on offense for Tulsa. He also played defense.

“My theory was you had to run over me, or I tried to shoot through you,” Jones said of his prowess on defense.

“I missed some tackles. Everyone does.”

Those Tulsa teams were among the nation’s best. The 1942 squad was rated No. 4 by the Associated Press after posting a 10-0 record.

Jones played in the 1945 College All Star game against the Chicago Bears and played an NFL season with the Boston Yanks.

In 1983, the University of Tulsa retired his number and inducted him into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

He worked as a broker of oil and natural gas leases after his football career ended.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara; two daughters; a brother; and six grandchildren.