Mel Farr dies at 70; former UCLA running back played for Detroit Lions

Mel Farr, the former UCLA running back who rushed for more than 3,000 yards in seven pro seasons with the Detroit Lions, has died at the age of 70.

Farr finished seventh in the voting for the 1966 Heisman Trophy when he played for UCLA and then was drafted in the first round the next year. He was the offensive rookie of the year in his first season and spent his entire NFL career with Detroit, retiring in 1973.

“As both a player and a businessman, Mel was blessed with many talents and a personality to match.” Lions President Tom Lewand said in a statement Tuesday. “Mel truly lived a life of distinction and will be missed.”

In 1970, Farr rushed for 717 yards, helping the Lions go 10-4 in the regular season and reach the playoffs for the first time since 1957. He was named to play in the 1968 and 1971 NFL Pro Bowls.

Farr finished his pro career with 3,072 yards on 739 carries and would go on to a second career selling cars in the Detroit area.

At one point, Farr owned about a dozen dealerships in several states and appeared in TV commercials as the cape-wearing Mel Farr Superstar.

But the spiraling cost of thousands of bad loans, lawsuits and overexpansion helped lead to the end of his business empire.

Farr’s brother, Miller, and two sons, Mel Jr. and Mike, also played in the NFL. Mike Farr spent time with the Lions.

Farr, along with then-teammate Lem Barney, sang backup in 1971 on Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On.” The song went gold. Farr and Barney said they were playing golf with the Motown legend when Gaye came up with the tune.

In addition to his sons, Farr is survived by his wife, Jasmine, and two daughters, Monet and Milan.

news.obits@latimes.com