Celebrating John Reger, Sr.
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John Reger, Sr. was born in Wheeling, West Virginia on September 11, 1931. He grew up in a poor but close knit community called "Goose Town". John worked his way through high school by playing multiple sports and working in the lunch room at Linsly Military Institute in Wheeling, West Virginia and graduated in 1949.
John Sr. went on to attend the University of Pittsburgh on a football scholarship in 1950. Early in the season, he was injured during a game. John just started his new family with wife Janice and had to withdraw from school and take on several jobs to make ends meet. He sat out 4 years of college football in order to be eligible to play in the NFL when his underclass graduated. John accomplished a rare feat by walking on and making the Steelers Roster as an Undrafted Rookie in 1955.
John was a Three-Time NFL All-Pro Linebacker who starred for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1955-63 and with the Washington Redskins from 1964-66. During his career, John Sr. intercepted 15 passes, had 20 career fumble recoveries and made two defensive touchdowns. He has been inducted into several sports halls of fame.
There were also several milestone achievements based on John's career that literally shaped the NFL today. During a game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles in November 1963, John substained a blow to his head from a knee of an opposing player he was trying to tackle. He almost died on the field with his air flow cut off by swallowing his tongue, but was saved due to quick thinking of the team physician by opening up an air passage in his throat. However, there was no emergency oxygen tanks on the sidelines. From that day forward to today, oxygen is now a mandatory at every game.
In 1959, he lead a courageous and successful battle with fellow players in an effort to convince the NFL owners to allow for the formation of a union. Their primary mission was to establish a pension plan when NFL players reached retirement age. John served as the first Secretary/Treasurer of the NFL Players Association from 1959 until he retired as an active player in 1966.
Through most of his NFL career and after, he also was an entrepreneur owning several small businesses including a locally famous establishment that operated in downtown Tampa from 1970 until 1986 named the "Damshanty Restaurant". Before the advent of the sports bar, there were numerous local characters, athletes, and young members of the media that used to hangout with John at his restaurant in a similar manner as the long running TV show comedy "Cheers".
John was an avid golfer who enjoyed playing in charity golf outings and conducted several successful NFL Alumni golf events in the Tampa Bay Area. For a number of years, John assisted Coach Frank George with the Chamberlin High School Girls Golf Team as they won back to back FSHAA State Girls Golf Championships! He also taught the game of a lifetime to his son John Jr., who is a 32 Year Member of the PGA of America. Anytime someone was needed to fill in for an event at the Bloomingdale Golfers Club, John Sr. was always ready at a moments notice!
Only a few short years ago, John was diagnosed with Alzheimers and passed on September 19, 2013. As everyone with loved ones that suffer from this terrible disease know, there can be a lot of moments of unhappiness or indifference, but he always showed warm and kindness anytime one of his many grandchildren would come to visit him.
We love you Pop!
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