UC football great Jacky Lee passes away
Tom Groeschen, tgroeschen@enquirer.com 8:32 p.m. EDT May 6, 2016
Jacky Lee was one of the top quarterbacks in University of Cincinnati history.
(Photo: GoBearcats.com)
Jacky Lee held a rare distinction in professional football, after a standout career as a University of Cincinnati quarterback.
Lee, a two-time All-Missouri Valley Conference quarterback at UC in the late 1950s, became one of only 20 men who played in each of the 10 years of the old American Football League's existence (1960-69). Lee played for the Houston Oilers, Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs. Lee was part of the Chiefs team that won Super Bowl IV.
Jack Ross "Jacky" Lee died Monday in Houston of complications from Alzheimer's disease. He was 77.
Lee was born in Minneapolis. After a family move, Lee eventually joined UC out of Ellet High School in Akron. Lee was UC's leading passer from 1957-59 and won the Claude Rost Team MVP Award as a senior. That season, he completed 56.9 percent of his passes, totaling 1,535 yards and seven touchdowns while ranking second nationally in passing and fourth in total offense. He was an All-Missouri Valley Conference honoree who capped his UC career as the program's all-time leader in completion percentage.
Lee was drafted by the NFL's then-St. Louis Cardinals in the sixth round. Lee also was the first quarterback ever drafted (first round) by the AFL's Houston Oilers, and he signed with that team. George Blanda was the regular quarterback but Lee saw extensive playing time during the Oilers' 1960 and 1961 AFL title seasons.
In 1960 Lee set an AFL record by throwing for 457 yards in a game against the then-Boston Patriots. Lee also set an AFL record in 1962, with a 98-yard touchdown pass.
In 1964, Lee became the first and only player to be "lend-leased" to another team. Lee was loaned to Denver, then returned to the Oilers two years later. Lee was traded to the Chiefs in 1967, and spent most of his final three years as backup to Len Dawson. Lee retired in 1970 after a shoulder injury.
Lee threw for 6,191 yards in his AFL career, with a 51.3 completion percentage. He threw 46 touchdown passes and 57 interceptions.
Lee later had a long career in commercial real estate in the Houston area, but he remained close to his UC roots. According to the UC website GoBearcats.com, Lee in 2007 donated $300,000 to the football program and the Bearcats named their renovated locker room after him. Lee also was inducted into the UC James P. Kelly Athletics Hall of Fame, and his name also was placed in the Nippert Stadium Ring of Honor.
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/c.../84043076/