Glenn Presnell, De Witt
An all-state football player from DeWitt,
Glenn went on to UN-L where he was all-conference for two years and part of
the team that beat Illinois and Red Grange in 1925. After college Glenn
moved on to pro football
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passing
up a contract with the New York Giants to play for the Ironton, Ohio Tanks
because they offered him a full-time teaching and coaching job in the school
system. When the Ironton franchise folded because of the depression, he
moved to the Portsmouth Spartans. In 1931 the Spartans moved to Detroit and
became the Detroit Lions. As a quarterback Glenn made All-Pro in 1931 and
1933. Glenn led the Lions to the NFL championship in 1935 beating the New
York Giants 26-7. At 5-10 and 190 pounds, the former Husker was a 60-minute
player rushing for 2, 067 yards, passing for 2,317 yards and scoring 217
points in his career. He kicked a 52-yard field goal in 1932, which stood
as an NFL record for 19 years. He returned to UN-L in 1938 as an assistant
coach and became head coach in 1942 for one year. After duty with the Army
he took on the job of head football coach and athletic director at Eastern
Kentucky until his retirement in 1972. Reaching the age of 98 this year
Glenn is the oldest living NFL player and the oldest living ex-Nebraska
football coach. Glenn was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame
in 1973. He and his wife live in Ironton