Robert Decker, Omaha
Holy Name
Athlete.
Robert attended Omaha Holy Name from 1946 through 1950 excelling in
football, basketball, and baseball. At 5-foot-7 and 150 pounds, he was
renowned for his athleticism and fierce competitiveness. His successes
contributed to Holy Name being recognized as a small-school powerhouse. Bob
was varsity starter all four years in football and basketball. As a running
back in football, he made the Class B all-State team in 1947, 1948, and
1949, World-Herald star of the week twice in each of those three years and
and Omaha Junior Chamber of Commerce outstanding athlete of the year in 1948
and 1949. He led all scorers in the Omaha area from 1947 to 1949 and was
the leading scorer for Nebraska in Class B in 1947 and 1948. In basketball
he was on teams that were twice state champions and was consensus Class B
all-state in 1948 and 1948 plus being selected World-Herald star of the week
five times from 1947 to 1950. Holy Name started baseball in 1949 but had
to compete against a predominately Class A schedule and managed winning
seasons with Bob at shortstop. He really shined in Legion baseball where he
made all-city shortstop and hit .429 his last season. He was then picked up
by the Cincinnati Reds and assigned to the Audubon (Iowa) Cardinals. Given
a full ride to UN-L for football, he lettered his sophomore year as a
defensive back and punt returner doing well enough to be given honorable
mention in The Associated Press All-Big Seven selections. In baseball he
made All-Big Seven and All-District 5 teams playing third base. He left
Nebraska after two years and enrolled at Santa Clara, which dropped football
the following year. He then transferred to Tulsa where he led the football
team in total offense and rushing and was selected All-Missouri
Valley
at quarterback, a position he rarely played. |