University of Georgia Athletics
UGA's Oldest Football Letterman, Glenn Lautzenhiser Dies in Mississippi
February 24, 2003 | Football
Feb. 24, 2003
ATHENS, Ga. -- Glenn Lautzenhiser, Georgia's oldest football letterman, died on Sunday at his home in Columbus, Miss. He was 96 years old. Born March 7, 1906, Lautzenhiser was a four-sport standout for the Bulldogs, competing in football, basketball, baseball and track from 1926-28. A tackle, Lautzenhiser was a member of the "Dream and Wonder" 1927 football team that narrowly missed playing for a national championship at the Rose Bowl. He was the football team's co-captain his senior year.
Lautzenhiser was honored at the Georgia-Georgia Southern football game in 2000 as Georgia's oldest living letterman. According to his son, Glenn Jr., Lautzenhiser envisioned a return trip to Athens.
"He told all of us that his goal was to walk onto the field at Sanford Stadium at the age of 100, and we all really thought he would," Lautzenhiser Jr. said. "He was extremely active. He really loved Georgia. He was a phenomenal athlete, he had some incredible experiences at Georgia and he met a lot of people. He really appreciated his relationship with Georgia."
Playing at Georgia, Lautzenhiser had many unique opportunities, meeting famed Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne on several occasions and competing against Alabama's Johnny Mack Brown, a future movie star. The Bulldogs made three trips to Connecticut to face Yale during Lautzenhiser's playing days. The trips were made by train and meant leaving on Wednesday for a Saturday game and returning on Monday. After his career at Georgia, Lautzenhiser worked for Coca-Cola, Goodyear Tires and a plastics company in Memphis, Tenn. Lautzenhiser's funeral will be held Thursday in Columbus, Miss. He will be buried in Memphis, Tenn., on Friday.
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