Don Stonesifer (1999) - Hall of Fame - Northwestern Athletics

Don Stonesifer

Induction:
1999
Class:
1950

Don “Stoney” Stonesifer enrolled at Northwestern after serving in the Army Air Force in World War II, swimming for one year and playing football for four (veterans were eligible as freshmen at the time). An Associated Press first-team All-America end in 1950 when he caught 42 passes for 560 yards in nine games, he was picked to start the East-West Shrine Game, both Hula Bowl games and the College All-Star game. He scored winning touchdowns in each Hula Bowl contest. He graduated holding most Northwestern and Big Ten pass receiving records, including the NU single-game mark of 13 receptions that stood for an astonishing 32 years until 1982. Stonesifer caught the only completed pass in the 1949 Rose Bowl, a first-down grab on third and 11 that sparked NU’s winning drive in the game.

Stonesifer was drafted in the third round of the 1951 Draft by the Chicago Cardinals. He went on to have a six-year career in which he caught 231 passes for 2,901 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was an honorable mention All-Pro selection in 1953.