RIP: Jack Kemp

[A.E]

Former NFL quarterback turned Congressman Jack Kemp died on Saturday at the age of 73.

Self described as a "bleeding-heart conservative", Kemp passed away following a long illness at his home in Bethesda, Maryland. According to his campaign and doctors, Kemp's illness was an unknown type of cancer and was in an advanced stage.

A former Buffalo Bills quarterback, Kemp held a seat in congress for 9 terms and then 1 unsuccessful bid at the United States Presidency. Kemp served as George (the elder) Bush's housing secretary and as Bob Dole's running mate, before seeing his way out of public office.

Kemp was a 17th round 1957 NFL draft pick by the Detroit Lions, but was cut before the season began. After being released by three more NFL teams and the Canadian Football League over the next three years, he joined the American Football League's Los Angeles Chargers as a free agent in 1960. A waivers foul-up two years later would land him with the Buffalo Bills, who got him at the bargain basement price of $100.

Kemp led Buffalo to the 1964 and 1965 AFL Championships, and won the league's most valuable player award in 1965. He co-founded the AFL Players Association in 1964 and was elected president of the union for five terms. When he retired from football in 1969, Kemp had enough support in blue-collar Buffalo and its suburbs to win an open congressional seat.

This guy is a legend in the area of my hometown. Never agreed with his political views but I will say that he was a perfect representative of the Western New York area. Blue-collar, great work ethic and took nothing for granted. Jack Kemp has always stood out to me b/c when I was first learning the game of football, as a wee-little-tike, I remember my Dad explaining to me how a football player could turn into a politician. I think the conversation was b/c I had an old Pro-Line football card of Kemp showing him as a Politician on one side & a Bills' QB on the other.

In any event, Rest in Peace Jack. -AE