Father Lumpkin (Roy Lumpkin) pugile

Roy Lee "Father" Lumpkin (January 27, 1907 – March 31, 1974) was an American football player. A native of Jefferson, Texas, Lumpkin attended high school in Dallas. He played college football for Georgia Tech and was an All-Southern fullback for the undefeated 1928 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team that defeated California in the 1929 Rose Bowl. In 1929, Lumpkin left Georgia Tech to play professional football for the Portsmouth Spartans. He played five seasons for Portsmouth from 1929 to 1933 and was selected as a second-team All-Pro in 1930 and a first-team All-Pro in 1932. He played one season with the Detroit Lions in 1934 after the Spartans moved to Detroit. He scored the first touchdown in Detroit Lions history. He concluded his football career with the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1935 to 1937.Lumpkin was born in Jefferson, Texas, in 1907. He was the son of Balcombe Lumpkin and Naomi (Davis) Lumpkin. He attended Oak Cliff High School in Dallas where he played fullback for the football team in 1926.In 1927, Lumpkin enrolled at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, planning to study textile engineering. As a freshman in 1927, he was given the nickname "Father" because of his fatherly manner. As a sophomore, he helped lead the 1928 Georgia Tech Golden Tornado football team to an undefeated season and a victory over California in the 1929 Rose Bowl. Lumpkin also intercepted two passes in a 13–0 victory over Notre Dame. At the end of the season, he was selected as a fullback on the All-Southern team of Nash Higgins, chief football scout and assistant coach for the University of Florida. One writer called Lumpkin "the most powerful individual factor" on the 1928 Georgia Tech team and noted: "This big, fast and powerful backfield star, who is just as valuable as an offensive interferer as a runner, passer and pass-receiver, is the best protectionist we have seen this year in staving off opponents who attempt to reach the player who is carrying the ball."