John B. Barrow (October 31, 1935 – February 17, 2015) was an American college and professional football player who was an offensive and defensive tackle in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for fourteen seasons in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Barrow played college football for the University of Florida, and was recognized as an All-American. Thereafter, he played professionally for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL, and was later inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
Early life and college
Barrow was born in Delray Beach, Florida, in 1935.CFLapedia.com, Hall of Fame, John Barrow. Retrieved August 26, 2011. He attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he was an offensive and defensive lineman for coach Bob Woodruff's Florida Gators football team from 1954 to 1956. 2012 Florida Football Media Guide , University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 76, 79, 87, 89, 102, 104, 115, 176 (2012). Retrieved September 15, 2012. As a senior in 1956, he was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection, a Football Writers Association of America first-team All-American, and the Gators' team captain. Barrow was later inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great."F Club, Hall of Fame, Gator Greats. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
Professional career
The Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) selected Barrow in the fifth round (59th pick overall) of the 1957 NFL draft, but he opted to play in the CFL instead. He played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from to as a defensive tackle and offensive tackle. He was an All-Star 11 times on defence and 4 times on offence and was voted the CFL "lineman of the century" in .Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Museum, Hall of Famers, John Barrow. Retrieved August 26, 2011. Barrow was a member of four Grey Cup-winning Tiger-Cats teams (1957, 1963, 1965, 1967), and played in five other Grey Cup championship games (1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1964).
Retiring as a player after the season, Barrow became the Toronto Argonauts general manager from to . He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1976, and was voted one of the CFL's top 50 players (17th) of all-time in a poll conducted by Canadian sports network TSN in 2006. Barrow died February 17, 2015, at his home in Missouri City, Texas; he was 79 years old.Canadian Press, " Former Ticats lineman John Barrow dead at 79," SportsNet.ca (February 18, 2015). Retrieved February 18, 2015.Ken Peters, " Captain John 1935–2015: Icon of dominant, tough, winning Ticat teams," The Hamilton Spectator (February 18, 2015). Retrieved February 18, 2015.
See also 1956 College Football All-America Team Florida Gators Florida Gators football, 1950–59 List of Canadian Football Hall of Fame inductees List of Florida Gators football All-Americans List of University of Florida alumni List of University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame members
References
External links
– Canadian Football Hall of Fame video biography of John Barrow