LOS ANGELES (AP) -Elmer Willhoite, an All-American guard on Southern California’s Rose Bowl championship team in 1952, has died, USC announced Tuesday. He was 78.
Willhoite died on Aug. 21 in Hawthorne, Nev.
He played a key role in sending the Trojans to the 1953 Rose Bowl when he returned an interception 77 yards to set up the deciding touchdown in a 14-12 win over UCLA late in the 1952 regular season. USC went on to beat Wisconsin 7-0, the Pacific Coast Conference’s first Rose Bowl victory over the Big Ten representative since the conferences began their agreement in 1947.
Willhoite was drafted by the Cleveland Browns, but spent two years playing in Canada before a knee injury ended his career.
He is survived by his son Edward, stepson Bill Vassalo, and six grandchildren,
A memorial service is pending, and the family asked that any donations be made in his name to the USC athletic department.
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