Gonzaga University Athletics

Cecil Hare was a bright star in the twilight of football at Gonzaga University. Cecil, who came to the University from Sheridan, Ore., played fullback on Gonzaga’s last winning team in 1940, capping a career which saw him start every game for three seasons. He sandwiched professional football around Navy service, where he played for the great Chapel Hill Pre-flight team and piloted torpedo bombers. In four National Football League seasons, he played on three divisional championship teams and with Washington’s 1942 NFL title team. Cecil teamed with his brother, Ray, on the 1941 and 1942 Redskin teams. He was especially effective as a blocking back and his defensive play was legendary. In a crucial 1941 game at Pittsburgh he knocked down three passes inside the Washington 10-yard line to kill a late-game threat. Moments later he stopped another opportunity with two game-saving tackles at the 5 in a 24-20 win.