LARRY PEACE: A new entry today in our ongoing contest to name
Bradford’s “greatest” athlete.

We heard from Derrick Milne of Bradford: “First of all, I would
like to congratulate all the past athletes of Bradford and the
current ones, Copeland and Foster. What an achievement.”

Derrick continues, “I would like to express who I think is the
greatest athlete from Bradford. I believe it was Larry Peace. He
was a great all-around athlete. He played football under Bob Pflug.
He was asked to play varsity ball when he was a freshman. This was
quite an achievement back then. The freshmen class did not even
attend the high school. He enjoyed a great high school career,
never losing a football game in 1933, ’34 and ’35 seasons. That’s
pretty impressive.”

“He was also a track star. He earned medals at districts and
states for hurdles and shot put. At the end of his high school
career, he received a scholarship to play football at the
University of Pittsburgh. A powerhouse back in those days, he was a
blocking back and a kicker (both field goals and punts). His
college career was cut short his senior year when his father took
ill and he was needed to help support the family.

“Larry Peace was a walk-on player for the Buffalo Indians of the
AFL, and then his contract was bought out from the NFL Brooklyn
Dodgers.

“His NFL career was cut short in 1942 with World War II. After
returning from the military, his playing days were behind him.

“But there is a special room in Canton, Ohio, at the
Professional Football Hall of Fame that is dedicated to NFL players
who served their country. On that wall are two players from
Bradford, Larry Peace and Henry Goodman. I feel this is an honor
for two hometown guys who played high school football together for
Bradford’s greatest team, the ’33-’35 Owls. Both went on to
college, and then on to the NFL.

“In later years, the legendary Coach Pflug was asked who the
best football player was that he ever coached, and without
hesitation, he responded, ‘Larry Peace was the toughest SOB I ever
coached.’

“So that is my pick for Bradford’s greatest athlete, Larry
Peace. My name is Derrick Milne, and he was my
great-grandfather.”