Yale Lary

Robert Yale Lary Sr. (November 24, 1930 – May 11, 2017) was an American professional football player, businessman, and politician who played 11 seasons as a safety, punter, and return specialist for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Lary played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies from 1949 to 1951 and was selected as a first-team defensive back on the 1951 All-Southwest Conference team. He also played baseball at Texas A&M, leading his team to the 1951 College World Series and setting a Southwest Conference record for doubles.

Lary played with the Lions from 1952 to 1953 and from 1956 to 1964, missing the 1954 and 1955 seasons due to military service as an Army second lieutenant in Korea. He appeared in nine Pro Bowl games and was a first-team All-NFL player five times. He led the NFL in punting three times and retired in 1964.

He was selected for the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979. Lary was also inducted into the Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.