Arnie Herber: Beyond the gridiron

Continued from last week

Arnie Herber, the Packer passing immortal, has been contacted by Hollywood agents to play the role of Jim Thorpe, the one-time [Native American] athlete, as a youth…Herber bears a striking resemblance to Thorpe and is young enough to portray the ‘action’ part of Thorpe’s athletic life,” Green Bay Sportswriter Art Daley stated in a January 1950 edition of the Press-Gazette.

The film — titled “The All-American” — chronicled the success and heartbreak of Thorpe as he won both the pentathlon and decathlon in the Olympics.

His medals were later revoked for playing two seasons of semi-professional baseball before competing.

But ultimately, Burt Lancaster was chosen to play Thorpe in the 1951 film.

Though his opportunity for an acting career was lost, Herber’s legacy continued to ripple through sports pages — often referred to as “immortal” and “brilliant.”

During the 1952 Pro Bowl game in Los Angeles, Curly Lambeau, by then the former coach of both the Packers and the Chicago Cardinals, Lambeau compared Herber’s skill with the 1952 athletes.

“Herber probably was the most accurate long passer of them all,” he said, “although Arnie wasn’t so good on the shorter passes.

In November 1951, Herber and Johnny Blood (McNally) were selected for the Helms Athletic Foundation Professional Football Hall of Fame in Los Angeles.

Herber continued to make appearances when called upon and willingly granted interviews with local media in his years following retirement.

News coverage reflects his fair and objective input during these days.

Upon former Packer Head Coach Curly Lambeau’s passing in June 1965, Herber chimed in with many others in remembering the sometimes cantankerous coach with words of objectivity and praise.

“I doubt if the league would exist today without the likes of Lambeau,” said George Halas, the then owner-coach of the Chicago Bears.

“His vision and foresight made the Packers and the National Football League what they are today,” said former Packers Guard Buckets Goldenberg.

“Either you wanted to do it or not. It was up to you. There was no whip cracking by Curly,” added Herber, the words echoing through newspapers across the country.

But Herber could not completely escape being featured on the screen.

In February 1966, WFRV-TV Channel 5 aired the first viewing of the “Arnie Herber Story,” featuring Herber’s arrival in pro football and his 10 years with the Packers.

The video featured interviews with Johnny Blood and Clarke Hinkle, and continued to be featured during local events around the city.
But that would not be the pinnacle of his legacy.

To be continued