Wikipedia

Benny Lefebvre

Benny M. Lefebvre (lə-FEE-vər;[1] November 16, 1912 – April 2, 1994) was an American athlete and sports coach. After graduating from Manual Arts High School, Lefebvre had a long career in professional football that spanned from 1934 to 1949. He also served as head baseball coach at Pepperdine University from 1940 to 1941, and in 1962. He later coached several high school baseball and football teams until his retirement in 1985. His four brothers each played football, and his three sons each signed professional baseball contracts.

Benny Lefebvre
Lefebvre at St. Bernard High School, c. 1977
Biographical details
Born(1912-11-16)November 16, 1912
Douglas, Arizona, U.S.
DiedApril 2, 1994(1994-04-02) (aged 81)
Alma materPepperdine University
Playing career
Football
1934Long Beach Longshoremen
1935Los Angeles Maroons
1936Hollywood Stars
1937Los Angeles Spoilers
1937Hollywood All-Stars
1940–1941, 1947, 1949Los Angeles Spoilers
Rugby
1940Los Angeles Spoilers
Position(s)Quarterback, halfback, safety
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Baseball
1940–1941Pepperdine
c. 1947–1951Crenshaw Post American Legion
1956Pius X HS
1957Villanova Preparatory
1957–1959St. John Vianney HS
1960–1961Morningside HS
1962Pepperdine
?–1975Murphy HS
1976–1985St. Bernard HS
Football
1941, 1946–1947, 1949Los Angeles Spoilers
1946Southern California Military Academy
1955Pius X HS
1956Villanova Preparatory
1957–1959St. John Vianney HS
Accomplishments and honors
Awards

Early life and education

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Lefebvre was born on November 16, 1912, in Douglas, Arizona.[2][3] He attended Manual Arts High School, where he played football and baseball, and graduated in 1931.[4] He attended Pepperdine University from 1937 to 1941.[4]

Professional career

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Shortly after graduating from high school, Lefebvre started a professional football career. In 1934, he played for the Long Beach Longshoremen along with his brother Gil, and played at left halfback. In a 28–0 win against the Western Eagles, he scored a safety by tackling Paul Neva as the latter attempted to run on a fake punt.[5] He also scored a touchdown in a 45–0 win over the Riverside Athletic Club.[6]

In October 1935, Lefebvre was signed by the Los Angeles Maroons.[7] Standing five feet, six inches, and weighing just 150 pounds, he was the smallest player on the team and was dubbed their "mighty mite."[8][7] On October 20, Benny started at halfback for the Maroons, and faced off against his brother Gil, who was the starter in the same position for the Hollywood Braves.[9] Before 10,000 spectators at Gilmore Stadium, the Maroons won by six points in a 13–7 victory.[10] A ten-yard run by Lefebvre to the Braves' one-yard line set up the game-winning score by Jim Keefer.[11] The News-Pilot reported that he "played a starring role" in the game which "was replete with spectacular passing maneuvers" and was "a thrilling pro football" match.[11] Newspapers reported that he "weighs but 150 pounds but has proved to be one of the hardest men to stop in the uptown pro games."[12]

The Los Angeles Times reported that Lefebvre "is one of the shiftiest open-field runners in the professional league and is the player most feared by Coach Dick Mulhaupt's [Westwood] Cubs. Lefebvre is a touchdown threat every time he lugs the ball."[13] Against the Cubs on Thanksgiving Day, the Maroons won 13–7 on a touchdown by Lefebvre. The Times wrote that on the game-winning score, Lefebvre "broke over left tackle on a spinner," and after being "cornered behind the line of scrimmage ... twisted, squirmed and ducked out of the grasps of no less than four Cub tacklers, broke into the open and dashed to the touchdown."[14]

The following game was a rematch with the Hollywood Braves, who featured his brother Gil at starting left halfback.[15] The Maroons lost 14–21 after blowing an early lead, allowing the Braves to score 15 points in the final quarter.[16] Lefebvre helped the team eventually reach the league championship, where they lost 6–10 against the Westwood Cubs in an upset.[17] On January 19, 1936, Lefebvre was voted the league's most valuable player.[18]

In 1936, Lefebvre played for the independent Hollywood Stars, coached by Clark DeGroot.[19] Late in the season, he and his brother were part of Erny Pinckert's All-Stars, who lost 20–51 in an exhibition game against the Chicago Bears. He was described as one of the stars of the game.[20]

Lefebvre was signed by the Los Angeles Spoilers in 1937.[21] He also operated a six-man football team called Lefebvre's All-Stars.[22] Later in the season, he signed with the independent Hollywood All-Stars.[23]

In 1940, Lefebvre briefly played at the three-quarters position in rugby union for the Los Angeles Spoilers (also known as the Spoilers Athletic Club).[24][25] He also played for the Spoilers A. C. football team.[26] He was described as a "touchdown threat every time he touches the oval [football]."[25]

Lefebvre played again for the Spoilers football team in 1941, and was described as a triple-threat player by the Southwest Topics-Wave.[27] He also served as the team's head coach. His younger brother Everett was on the Spoiler roster.[28] He threw the game-winning touchdown in a 6–0 win over the Valley All-Stars.[29]

After not playing from 1942 to 1946, Lefebvre returned to the Spoiler football team in 1947 as a player-manager.[30][31] He had previously served as head coach of the Spoilers in 1946.[32] He spent a final season as Spoiler's player-manager in 1949 before retiring.[33] Despite being 36, he was still described as "get[ting] around plenty fast enough," although it was noted that Lefebvre was "slowing down."[34]

Coaching career

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Lefebvre joined Pepperdine University as a student in 1937, and became the school's head baseball coach in 1940.[4] He coached the team for two seasons before leaving after his graduation in 1941.[4]

In 1946, Lefebvre served as coach of the Spoilers Athletic Club, as well as the football team at Southern California Military Academy.[35][32] He became the coach of the Crenshaw Post American Legion baseball team in c. 1947, and competing with over 16,000 other teams, led them to the national championship in 1951.[36][4] He also served as playground supervisor at Rancho Cienega Playground in Los Angeles.[36]

In 1955, Lefebvre was named head football coach at Pius X High School in Downey, California.[37] He also served as the baseball coach.[4] In August 1956, he transferred to Villanova Preparatory School in Ojai.[38] He became a coach at St. John Vianney High School the following year.[39] He returned to the school for the 1958 season, coaching his three sons who attended the school in football and baseball.[40] In 1960, he left for a position at Morningside High School with his sons, because they "were not getting good baseball competition."[41][42]

In 1962, Lefebvre was named head baseball coach at Pepperdine University, where he had previously served in that position from 1940 to 1941.[4] After one season, it was announced that he would not return for another year.[43]

Lefebvre later served as baseball coach at Murphy High School, before leaving for St. Bernard High School in 1976.[44] He was named Bay Area Coach of the Year after bringing St. Bernard, who had won just two games the prior year, to a record of 22–3 in his first season.[45][42] Lefebvre led them to a 16–6 record in his second season.[42] He continued as the school's coach until retiring at the age of 72 in 1985.[46][47]

Personal life and death

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Lefebvre's three sons each signed professional baseball contracts, and all four of his brothers played football.[34][42]

For several years, Lefebvre operated a summer sports camp on Catalina Island. In 1971, The Los Angeles Times reported that he "is reputed to have more alumni playing major league baseball than any other sports camp director."[48]

Lefebvre died on April 2, 1994, at the age of 81.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Hendrickson, Joe (March 5, 1965). "Lefebvre: Rhyme It With La Fever". Pasadena Independent. p. 31 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ a b "Benny M. Lefebvre". Arizona Republic. April 6, 1994. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ "Benny LeFebvre[sic] Stats". Pro Football Archives.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Baseball topic at this home". Southwest Topics-Wave. April 12, 1962. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ "Longshoremen Grid Team Drubs Eagles". News-Pilot. November 19, 1934. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ "Longshoremen Gridders Trounce Riverside, 45–0". News-Pilot. December 3, 1934. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.  
  7. ^ a b "Ben Lefebvre With Maroons". News-Pilot. October 7, 1935. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.  
  8. ^ Coughlin, Gene (October 18, 1935). "Second Guess". Los Angeles Evening Post-Record. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.  
  9. ^ "Brothers In Grid Battle". The Los Angeles Times. October 17, 1935. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.  
  10. ^ "Maroons Win Tricky Pro Game". Los Angeles Evening Post-Record. October 21, 1935. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.  
  11. ^ a b "Benny LeFebvre[sic] Stars in Maroons' 13-7 Victory". News-Pilot. October 21, 1935. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.  
  12. ^ "LeFebvre[sic] Expected to Star in Pro Contest". News-Pilot. October 31, 1935. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.  
  13. ^ "Cubs Tackle Maroons in Pro Football Feature at Gilmore Stadium Today". The Los Angeles Times. November 3, 1935. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.  
  14. ^ "LeFebvre's[sic] Touchdown Dash Gives Maroons 13-7 Victory Over Westwood Cubs". The Los Angeles Times. November 29, 1935. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com.  
  15. ^ "Brothers Rivals On Pro Grid". Illustrated Daily News. December 2, 1935. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.  
  16. ^ "Braves Win Pro Battle". The Los Angeles Times. December 9, 1935. pp. 9, 28 – via Newspapers.com.  
  17. ^ Finch, Frank (January 6, 1936). "Cubs Upset Maroons And Win, 10 To 6". The Los Angeles Times. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.  
  18. ^ "Benny Lefebvre Honored". The Los Angeles Times. January 20, 1936. p. 28 – via Newspapers.com.  
  19. ^ "Hollywood Stars Sign Purvis". Illustrated Daily News. October 20, 1936. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.  
  20. ^ "Chicago Bears in Win Over All-Stars". News-Pilot. January 18, 1937. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.  
  21. ^ "Spoilers Play Oriental Grids". The Los Angeles Times. October 9, 1937. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com.  
  22. ^ "Star Backs Duel Tonight". The Los Angeles Times. October 14, 1937. p. 34 – via Newspapers.com.  
  23. ^ "Grid Teams Clash At Torrance Park". News-Pilot. November 19, 1937. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.  
  24. ^ "Spoilers In Rugby Game". The Los Angeles Southwest Wave. March 29, 1940. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.  
  25. ^ a b "Spoilers, Bulldogs Mix at Navy Field Tomorrow". News-Pilot. November 9, 1940. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.  
  26. ^ "Dockmen Meet Spoilers Sunday". News-Pilot. October 12, 1940. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.  
  27. ^ "Spoiler Eleven Meets Western Bears Sunday". Southwest Topics-Wave. September 26, 1941. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.  
  28. ^ "All-Stars in 'All-Out' Effort Sunday". The Van Nuys News and Valley Green Sheet. November 7, 1941. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.  
  29. ^ "All Stars Bow 6 to 0". The Van Nuys News and Valley Green Sheet. November 11, 1941. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.  
  30. ^ "Blue Tides Stymied 12-12". News-Pilot. September 8, 1947. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.  
  31. ^ "Blue Tide Accepts Spoiler Challenge". News-Pilot. December 17, 1947. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.  
  32. ^ a b "Spoilers Meet Padres Today In Municipal League Opener". The Southwest Wave. October 6, 1946. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.  
  33. ^ "'Game of Year' Seen Sunday As Venice Meets Eagle Rock". Evening Vanguard. November 16, 1949. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.  
  34. ^ a b Hough, Denny (October 6, 1949). "On The Sports Trail". Evening Vanguard. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.  
  35. ^ "Cadets After 5th In Row". Independent. October 25, 1946. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.  
  36. ^ a b Obrand, Rick. "The Sandlot Mentors of Los Angeles". Society for American Baseball Research.
  37. ^ "Lefebvre New Coach At Pius X". The Tidings. April 8, 1955. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.  
  38. ^ "New Pool Constructed At Villanova Prep. School". The Tidings. August 24, 1956. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.  
  39. ^ Warren, Bob (October 17, 1957). "Mary Star Gridders Open League Play Against St. John's". News-Pilot. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.  
  40. ^ "Santa Clara On Road For St. John's Game". Ventura County Star. October 4, 1958. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.  
  41. ^ "Noble Alumnus May Start For '65 Dodger Varsity". The Tidings. April 2, 1965. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.  
  42. ^ a b c d Morrow, Mike (June 22, 1977). "Benny: Baseball is his narcotic". The Redondo Reflex. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.  
  43. ^ Miles, Jerry (October 19, 1962). "Milestones". Progress-Bulletin. p. 31 – via Newspapers.com.  
  44. ^ Maltun, Alan (April 21, 1976). "Vikings Coach Hot On Hitters". Westchester Ladera-Observer. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.  
  45. ^ "Leary Tops All-Bay Team". Venice-Marina News. June 24, 1972. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.  
  46. ^ Cannon, Pat (April 5, 1985). "At Age 72, He's Still ... The Batting Coach: Ben Lefebvre Has St. Bernard High Team Switch-Hitting at Better-Than-.400 Pace". The Los Angeles Times.
  47. ^ Fernas, Rob (October 6, 1985). "Area teams show strength". The Daily Breeze. p. 38 – via Newspapers.com.  
  48. ^ "Pro Athletes Cash in On Sport Camp Boom". The Los Angeles Times. June 16, 1971. pp. 3, 29 – via Newspapers.com.  
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