Leo Boyd Jensvold (May 29, 1908 – May 30, 1966) was an American football quarterback and halfback who played one season in the National Football League (NFL). He played in one game for the Chicago Bears before joining the Cleveland Indians and finishing the season with them.[1] He played college football at Iowa and played alongside his twin brother, Lloyd.
| No. 10 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Quarterback, halfback | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | May 29, 1908 Emmetsburg, Iowa, U.S. | ||||||
| Died: | May 30, 1966 (aged 58) Emmetsburg, Iowa, U.S. | ||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 173 lb (78 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Emmetsburg (IA) | ||||||
| College: | Iowa | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
| |||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
| |||||||
Early life and education
editLeo Jensvold was born on May 29, 1908, in Emmetsburg, Iowa.[a] He went to Emmetsburg High School before attending University of Iowa. At Emmetsburg High, he and his brother only lost three games, and won the 1926 State Championship.[2] He also was named All-State in 1925 and '26.[3] He is one of three Emmetsburg High School attendees to play professionally.[4][5] While at Iowa, he was considered a "star" halfback and quarterback for their football team, the Hawkeyes.[6] He won letters,[7][8] and played there from 1928 to 1930. He played with his twin brother, Lloyd Jensvold.[2] Leo was one of the top players on the team, being involved in almost every play.[9][10] In 1930, he and Lloyd both started the season at quarterback, but then Leo was moved to halfback and eventually became the team's leading rusher.[11][2] His final college game was a charity All-Star game with the Midwest All-Stars against the Southern All-Stars. Under coach Bob Zuppke, the Midwest lost, 18 to 0.[12] Jensvold was described as "almost the entire mid-west offense, his passes and fierce plunges accounting for virtually all of his team's gains."[12][13] Jensvold was also named All-Big Ten.
Professional career
editOn August 27, 1931, Jensvold was signed by the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL).[14][15][16][17][18] He played in week one against his future team, the Cleveland Indians.[19] He wore number 10.[20] In week two, he was scheduled to play against the Green Bay Packers,[21] but joined the Indians instead.[20] He joined them along with former Iowa teammate Carl Pignatelli.[22][23] With the Indians he would play in between 6[24] and 7 games,[20] starting 4.[25] He did not play a second season as the Indians folded from the league.
Later life and death
editAfter his professional career he worked as the secretary and treasurer of the Emmetsburg Production Credit Association.[26] He also served in World War II.[citation needed] On May 30, 1966, he drowned in Emmetsburg after his boat capsized in Five Island Lake.[27] It was only one day after his 58th birthday.
Notes
edit- ^ Pro-Football-Reference lists his birth date to be March 29
References
edit- ^ "Leo Jensvold football Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
- ^ a b c Finn, Mike; Leistikow, Chad (May 29, 1998). Hawkeye Legends, Lists, & Lore. Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 9781571671783 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Emmetsburg Football - Iowa High School Sports". sites.google.com.
- ^ "Emmetsburg (Emmetsburg, IA) Alumni Pro Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ "Emmetsburg - Iowa High School Sports". sites.google.com.
- ^ "Leo Jensvold - Iowa Hawkeyes Player Profile - Summary of Iowa football and basketball games". Hawkeye Recap.
- ^ "2012 Iowa Football Media Guide". Issuu. August 2, 2012. p. 179.
- ^ "All-Time Letterwinners". University of Iowa Athletics. June 2, 2004.
- ^ "Play by Play of Iowa Game". Quad-City Times. October 19, 1930 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Centenary Beats Hawkeyes; Pair of Fumbles Helps". The Times. October 12, 1930 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "The Lantern 6 November 1930 — Ohio State University Newspaper Archives". osupublicationarchives.osu.edu.
- ^ a b "Zuppke's Midwestern Gridders Take Trimming at Dallas, 18-0; Leo Jensvold Stars for Losers". Quad-City Times. January 2, 1931 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "EMMETSBURG F. B. STAR –KES GOOD AGAIN–". Kossuth County Advance. January 15, 1931 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "JENSVOLD SIGNS UP WITH BEARS". Globe-Gazette. August 27, 1931 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "LEO JENSVOLD WILL PLAY PRO FOOTBALL". Des Moines Tribune. August 28, 1931 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Leo Jensvold Signs With Chicago Bears". The Des Moines Register. August 28, 1931 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "FORMER HAWKEYE STAR JOINS PROS". Ames Daily Tribune. August 28, 1931 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Leo Jensvold, who started at quarterback for Iowa, has joined the Chicago Bears". Asheville Citizen-Times. October 6, 1931 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "1931 Chicago Bears Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ a b c "Leo Jensvold Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ "PACKERS TO FACE SPEED AND POWER". Marshfield News-Herald. September 24, 1931 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Leo Jensvold and Carl Pignatelli Join Pro Eleven". The Daily Times. September 23, 1931 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "3 IOWANS ON PRO ELEVEN". Iowa City Press-Citizen. September 23, 1931 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Leo Jensvold Stats - Pro Football Archives". www.profootballarchives.com.
- ^ Willis, Chris (July 7, 2005). Old Leather: An Oral History of Early Pro Football in Ohio, 1920-1935. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9781461670179 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Leo Jensvold, Emmetsburg". Kossuth County Advance. October 9, 1952 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "DROWNS AFTER BOAT CAPSIZES". The Des Moines Register. May 31, 1966 – via Newspapers.com.
