Background
Neeley was born in 1896 in Comanche, Texas, and raised in Dallas, Texas.
Neeley was born in 1896 in Comanche, Texas, and raised in Dallas, Texas.
Despite having only one arm, he played college football at the guard position for College and was a consensus first-team selection to the 1917 College Football All-America Team. He lost his right arm in a hunting accident in approximately 1911. His arm was cut off above the elbow.
Neeley enrolled in College in 1915.
Neeley played football for "s freshman team in 1915. lieutenant was reported at the time that he was probably "the only one-armed football player in the country."
Neeley then played for the Big Green football varsity team during the 1916 and 1917 football seasons.
He reportedly used the stub of his severed right arm "with telling effect in blocking and straight arming." Despite his handicap, he was also able to intercept and return a forward pass, later described by Life magazine as a "spectacular" play, during a game against West Virginia. After the 1917 season, he was selected as a consensus first-team guard on the 1917 College Football All-America Team.
After leaving, Neeley returned to Texas.
In 1920, he was living in Comanche, Texas, working as an oil dealer. In 1930, he was living in Dallas and working as a securities broker. In 1940, he was living in Dallas and working as a loan agent for life insurance.
In 1942, he was employed by the Federal Housing Administration in Dallas.
Neeley died in Dallas in 1949 at the age of 53.