Education
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, McElhenny graduated from its George Washington High School, and attended Compton Junior College where he was a starter on Compton"s undefeated football team in 1948.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, McElhenny graduated from its George Washington High School, and attended Compton Junior College where he was a starter on Compton"s undefeated football team in 1948.
McElhenny was noted for his explosive, elusive running style and was frequently called "The King" and "Hurryin" Hugh." He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1970. McElhenny had Guillain-Barre syndrome, which almost killed him. He was temporarily paralyzed from the neck down and had to use a walker for a year.
McElhenny is related to the McElhenny family of Louisiana, the makers of Tabasco sauce.
One of his Compton teammates was future 1952 Olympic gold medalist Sim Iness. McElhenny then starred at the University of Washington in Seattle where he was an All-America selection.
He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981. One of his celebrated plays at Husky Stadium was a most-uncommon 100-yard punt return against University of Southern California in 1951.
McElhenny was a first round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in the 1952 NFL draft, ninth overall, and made an immediate impression as a rookie.
He recorded the season"s longest run from scrimmage (89 yards), the longest punt return (94 yards), and the top rushing average (70 yards per carry). McElhenny continued with the 49ers through 1960, earning five Pro Bowl appearances, before joining the Vikings in 1961 through the expansion draft. He played a second season with the Vikings in 1962 before going to the Giants in 1963.
McElhenny was released by New York in training camp in 1964 and he finished his career that season for the Lions.
McElhenny gained 11,375 all-purpose yards in his 13-year career. He was nicknamed "The King" while with the 49ers and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1970.
After retiring as a player, McElhenny served as a color commentator on 49ers radio broadcasts from 1966 to 1972. On January 20, 1985, McElhenny participated in the opening coin toss at Super Bowl XIX at Stanford Stadium, along with President Ronald Reagan, who participated by video feed from the White House after having been sworn in to his second term of office earlier that day.
He was a member of Alpha Theta Delta of Chi Psi fraternity at the university.