Member Biography

How good was "Babe" Horrell? So good they renamed his Pasadena, California high school stadium "Horrell Field" after him. In high school Horrell lettered in five sports - football, basketball, track, tennis and swimming. He played center for the California football teams which had a 26-0-3 record in 1922-24. He was captain and All-America in 1924, and his coach Andy Smith, said, "His ability and skill constitutes about 25% of our team." St. Mary's coach Slip Madigan agreed, saying, "Horrell was about 50% of the psychological effect of the Bears. He could get his men together better than any football captain I ever saw. Andy Smith could have stood the loss of five good men better than the graduation of Horrell." Against Stanford in 1923 Horrell blocked a punt and recovered it for a touchdown. Later he tackled a Stanford back in the end zone to score a safety. California won 9-0, and Horrell was responsible for eight points. He was UCLA assistant coach 1926-38, head coach 1939-44. His 1942 team went to the Rose Bowl. Horrell was born September 29, 1902, in Jackson, Missouri. He died June 13, 1992, at the age of 89