Member Biography

Frank Kinard was the scourge of Southern gridirons during the 1930's, a strong, swift and shifty tackle who would establish a long list of football firsts. For example, the Bruiser was the first from his state to make All-America (1936 and 1937), the first Ole Miss player named to All-Southern Team and, later, the first Mississippian to claim All-Pro laurels. At 6-1 and 212-pounds, Kinard was one of four brothers to play for Mississippi. He was an Iron Man type, often refusing to leave a game despite injury. Through 34 varsity contests, Bruiser Kinard averaged 55 playing minutes per game. In 1936, he played 708 minutes out of a possible 720. Ole Miss posted a 9-3 record in 1935, the best mark during Kinard's career. But, while the team lacked major success in later years, Kinard enjoyed praise as a perfect lineman. Although Ole Miss teams combined for a 9-10-3 record during his junior and senior campaigns, Kinard managed to claim his All-America laurels. An all-around athlete, Kinard was also a starting guard on the Mississippi basketball team and a quarter-miler and weight man in track. After graduation, Kinard turned pro, starring for the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees football clubs, earning All-Pro recognition in five of his nine seasons.