Joe Delaney

Joe Delaney was a Second Round (41st overall) draft choice of the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1981 NFL draft. He was a college football star at Northwestern State, where he also excelled at track and field. He was a bona fide star in the NFL, rushing for 1,121 yards in his rookie season, which ended with him being selected as AFC rookie of the year. He had injury issues through his second season, though he played in all 8 games of the strike shortened season. On June 29th, Delaney and friends went to a park called Critter's Creek. He noticed three young boys struggling to swim in a makeshift pond. Delaney dove into the water, and rescued two out of the three young boys (though one did die en route to the Hospital), however, in his struggle to rescue the third boy, both Delaney and the child drowned. Both bodies were pulled from the water the next day. The Kansas City Chiefs honored Joe Delaney by inducted him to their wall of fame. And though his uniform number 37 has yet to be officially retired by the team, the number has not been issued since his death. Delaney was posthumously given the Presidenttial Citizen's Medal by President Reagan, and Loiusiana Gog. Keen awarded Delaney the Civilian Bravery Award. Northwestern State retired Delaney's uniform number 44 in his honor. The Cheifs started the "37Forever" foundation in honor of Delaney's tireless community service work.