Jack Myers

1924 - 2021

Jack (Moose) Myers
Oct. 8, 1924 - Dec. 24, 2020
Menlo Park
Jack (Moose) Melvin Myers, resident of Menlo Park, CA was born Oct. 8, 1924 in St. Louis Missouri to Clarence and Daisy Myers and passed away at the age of 96 on Christmas Eve, 2020. He is preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Donna Myers and his brother Keith Myers. The family moved to Ventura, CA in 1933, the boys wearing knickers and all. At Ventura High School Jack lettered in football, baseball, basketball, track, and tennis. This earned him a scholarship to UCLA. Jack attended UCLA in 1944-45, then joined the Navy to fight in WWII, becoming an officer. On his way to Japan on a Navy destroyer the war ended and Jack returned to UCLA to play in the 1947 and 1948 Rose Bowls. Some of his teammates were Cal Rossi (leading ground gainer in the nation in 1948), Skip Rowland, and Robert Hansen. Jack was the starting first baseman, leading hitter, and M.V.P. of the baseball team. Jack married his sweetheart, Donna Lee Arrants in June 1947. After UCLA, Jack became the first collegiate athlete offered contracts in both football (Philadelphia Eagles) and baseball, (NY Yankees). Jack was drafted in the 5th round by the Eagles and played fullback and linebacker in 1948, 1949, & 1950. He was named M.V.P. on the 1950 World Championship Team. He then played fullback for the Los Angeles Rams team that won the Western Division Playoff. With all this fame and fortune ($6,000 per year) he was offered the head coaching job at the College of the Pacific in Stockton, California and was the youngest head football coach at the age of 28 at any major college in the nation. This move earned him double the pay ($12,000) and he didn't need to get his head beat in (no face masks in those days!). He coached at COP from 1953-1960 and was Athletic Director from 1956-1961, and to this day has a dedicated group of ex-players called Moose Myers Men who meet yearly to celebrate the unique and special relationship they had with Coach Moose Myers. Coach Myers was demanding of his players but deeply cared for each one and was a second dad to many. His players loved him back. Coach Myers taught his players to have high expectations of themselves and to do the right thing. He was fair and never saw color in an era before the civil rights movement. On a trip to play in Texas the team voted to stay in a flea-bag hotel because the finer establishments in town wouldn't house their black teammates. Among his players are Tom Flores, Dick Bass, and many others successful on and off the field.
Along this athletic path, Jack and Donna had three children, Clyde of Port Orford, Oregon, Jack of Saratoga, California, and Marilee Delgado of Chico, California. He then became backfield coach for the San Francisco 49ers in 1963. Following this Jack scouted for the Baltimore Colts, St. Louis Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, and Cleveland Browns. After football, Jack started West Lane Tennis Club in Stockton in 1961. He was owner and tennis pro until 1966. Jack then started Consolidated Automobile Leasing in the Bay Area, which he managed until his retirement in 1987, winning many sales awards and trips to Hawaii. Jack and Donna settled in Los Altos and loved hosting tennis on their front yard court. He and Donna filled a room with trophies playing Mixed Doubles and loved traveling and playing tennis with friends around the world. Jack and his Men's Doubles partner, Butch Kirkorian, won the National Senior Men's 60 Doubles Tennis title in 1984. Some of Jack Moose Myers's special recognitions are: Charter inductee of the University of the Pacific Hall of Fame 1983, Ranked #1 in Senior Men's Doubles by USTA 1984, UCLA Baseball Hall of Fame 1988 (lifetime batting average at UCLA .355), UCLA Football Hall of Fame 1992.
Jack and Donna had a long and loving marriage of 69 years and enjoyed family and many friends. Jack is survived by his sons, Clyde Myers, Jack Myers and wife, Cindy, and Marilee Delgado. He had four grandchildren who loved him: Jill Borges, Chad Myers, Brandon Delgado, and Michael Myers. His seven great-grandchildren, Brooklyn, Emry, Cruz, Sennen, Eisley, Presley, and Declan called him Grandpa Moose. Jack Moose Myers was a loving and kind husband, father, friend, and coach. He will be missed by all who knew him. A memorial service will be planned for a future date.


View the online memorial for Jack (Moose) Myers