Doug Belden

Professional career

On December 19, 1947, Belden was selected by the Chicago Cardinals in the 27th round, with the 255th overall pick, of the 1948 NFL draft. However, he never signed with the Cardinals. He instead signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Western Interprovincial Football Union (WIFU) on April 30, 1949. Belden was listed as a quarterback/halfback in 1949. Saskatchewan faced the Calgary Stampeders in the 1949 WIFU finals, losing game one 18–12 but winning game two 9–4. The Stampeders advanced to the 37th Grey Cup due to winning the point margin 22–21. Belden re-signed with the Roughriders shortly after the 1949 season. However, a few weeks later, he retired from football to take a job with a liquor company. He was listed as a quarterback/defensive back in 1952. He dressed in 12 games, starting three, overall during the 1952 season, recording 30 completions on 78 passing attempts (38.5%) for 470 yards, five touchdowns, and five interceptions, one rushing touchdown, four kickoff returns for 73 yards, three interceptions on defense, and two fumble recoveries. In 1951, he married Jeanne Flynn, the daughter of Olympic gold medalist Edward Flynn. In 1953, Belden became the youngest city councilman in Tampa history at 26 years old. He suffered an aneurysm on June 20, 1972, while playing golf. He then went into a coma and died on July 8, 1972, in Tampa. Belden was the vice president of Bay Distributors at the time of his death.