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Thurman "Fum" McGraw

1927 – 2000

American football player, college athletics administrator

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About Thurman "Fum" McGraw

Lived 1927 – 2000 (aged 73). Thurman "Fum" McGraw was an American american football player and athletics competitor.

Thurman "Fum" McGraw (July 17, 1927 – September 13, 2000) was an American football player and college athletics administrator. He played college football for the Colorado A&M Aggies—now known as the Colorado State Rams—and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981. He played for the Detroit Lions in the National Football League (NFL).

Biography McGraw was born in Garden City, Kansas. At Paonia High School, he won four letters in basketball, three each in football and baseball and was the Western Slope heavyweight-boxing champion. Standing 6'5" and weighing 235 lbs., McGraw was fresh from action with the U.S. Marine Corps in World War II when he enrolled at Colorado State University in 1946, when it was known as Colorado A&M. Working diligently at his game, McGraw called upon lessons learned as a boxer and wrestler to fashion himself into a special breed of football player. His arm strength was crushing to opposing players and his agility developed through wrestling served him well when fending off opposing linemen. Colorado A&M finished 2–7 in McGraw's freshman season, but things would change quickly. As a sophomore, McGraw helped his Rams post a 5–4–1 mark, the team's best record in 11 years. Then, in 1948, the Aggies posted upsets over rivals Utah State, Wyoming, BYU and archrival Colorado. The 1949 campaign, McGraw's last as a four-year letterman, saw the Aggies log a 9–1 record marred only by a loss to Wyoming. After graduation, McGraw joined the Detroit Lions and captured Rookie of the Year and All-Pro honors. In 1981, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

While at Colorado State, McGraw was the school's first football All-American in 1949. When he returned to CSU in later years as a staff member, he also served as the athletic director from 1976 to 1986.

McGraw was also an All-American thrower for the Colorado State Rams track and field team, finishing 8th in the discus throw at the 1949 NCAA Track and Field Championships.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
Colorado State University, Garden City High School

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Thurman "Fum" McGraw's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Thurman "Fum" McGraw?

American football player, college athletics administrator (1927-2000)

When was Thurman "Fum" McGraw born?

Thurman "Fum" McGraw was born on 17 July 1927 in Garden City.

When did Thurman "Fum" McGraw die?

Thurman "Fum" McGraw died on 13 September 2000 in Fort Collins.

What was Thurman "Fum" McGraw's occupation?

Thurman "Fum" McGraw was an american football player and athletics competitor.

What nationality was Thurman "Fum" McGraw?

Thurman "Fum" McGraw was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Thurman "Fum" McGraw

· Wikidata: Q7799332

· DBpedia: Thurman "Fum" McGraw

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Thurman "Fum" McGraw. https://biography.guide/thurman-fum-mcgraw/

MLA: "Thurman "Fum" McGraw." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/thurman-fum-mcgraw/.

Chicago: "Thurman "Fum" McGraw." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/thurman-fum-mcgraw/.

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