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Dick Maegle

Halfback

Inducted 1979

Date of Birth

9/14/1934

Birthplace

Taylor, TX

School

Rice University (1952-1954)

Bio

Rice halfback Dick Maegle was both a consensus All-America and Academic All-America yet he is best remembered for the act of an opposing player. Football fans will never forget that historic play in the 1954 Cotton Bowl when Alabama's overly-enthusiastic Tommy Lewis jumped up from the bench to tackle Maegle. The nation's leader in punt returns, had begun his amazing run from the five-yard line and was headed straight for the Alabama goal with no one to stop him. Maegle was credited with the touchdown, one of three he scored that day. He gained a whopping 265 yards on 11 carries - an average of 24.1 yards per carry, as the Owls defeated the Crimson Tide, 28-6. Maegle set 26 records at Rice, including long-standing records of 22 career touchdowns and 72 total points in one season. Maegle was a brilliant defenseman as well, leading the conference in interceptions, and once picked off three passes in a 1953 battle against conference foe Baylor. During his playing days he spelled his name Moegle. He changed the spelling after so many continued to misspell and mispronounce his name.