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Jess Trotter

1948 NFL Draft: Round 17 Pick 149

Roster Info

Season Class # Pos Ht Wt
1946 62
1947 62 G
1948 74 T

Personal Info

First Name: Jess
Middle Name: Nute
Last Name: Trotter
Common Name:
Nickname:
Hometown: Borger, TX
High School: Borger
Birth Date/Place: September 20, 1922
Death Date/Place: June 15, 2008 in Napa, CA (age 85)
Related To:
Obituary:

NAPA -- Jess Nute (J.N.) Trotter passed away at the age of 85 on June 15, 2008. He received excellent care from the staff at Piner's Nursing Home before succumbing to congestive heart failure. J.N. was born in Antlers, Okla., on Sept. 20, 1922, but spent most of his youth in Borger, Texas, where he got his first taste of playing football on the high school team. After high school, he joined his parents in Napa in 1941.

His passion for football continued throughout his life as a player and as a spectator. He played for one year for Texas A&M, before joining the Marine Corps at the start of World War II. While in the Marines he met and married his wife, Dorothy. After his stint in the Marine Corps, he played football for the University of Oklahoma (Sooners) under the famous coach, Bud Wilkinson. J.N. was the team captain when they won the Sugar Bowl in 1948. He was then drafted by a professional team, the Boston Yanks (now the Dallas Cowboys), where he played for one year before a back injury ended his football career.

J.N. and Dorothy subsequently moved back to Napa where he worked for Basalt Rock Company for his entire career, eventually retiring as plant superintendent.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy; his parents, Jess and Dessie Trotter; and his brother, Bazil Trotter. He is survived by two daughters, Lonna Martinez (husband Greg) of Gilroy and Vicki Cloud (husband Hayden) of Napa. He is also survived by two granddaughters, Haylie and Holly Cloud, who were the lights of his life.

J.N. was known for his love of animals, especially dogs. He always said not to trust a person who didn't like dogs, and he meant it. He also loved his yearly trips to Reno to play blackjack, and his weekly football bets and dice games with his buddies, especially his good friend Dave McGee.

A funeral service will be held Thursday, June 19, 1 p.m., at Inspiration Chapel and Napa Valley Memorial Park, 2383 Napa-Vallejo Highway, in Napa.

Donations in his honor may be made to the Napa Humane Society or any other organization that helps animals.

Arrangements are under the care of Richard Pierce Funeral service, 1660 Silverado Trail, Napa. Family and friends are invited to send condolences online at www.rpfsc.com.

Credit: Napa Valley Register

Notes

  • A (C) indicates that the player was a captain for that season (named before each game in 1982, 1995 through 1998, and 2022 to present).
  • Related To refers to other OU athletes only.
  • Calculations for career totals will be skewed if the season totals are incomplete.