So the following is an article I wrote for a class of mine. It has the potential to be picked up by the ArkaTech sometime in the near future but that is a long shot. The article is about Russellville's own and former WonderBoy Ed Meador, who went on to play in the NFL. It's not my best work and it is my first attempt at any article written for media, so I'm sure it has some errors. Well here it is!! Pictures I have added for the blog they are not part of my original article.
It was 1955 and Ed Meador had just graduated from Russellville High School. Meador has been called “too small” by legendary coaches like Paul Bear Bryant, who at that time was the coach for the Texas A&M Aggies. Meador after trying to play for Bryant, traveled back to Arkansas and was offered a scholarship to play football at Arkansas Tech University, the college only a few miles from the high school he attended. He decided to accept that scholarship. Becoming a WonderBoy was only the first step in what would become an illustrious football career for Meador.
The four years that Meador played as a WonderBoy, his abilities were not just used for one position. He played not only tailback on offense, but also defensive back, and was a return specialist. Setting numerous records, 19 to be exact in conference and for Tech, Meador who wore number 44, would go on to rush for 3,410 yards while scoring 259 points. All the records that were set by Meador would later be surpassed by future WonderBoys or other conference players but those numbers are still are among the top numbers for Arkansas Tech football. He garnered such awards as being named All-Conference in the AIC three of his four seasons and also being named a Little All-American. Meador’s numerous awards and record caught the eyes of pro scouts, putting him in position to continue his football career after college.
After graduating from Arkansas Tech, Meador went on to be drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the seventh round of the 1959 NFL draft. Standing only 5’ 11” and weighing 190 lbs. the small statured Meador was playing with big boys. In a past interview with a local high school Meador was asked what it was like moving up and playing in the NFL, his answer was size, players were just bigger and stronger. Meador’s NFL career became just as award filled as his college career. He was chosen to the Pro Bowl six times, including a span of five straight seasons from 1964-1968. He holds the all-time interception record for the Rams’ organization at 46 career interceptions. Some say this is one of his greatest feats, not because of the number itself but because the number of interceptions he had in an era that was mainly dominated by running backs not passing quarterbacks. Was also named to the All-Time Rams Team and the NFL’s All-decade Team for the 1960’s. Ex-Baltimore Colts running back and Hall of Famer Lenny Moore was quoted as saying; “He’s one of the leagues good ones, Thinking back, I might have been gone a few more times if it hadn’t been for him.” Respected not only for his on the field actions, Meador was also awarded for his off the field actions as a father, receiving the NFL Father of the Year Award in 1967.
Never missing a game in 12 seasons, 163 straight games, Meador’s career in the NFL mirrors some of the all-time greats. Meador became one of the most respected and feared safeties in the league. Intercepting passes from the likes of Bart Starr and Don Meredith to stopping countless wide receivers and running backs, Meador made sure he was noticed on the field. Meador has been inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and the Arkansas Tech University Hall of Distinction. Is Canton missing one player that should be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame? Ironically the Father of the Year Award that Meador received in 1967 was given to him by the NFL Hall of Fame Committee, the same committee that has never awarded Meador the most prestigious honor for a NFL football player, inducting him into the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame would be a great ending to an illustrious career that started in small town Russellville, Ark and ended in the big city of Los Angeles, Cal as an NFL great. For more information on who Ed Meador is and how you can help him get into the NFL Hall of Fame, please check out www.edmeador21.com and help a fellow WonderBoy finish a dream.
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