In the history of Utah high school football there have been only four deaths caused by an injury on the field of play. Fortunately, there have been none in the past 67 years.
With so much time passing, however, many football fans today are unaware or have forgotten about those high school athletes who died from a football injury, and are unaware of how dangerous the game once was.
The family of one of those athletes and Springville High School will have a short ceremony on Friday night to honor one of those fallen athletes.
On Oct. 24, 1947, during Springville High School’s homecoming game against Orem’s Lincoln High School, Blaine Lambert Bird, a linebacker and star on the football team, suffered a head injury. He collapsed late in the game and died a short time later at the hospital. Bird was also the school’s student body president.
“Blaine was much respected, loved and appreciated by all of the students and faculty alike,” said Gordon Smith, who was playing linebacker alongside Bird that day. “The entire community was affected. His death left a dark gloom over the community for a long time and it took the school a long time to recover.”
At halftime Friday night in Springville’s game against Payson, the Bird family and school officials will commemorate Bird’s contribution to the school. Jon Bird, the only surviving sibling of Blaine, will present the school with Bird’s letterman’s sweater and two plaques — one to hang in the school’s athletic hall of fame and one in the football offices.
“It wasn’t easy losing a school president and friend and someone who everyone admired. It was a tragedy that should not be forgotten,” said Smith.
Utah high school football related deaths:
Shortland Evans, 17, Brigham City, died Oct. 23, 1928, from internal injuries received when he tackled a teammate at practice a day earlier at Box Elder High.
Orvil Henrie, 18, Ferron and South Emery quarterback, died Oct. 4, 1930, as the result of a skull fracture suffered in a game a day earlier against North Emery.
Blaine Lambert Bird, 17, Springville, died Oct. 24, 1947, from a cerebral hemorrhage caused from a blow to the head during Springville’s game against Lincoln High School.
Lyle Dee Benson, 17, Myron and Roosevelt High, died Sept. 30, 1949, from a head injury suffered in a football game between Roosevelt and Uintah played in Vernal.