Jack Bighead

sammyg2 · 09-28-2021, 12:31 PM

I started watching the movie "Jim Thorpe, all-American" today and like always, I studied the credits. It's an OCD thing.
I saw a name I recognized: Jack Bighead.

In high school my football coach and driver's ed instructor was named Jack Bighead. I really liked him, one of the few coaches I ever had that I could say that about.
Plus he always let me get the most driving time in driver's ed because i was tall enough to allow him to scoot the bench seal all the way back so he was comfortable.

Could that guy in the movie be my old coach?

A quick check at wiki:

Quote:

Jack Bighead
John Bighead (April 23, 1930 – April 28, 1993) was an American football player. A Yuchi Indian, he starred in football at L.A. Poly High in the 1940s and played in the National Football League (NFL). He was a 1948 graduate of Pepperdine University after earning Little All-American honors in football and track.

After serving in the United States Navy, he played two years in the NFL. He was drafted in the 15th round of the 1952 NFL draft by the Dallas Texans in 1952. Jack Bighead then played professionally for the Baltimore Colts in 1954 and the Los Angeles Rams in 1955. He was the starter for the Rams before a career-ending leg injury. He played one season in the CFL with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1956 too.

He joined the teaching staff of the Anaheim Union High School District in 1957, teaching and coaching at Western and Magnolia where he was also known to always be carrying a clipboard as his character "Little Boy" did in the 1951 movie Jim Thorpe – All-American. He joined the Katella faculty when it opened in 1966 and coached football and track and taught health before retiring in 1987.

Steve Carlton · 09-28-2021, 03:00 PM

His picture cracks me up.

drcoastline · 09-28-2021, 03:10 PM

So thhat's pretty cool. Shame you didn't see the movie before he passed. Would probably have been a cool conversation.

LWJ · 09-28-2021, 03:34 PM

That is cool.

Funny how the world works sometimes.

smadsen · 09-28-2021, 08:59 PM

We all have stories something like that....one degree of separation. What's so cool is they're all so individual & personal.

I remember seeing the movie in a theater in about 1954 (remember Saturday matinees?). He probably knew Jim Thorpe personally.

sammyg2 · 09-29-2021, 10:25 AM

Looks like he was in a bunch of movies and TV shows, usually playing an Indian brave or chief.

"Bonanza: Love Me Not" in 1964.

Quote:

Filmography

The Last Challenge
Indian (uncredited) 1966

Daktari (TV Series)
Berber
- Judy and the Gunrunners (1966) ... Berber (uncredited)

1963-1966 Bonanza (TV Series)
Bear Dance / Tall Brave / Indian Chief / ...
- Ride the Wind: Part 2 (1966) ... Bear Dance (uncredited)
- Ride the Wind: Part 1 (1966) ... Bear Dance (uncredited)
- The Far, Far Better Thing (1965) ... Tall Brave (as Jack Bighead)
- Love Me Not (1964) ... Indian Chief (as Jack Bighead)
- Journey Remembered (1963) ... Indian Brave (as Jack Bighead)

1966 Laredo (TV Series)
The 2nd Indian

- That's Noway, Thataway (1966) ... The 2nd Indian (as Jack Bighead)

1963-1965 Wagon Train (TV Series)
Stinking Bear / Minor Role / Indian
- The Miss Mary Lee McIntosh Story (1965) ... Stinking Bear (as Jack Bighead)
- The Santiago Quesada Story (1964) ... Minor Role (uncredited)
- The Kitty Pryer Story (1963) ... Indian (as Jack Bighead)

1963 The Virginian (TV Series)
Indian Brave
It Takes a Big Man (1963) ... Indian Brave

1962 Mister Ed (TV Series)
Sitting Bear

Ed, the Pilgrim (1962) ... Sitting Bear (as Jack Bighead)

1960-1962 Bronco (TV Series)
Chotah / Gokli
- Trail of Hatred (1962) ... Chotah (as Jack Bighead)
- Apache Treasure (1960) ... Gokli (as Jack Bighead)

1961 Cheyenne (TV Series)
Grey Deer

- The Greater Glory (1961) ... Grey Deer (as Jack Bighead)

1960 Ten Who Dared
Ashtishkel (uncredited)

1959-1960 The Alaskans (TV Series)
Big Joe / Chilkoot

Heart of Gold (1960) ... Big Joe

Gold Sled (1959) ... Chilkoot (as Jack Bighead)

1951 Jim Thorpe -- All-American
Little Boy Who Walk Like Bear (as Jack Bighead)

How I remember him:

Me, number 51 (Dick Butkus wanna be)

Seahawk · 09-29-2021, 11:22 AM

Great story Sam.

I did a search earlier and was surprised...Bighead got around.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

His picture cracks me up.

You ought to see my dad's HS football picture.

Action shots were apparently very popular in the olden days. He is in the air, diving on a ball that is also in the air, with eyes that look like they are about to pop out of his head.

Went to law school instead of playing football for money, sort of like Gerald Ford.

sammyg2 · 12:55 PM

in 55 he was a starter at defensive end for the rams, their quarterback at the time was Norm Van Brocklin.

Quote:

Norman Mack Van Brocklin (March 15, 1926 – May 2, 1983), nicknamed "The Dutchman", was an American football quarterback and coach who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons.
He spent his first nine seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles during his final three. Following his playing career, he was the inaugural head coach of the Minnesota Vikings from 1961 to 1966 and the second head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 1968 to 1974.

He was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1966 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.

I wish I knew about all this back when I was in high school, coach Bighead never mentioned any of it.

I'm reluctant to tell this story about him, I don't come off very well in it but what the heck:
On of my friends had brought a large bottle of tequila to school. I believe this was in 1978.
I was not a drinker at that time at all, and I don't remember if it was out of curiosity or just peer pressure, but I helped him and a few others finish it off.

My next class was health, coach Bighead's class.

He must have smelled the booze on me and he gave me a note to take to the admin office. I panicked, then he said quietly "you probably won't have time to take it there before practice and you don't want to be late for practice, so take it now but don't give it to them tomorrow. Go."

He was just getting me out of his class so he didn't have to get me in trouble. At practice he had me run stop and go's for what seemed like an hour in full pads. I puked out what was left of the ta-kill-ya and to this day can't stand the smell of it.
He retired in the 80s and moved to the Colorado river near the parker dam.
I stopped in to see him one time before he died.
He was a big man, 6'4" and well over 300# by the time he retired. That's probably why he died so young.

nota · 09-29-2021, 01:10 PM

I had Lenard Skinner as a coach in 64 in jr high
he went to jax the next year

and yes he was a legendary level JERK EX MARINE training to be a moron

sammyg2 · 09-29-2021, 01:11 PM

To a lesser extent, his life story paralleled the Jim Thorpe story:
he was an Indian, born in Oklahoma on or near a reservation land where the gubmint had moved his people many generations earlier.
The odds were stacked against him at every step but he stuck with it and did well despite the obstacles.
He went to college and excelled in sports, and played pro football.
After his football career ended, he found his calling coaching and teaching kids.
I remember his as a good man. Even tempered and honest and fair.
I wonder how he felt about only being offered stereotypical Indian roles in acting. I know that would put a chip on my shoulder but I get the feeling he just shrugged it off.