Newman, Harold "Hal"

Newman captained the football at the University of Alabama in 1940 and was named third team All-SEC (Southeastern Conference) that season. In 1998, Harold was featured in an exhibit at the Museum of Southern Jewish Experience called Shalom Y'all: A Road Trip through Jewish Alabama.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. August 12, 1918 - d. Julne 27, 2001

Career Highlights:
Born in Alabama, Newman attended Ramsey Technical High School in Birmingham where he was an all-city, county and state tackle his senior year (1935). Newman then attended the University of Alabama and redshirted in 1937, but was a member of the Tide's Rose Bowl team that played on January 1, 1938 (he did not play). The following year, he started at right end in two games (playing in all games) as Alabama had a record of 7-1-1 and were ranked No. 13 in the country; their only loss came at the hands of No. 2 Tennessee, 13-0. The following season, Newman firmly established himself as a starter at end as Alabama finished 5-3-1. That year, he earned second team All-American honors and was named to the Birmingham Post All-SEC team. Alabama coach Frank Thomas called Newman "the best player in the South" and he was the Bama Cup recipient as the University's most outstanding athlete for the 1939-40 year.

As a senior in 1940, Newman was named captain and the Tide won their first three games of the year before losing to No. 4 Tennessee, 27-12 (it was Alabama's third straight loss to Tennessee). The Tide then won their next four games before losing the final game of the year to No. 9 Mississippi State, 13-0. Alabama finished the season with a record of 7-2-0 and Newman was named All-Southeastern Conference third team despite playing much of the season injured. He also played in the 1940 Blue-Gray Game and started at end for the Grays.

After graduating, Newman was drafted by, and contracted to ($165 per game), the Brooklyn Dodgers of the NFL football club for the 1941 season. Before he could play for the Dodgers, however, Newman was drafted into government service. During World War II, he was a co-captain of the Randolph Field (San Antonio, Texas) Ramblers, who went undefeated and untied and won the 1944 National Service Team championship - they also finished third in the Associated Press poll behind Army and Ohio State. Newman then appeared in the 1945 Poi Bowl held in Honolulu in a game that matched the U.S. Army Air Force All-stars vs. the U.S. Navy All-stars. He was later Athletic Officer at Ft. Belvior, Virginia in 1945-46.

Origin:
Alabama

Career Dates:
Newman played end at the University of Alabama from 1938-1940.

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