Continued from last week
On Aug. 27, 1941, the Green Bay Press-Gazette reported that Arnie Herber, whose contract called for “regular appearances below the 200-pound mark,” was “shaving off the excess poundage and getting close to his goal.”
Three days later, the publication reported that Herber was “making good progress in his one-man campaign to keep his weight where it is wanted.”
“He hasn’t reached the necessary 200 pounds yet, and if he isn’t below that figure before each game, it will cost him $50, but he is crowding the mark and is lighter than he has been in years,” it stated.
But, on Sept. 8, Press-Gazette coverage of Herber came to a dead stop.
On Nov. 16, a dinner was held to honor Herber in De Pere, after his separation from the Packers.
“The toughest job of a professional football coach is saying goodbye to a great player, especially if he has been a regular fellow,” Head Coach Curly Lambeau said at the testimonial dinner, according to sports editor, Ray Pagel.
About 250 of Herber’s friends were present at the St. Joseph’s school auditorium for the event.
“Herber was the greatest long-distance passer football has ever known. I wish he were just starting instead of retiring from the game,” Lambeau added.
“Herber is the person responsible for Don Hutson’s place with the Green Bay Packers. When the going was toughest, he was always at his best; in the clutch, he (was) right on the spot. It is I who owes Arnold Herber the most,” Don Hutson stated during his time to speak.
“When the line broke through once in a while and smothered him for a loss, Arnie never blamed me for missing that end,” Clarke Hinkle added.
“Among the many tributes was a relayed telephone call from George Strickler in Chicago — the statistician of the NFL,” wrote Pagel.
The message: “Give my respects to the greatest man who ever threw a football.”
Herber finished off the night by stating, “Now I know my greatest thrill in football. It’s what happened here tonight,” he said.
To be continued
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