2003: Former UTEP star Jesse Whittenton lives out his dreams

November 6, 2003

By Bill Knight

Jesse Whittenton lived every young boy's dream -- starring for his high school, playing for his hometown university and finishing his career in the NFL.

Whittenton, now 69, was a standout at Ysleta High, led Texas Western to a pair of Sun Bowl victories, then played two years for the Los Angeles Rams and five years for the Green Bay Packers … the final four of those years under legendary coach Vince Lombardi.

Whittenton now operates the Desert East Golf School and plays as much golf as possible.

"I just really wanted to stay home to go to college," Whittenton said. "I heard from Arizona and the University of Texas. I went to Austin for the state track meet (in the high hurdles) and that place was just a huge college. It just didn't impress me much; or maybe it did, maybe it just scared me. But I wanted to stay home."

Whittenton helped Texas Western, now UTEP, to a 37-14 victory over Southern Mississippi in the 1954 Sun Bowl, catching a 29-yard touchdown pass, then had a huge game in Texas Western's 1955 Sun Bowl thrashing of Florida State. He was the MVP of that 47-20 victory, throwing three touchdown passes, running for two scores and kicking five extra points.

Whittenton made All-Pro a number of times in the NFL and won championships under Lombardi in Green Bay.

"Actually, it was kind of fun playing for him," Whittenton said. "He was tough, but when it pays off when you are winning championships, you enjoy it.

"I always tell people I played in the days when you played the game for fun. The biggest salary I ever got was $29,000. That was pretty big back then. My rookie year was the first year we formed a union. We got $12 a day per diem on the road and we got $25 a week laundry money. The union got us up to $25 for our meals and $50 for our laundry money."

Whittenton retired after the 1964 season and went in with his cousin to buy Horizon Country Club (now Emerald Springs). He played two seasons on the PGA Senior Tour.

Whittenton said he has had two hip replacements and three vertebrae fused in his back, but still is enjoying the game of golf.

"I got my handicap back down to five now," he said.

Urshell James Whittenton