South St. Paul has ties to Thanksgiving and football

November 19, 11:40 AMSouth St. Paul ExaminerRob Shirk

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                    Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving, a day dedicated to all that is good, is right around the corner.

Hunting in the morning, ovens starting early, friends and family coming in, conversations on how cold the winter will be, and NFL football.

Football is an American tradition on Thanksgiving and South St. Paul has a couple of former students who have made it to the Thanksgiving ritual that is the National Football League.

Jim LeClair played linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals from 1972 through 1983. His career was steady and although his name may not carry the renown of other linebackers in the league before or since he toiled with focus and stamina. He was a star at South St. Paul playing for the Packers, subsequently competing for the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux. He was drafted by the Bengals in the third round with the fifty-fourth pick.

Jim Carter, also a linebacker, started his football career with the South St. Paul Packers, a team name that will come around later in his chosen vocation. His high school prowess landed him a place with the Minnesota Golden Gophers where he played with distinction, being drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1970 with the sixty eighth pick in the third round.

Neither Carter or LeClair claimed stardom. They were not Dick Butkus or Alex Karras. But they are ours and we're proud of them.

Since 1934 the Detroit Lions always play the Thanksgiving Day Classic and it is as traditional as cranberry sauce with Thanksgiving dinner. Sadly, neither LeClair or Carter had the Thanksgiving Day game to show themselves to the nation as the NFL failed to schedule their teams to play.

Hard working, dependable, and durable, Carter and LeClair mirror the reputation of South St. Paul's people. The NFL on Thanksgiving should be showing nothing less as we prepare to watch the Motor City Kitties (KFAN Dan Cole's name for the Detroit Lions) try to win one on Thanksgiving, like we have for seventy four years.