Dick Klein

Richard James Klein (February 11, 1934, in Pana, Illinois – December 27, 2005 in Pana, Illinois) was a National Football League and American Football League offensive lineman in the NFL for the Chicago Bears and the Dallas Cowboys, and in the AFL for the Boston Patriots and the Oakland Raiders. He played college football at the University of Iowa. Early years Klein attended Schlarman High School and accepted a scholarship from the University of Georgia. He played in the freshman team, before leaving school to join the Navy during the Korean War. After leaving his military commitment in 1956, he chose to join the University of Iowa over other schools. He was a teammate of Alex Karras and became the starter at right tackle and defensive tackle. The next year, he was named an honorable-mention All-American. Head coach Forest Evashevski allowed his release with a year of eligibility still remaining, in order for him to join the Chicago Bears in the National Football League.