Bill Conkright - College and Professional Career

College and Professional Career

Conkright attended the University of Oklahoma and played varsity college football during the 1934, 1935, and 1936 seasons. He was the team's captain as a senior in 1936, and was named a first-team All-Big Six Conference center. Conkright was missed when he graduated; sportswriter Federick Ware wrote in the 1937 edition of Football Illustrated Annual that "finding a center to replace the great Red Conkright" would be one of Sooners head coach Tom Stidham's "main headaches."

Conkright was selected in the fifth round of the 1937 draft by the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He was a third-string center for the Bears behind Frank Bausch and Frank Sullivan with the Bears, and saw little action in the two years he played for the team. He was, however, occasionally used as an end in his first season. Conkright was sold to the Cleveland Rams ahead of the 1939 season in a cash deal that did not involve any other players. He became the regular starter at center for the Rams midway through 1939, replacing Chuck Cherundolo. The Rams finished the season with a 5–5–1 win-loss-tie record under coach Dutch Clark.

Conkright broke his leg in the second game of the 1940 season and sat out the rest of the year. In October, he married his girlfriend Imogene, who he met at the University of Oklahoma and with whom he had a four-month-old son. Conkright came back to play full seasons for the Rams in 1941 and 1942. He split the 1943 season between the NFL's Brooklyn Dodgers and the Washington Redskins.

Conkright returned to the Rams in 1944 and was expected to be used as a regular left end. He saw action in only one game, however, his final appearance in the NFL. He was then placed on the inactive list and converted into an assistant coach and scout for the Rams.