Dee Andros - Early Life, Military Service, and Playing Career

Early Life, Military Service, and Playing Career

Andros, born Demosthenes Konstandies Andrikoupolos in Oklahoma City, was the second of three sons of Greek immigrants. He received his high school education at Oklahoma City's Central High School, and then enlisted in the military in 1942. Andros was a veteran of World War II where he served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps. A cook, he picked up a rifle and was awarded the Bronze Star and spent more than a month under heavy fire on the island of Iwo Jima. He was present at the famed moment when six soldiers raised the American flag on Iwo Jima.

Andros played college football at Oklahoma from 1946 to 1949, under hall of fame head coach Bud Wilkinson. He was selected in the 14th round (177th overall) by the Chicago Cardinals in the 1950 NFL Draft. Dee's older brother Plato (1921-2008) was an All-American in 1946 at Oklahoma and played four years in the NFL for the Cardinals. His younger brother Gus (Dick) (1926-2009) was a ballet dancer and choreographer.

Read more about this topic:  Dee Andros

Famous quotes containing the words early, military, playing and/or career:

    Even today . . . experts, usually male, tell women how to be mothers and warn them that they should not have children if they have any intention of leaving their side in their early years. . . . Children don’t need parents’ full-time attendance or attention at any stage of their development. Many people will help take care of their needs, depending on who their parents are and how they chose to fulfill their roles.
    Stella Chess (20th century)

    The military mind is indeed a menace. Old-fashioned futurity that sees only men fighting and dying in smoke and fire; hears nothing more civilized than a cannonade; scents nothing but the stink of battle-wounds and blood.
    Sean O’Casey (1884–1964)

    While you’re playing cards with a regular guy or having a bite to eat with him, he seems a peaceable, good-humoured and not entirely dense person. But just begin a conversation with him about something inedible, politics or science, for instance, and he ends up in a deadend or starts in on such an obtuse and base philosophy that you can only wave your hand and leave.
    Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860–1904)

    I restore myself when I’m alone. A career is born in public—talent in privacy.
    Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962)