World War II Vet Scores Touchdown in Kansas Alumni Game

Like many young men of the time, Bryan Sperry answered the call when the U.S. entered World War II. Sperry was a football player at Kansas State University when he left school to serve in the army. He fought in Europe, including the Battle of the Bulge. When he returned home, he went back to college, this time at the University of Kansas, where he resumed his college football career. Sperry played for three years on some pretty good Jayhawk teams from 1946-1948; in ’47 Kansas was 8-1-2, losing only to Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl.

After graduation, Sperry went on to a teaching and coaching career at Pittsburg (Kansas) State. But on April 29th, 2015, the now 89 year old Sperry returned to the Kansas football field for an alumni game—as a player. And he scored a touchdown, by the way. Check out these moves:

We’re betting those other players felt it was a privilege to be on the field with an alum who served in combat in World War II. According to the Veterans Administration, approximately 492 World War II veterans die each day. Later this month on Memorial Day, we will once again honor those who gave their lives for our country. Let’s also celebrate the accomplishments of those who made it home, resumed their lives, and contributed so much to America in the decades after the war.