Wilmington, NC: Former NFL players and New Hanover High School graduates, Sonny Jurgensen and Roman Gabriel will be honored by their hometown by having the main field at the Legion Sports Complex, located at 2149 Carolina Beach Road in Wilmington, named in their honor.
The dedication of the Jurgensen-Gabriel Field will take place on Friday, November 2nd at halftime of the game between their alma mater, New Hanover High School, and conference rivals Hoggard High School. Game time is 7:30 pm. Both Sonny Jurgensen and Roman Gabriel will be at the half-time ceremony.
SONNY JURGENSEN
Sonny Jurgensen was born in Wilmington, NC on August 23, 1934. He graduated in 1953 from New Hanover High School where he was a three sport star in football, basketball and baseball, earning all-state honors as a senior on the football team. Jurgensen turned down an offer to be a three-sport college athlete, opting instead to go to Duke University on a football scholarship.
At Duke, Jurgensen started for the Blue Devils his junior and senior years, leading Duke to an Orange Bowl victory over Nebraska in 1954. For his career at Duke, Jurgensen was 77 of 156 for 1,119 yards and six touchdowns.
Drafted in the fourth round in 1957 by the Philadelphia Eagles, Jurgensen enjoyed an outstanding 18 year career as a pro football player, winning the NFL title in 1960 with the Eagles and reaching Super Bowl VII with the Washington Redskins in 1973. Always competent and composed, he is regarded as one of the purest passers to ever play in the NFL.
Jurgensen earned three individual NFL passing titles and five Pro-bowl selections and amassed 32,224 career total yards. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983.
ROMAN GABRIEL
Roman Gabriel was born in Wilmington, NC on August 5, 1940. He graduated from New Hanover High School in 1958. Considered a prospect for professional baseball and basketball as well as football, Gabriel was an outstanding all around athlete. In high school, in addition to playing quarterback, he was also utilized as a linebacker, punt returner and defensive back.
In college, Gabriel started as quarterback for North Carolina State University where he was a two time All American as well as an Academic All American. In his three years as a starter, he totaled 2,951 yards on 285 of 506 passes and had nineteen touchdowns. In 1962, Gabriel was honored during a ceremony at which his number was retired.
At 6’4 and 235 pounds, Gabriel was regarded as the first truly big quarterback of the modern era. He was also the first Asian American to start at quarterback in the NFL. Drafted number one over all in the A.F.L. draft and second in the N.F.L. draft, Gabriel began his professional career with the Los Angeles Rams and later played with the Philadelphia Eagles. Gabriel was known throughout his NFL career for his arm strength, accuracy, and ability to read defenses. Gabriel spent 16 years in the NFL. His awards include four Pro Bowls, 1968 Pro Bowl MVP, 1969 NFL MVP and 1973 NFL comeback player of the year. He was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989.