View source for Bob Fenimore

{{Short description|American football player (1925–2010)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Bob Fenimore
| image       = Bob Fenimore 1947.jpg
| alt         =
| caption     = Fenimore {{circa}} 1947
| number      = 55
| position    = [[Halfback (American football)|Halfback]]
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|1925|10|6|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Woodward, Oklahoma]], U.S.
| death_date  = {{death date and age|2010|7|28|1925|10|6|mf=y}}
| death_place = [[Stillwater, Oklahoma]], U.S.
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 1
| weight_lb   = 190
| high_school = Woodward
| college     = [[Oklahoma State Cowboys football|Oklahoma A&M]] (1943–1946)
| draftyear   = 1947
| draftround  = 1
| draftpick   = 1
| pastteams   = * [[Chicago Bears]] ({{NFL Year|1947}})
| highlights  = * [[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|National champion]] ([[1945 Oklahoma A&M Cowboys football team|1945]])
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1945 College Football All-America Team|1945]])
* First-team All-American ([[1944 College Football All-America Team|1944]])
* [[Oklahoma State Cowboys football#Retired numbers|Oklahoma State Cowboys No. 55]] retired
| statlabel1  = Rushing yards
| statvalue1  = 189
| statlabel2  = Rushing average
| statvalue2  = 3.6
| statlabel3  = Rushing [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue3  = 1
| statlabel4  = [[Reception (gridiron football)|Receptions]]
| statvalue4  = 15
| statlabel5  = Receiving yards
| statvalue5  = 219
| statlabel6  = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue6  = 2
| pfr         = F/FeniBo20
| CollegeHOF  = 1649 
}}

'''Robert Dale Fenimore''' (October 6, 1925<ref name=obit /> – July 28, 2010), nicknamed "'''the Blonde Bomber'''" and "'''Blonde Blizzard'''", was an [[American football]] [[Halfback (American football)|halfback]] who played in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for one season with the [[Chicago Bears]] in 1947. He played [[college football]] for the [[Oklahoma State Cowboys football|Oklahoma A&M Cowboys]] and was selected [[List of first overall National Football League Draft picks|first overall]] by the Bears in the [[1947 NFL draft]].

He was member of the [[1945 Oklahoma A&M Cowboys football team|1945 national champion Oklahoma A&M team]]. He was the first twice [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] selection from Oklahoma A&M and finished third in the [[Heisman Trophy]] voting in 1945, but still led the nation in rushing with 142 carries for 1,048 yards.

==Early life==
Bob Fenimore was born in [[Woodward, Oklahoma]] on October 6, 1925. As a youth, Fenimore was heavily involved with sports. His childhood home had a front yard that resembled a football field, sparking his early interest in the sport. Fenimore's interest in Oklahoma A & M (now [[Oklahoma State University–Stillwater|Oklahoma State University]]) started early as well, even though his childhood sweetheart and later wife, Veta Jo, attended the [[University of Oklahoma]].<ref name="oral history interview">{{cite journal|last1=Ahrberg|first1=Janet|date=June 16, 2008|title=Oral history interview with Bob Fenimore|url=https://dc.library.okstate.edu/digital/collection/ostate/id/7979/rec/7|journal=O-STATE Stories|access-date=24 July 2020}}</ref>

Fenimore began his attendance at Oklahoma A & M in 1943, working toward a degree in education.

==College and professional career==
As a player, he set many school records, including the career interception mark of 18 which still stands at Oklahoma State today.<ref name=OColly>{{cite web|last1=Poling|first1=James|title=Countdown to Homecoming, best football players in OSU history: #2, Bob Fenimore|date=17 October 2012 |url=http://www.ocolly.com/sports/football/article_8fb222a4-18aa-11e2-942e-001a4bcf6878.html|publisher=O'Colly|access-date=4 September 2015}}</ref> He was 195 pounds and could step the 100 yard dash in 9.7 compared with the world record at the time of 9.4.  He led the nation in total offense in 1944 and in total offense and rushing in 1945 when he finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting behind [[Army Black Knights football|Army's]] [[Glenn Davis (halfback)|Glenn Davis]] and [[Doc Blanchard]].  The Aggies were 8-1 in 1944 and 9-0 in 1945—the only unbeaten/untied season in Oklahoma A&M/State football history.<ref name="espn article">{{cite web|title=Oklahoma State star Fenimore dies| date=28 July 2010 |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=5417479|publisher=ESPN|access-date=4 September 2015}}</ref>

Due to injuries, Fenimore played sparingly in the 1946 season and despite the risk, the [[Chicago Bears]] made Fenimore the first pick overall in the [[1947 NFL draft]].  He would play only the [[1947 Chicago Bears season|1947 season]] in Chicago appearing in 10 games.<ref name="pro football reference">{{cite web|title=Bob Fenimore|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FeniBo20.htm|publisher=Pro-Football-Reference|access-date=4 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="NFL stats">{{cite web|title=Bob Fenimore|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/bobfenimore/2513936/profile|publisher=NFL|access-date=4 September 2015}}</ref>

In 1972 Fenimore was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]].  In 2007, Fenimore was inducted into the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame.  Fenimore became the third member to be inducted into Oklahoma State’s ring of honor in 2022.

==Personal life==
After his football career, Fenimore returned to Oklahoma and went to work for [[Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company|Massachusetts Mutual Life]] insurance Company in Oklahoma City. In 1953 Fenimore and his family returned to Stillwater and worked for [[Mass Mutual|Mass Mutual financial services]] until he retired. Fenimore died on July 28, 2010.<ref name="NewsOK obit">{{cite web|last1=Rohde|first1=John|title=OSU football legend Bob Fenimore dies at 84|url=http://newsok.com/article/3480297|publisher=NewsOK|access-date=4 September 2015}}</ref><ref name=obit>{{cite web|title=Obituary for Robert Fenimore|url=http://www.strodefh.com/book-of-memories/1390832/Fenimore-Robert/obituary.php|publisher=Book of Memories|access-date=4 September 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035632/http://www.strodefh.com/book-of-memories/1390832/Fenimore-Robert/obituary.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of NCAA major college football yearly rushing leaders]]
* [[List of NCAA major college football yearly total offense leaders]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=FE008 Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Fenimore, Bob]

{{1945 Oklahoma A&M Cowboys football navbox}}
{{1947 NFL Draft}}
{{NFL NumberOne Draft Picks}}
{{BearsFirstPick}}
{{Bears1947DraftPicks}}
{{1945 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fenimore, Bob}}
[[Category:1925 births]]
[[Category:2010 deaths]]
[[Category:American football halfbacks]]
[[Category:Chicago Bears players]]
[[Category:Oklahoma State Cowboys football players]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:First overall NFL draft picks]]
[[Category:People from Woodward, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Oklahoma]]