View source for Jim Musick

{{Short description|American football player and sheriff (1910–1992)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
 | honorific_prefix   = 
 | name               = Jim Musick
 | honorific_suffix   = 
 | image              = Sheriff James Musick, circa 1966.jpg
 | image_size         = 
 | caption            = Musick as the sheriff of Orange County, {{circa|1966}}
 | office             = 10th [[Orange County Sheriff's Department (California)|Sheriff-Coroner]] of [[Orange County, California]]
 | status             = <!--If this is specified, overrides Incumbent.-->
 | term_start         = 1947
 | term_end           = 1975
 | deputy             = 
 | lieutenant         = 
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 | predecessor        = Jesse L. Elliott
 | successor          = [[Brad Gates]]
 | birth_name      = 
 | birth_date      = {{birth date|1910|5|5}}
 | birth_place     = [[Kirksville, Missouri]], U.S.
 | death_date      = {{death date and age|1992|12|15|1910|05|5}}
 | death_place     = [[Santa Ana, California]], U.S.
 | party           = 
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{{Infobox NFL biography
| embed      = yes
| position   = [[Fullback (gridiron football)|Fullback]]
| number     = 25
| college    = [[USC Trojans football|USC]]
| teams      = * [[Boston Braves (NFL)|Boston Braves/Redskins]] ({{NFL Year|1932}}–{{NFL Year|1936}})
| highlights = * [[List of NFL season rushing yards leaders|NFL rushing yards leader]] (1933)
* [[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|National champion]] ([[1931 USC Trojans football team|1931]])
'''NFL records'''
* Most career interceptions thrown without recording a passing touchdown: 15<ref name="statmuse.com">{{Cite web |title=Most Career Interceptions Thrown By A Player In NFL History With 0 Career Passing Touchdowns |url=https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/most-career-interceptions-thrown-by-a-player-in-nfl-history-with-0-career-passing-touchdowns |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241031220224/https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/most-career-interceptions-thrown-by-a-player-in-nfl-history-with-0-career-passing-touchdowns |archive-date=October 31, 2024 |access-date=October 31, 2024 |website=[[StatMuse]] |language=en}}</ref>
| statlabel1 = Carries
| statvalue1 = 327
| statlabel2 = Rushing yards
| statvalue2 = 1,313
| statlabel3 = Rushing [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue3 = 8
| statlabel4 = [[Touchdown|Passing TD]]–[[Interception|INT]]
| statvalue4 = 0–15
}}
}}
'''James Andrew Musick''' (May 5, 1910 – December 15, 1992) was an [[American football]] [[Fullback (gridiron football)|fullback]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for the [[Boston Braves (NFL)|Boston Braves/Redskins]] from 1932 to 1936 and the Sheriff of [[Orange County, California]] from 1947 to 1975.  He led the NFL in rushing in 1933.

== Early life and college career==
Jim Musick was born May 5, 1910, in [[Kirksville, Missouri]] to a family of some note. Famous relatives included authors [[John R. Musick]] and [[Ruth Ann Musick]], as well as painter [[Archie Musick]]. His family moved to Southern California when Jim was a young boy. After attending [[Santa Ana High School]], Musick played [[college football]] at the [[University of Southern California]] (USC) from 1929 to 1931.

It was at USC he earned the nickname "Sweet" Musick as he helped lead the Trojans to two [[Rose Bowl Game|Rose Bowl]] victories and a national championship in 1931.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/18/obituaries/james-a-musick-football-player-82.html|title=James A. Musick; Football Player, 82|work=The New York Times |date=December 18, 1992|via=www.nytimes.com}}</ref><ref name="profootballresearchers1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/08-05-268.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=January 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218223007/http://profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/08-05-268.pdf |archive-date=December 18, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Musick had 393 carries for 1,605 yards at USC.<ref name="profootballresearchers1"/> While at USC Musick even had a brief flirtation with Hollywood, having an uncredited role along with fellow Trojan players and former player [[John Wayne]] in the 1932 movie ''[[That's My Boy (1932 film)|That's My Boy]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023576/combined|title=That's My Boy (1932)|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>

==Professional career==
After graduation from USC in 1932, Musick signed with the Boston Redskins (now the [[Washington Commanders]]) where he would play for four seasons. Musick led the NFL in rushing in 1933 with 173 carries for 809 yards, an average of 4.7 yards per carry, along with five touchdowns.<ref name="profootballresearchers1"/> For these accomplishments he was named to the 1933 NFL All-Star Team.<ref name="profootballresearchers1"/> Musick returned to the Redskins in 1935 only to suffer a season-ending knee injury three weeks into the season. In a bid to earn a new contract for more money, Musick refused to report for training camp in 1936. The Redskins would not give into the demands and waived Musick. Picked up off waivers by the [[Green Bay Packers]] in 1937 Musick prepared to report for training camp however he reinjured the knee while playing badminton two weeks prior to camp, effectively ending his NFL career.<ref name="profootballresearchers1"/>

Despite his effectiveness as a runner, Musick  holds an infamous record when it comes to passing. His 15 career [[interception]]s thrown is the most of any player with 0 career passing touchdowns in NFL history.<ref name="statmuse.com">{{Cite web |title=Most Career Interceptions Thrown By A Player In NFL History With 0 Career Passing Touchdowns |url=https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/most-career-interceptions-thrown-by-a-player-in-nfl-history-with-0-career-passing-touchdowns |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241031220224/https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/most-career-interceptions-thrown-by-a-player-in-nfl-history-with-0-career-passing-touchdowns |archive-date=October 31, 2024 |access-date=October 31, 2024 |website=[[StatMuse]] |language=en}}</ref>

==Sheriff's Deputy==
While still a professional football player, Jim Musick began working in the offseason as a deputy for the [[Orange County Sheriff's Department (California)|Orange County Sheriff's Department]], which was headquartered in his hometown of [[Santa Ana, California]]. After retirement from the NFL, Musick took up law enforcement full-time, except for a period during World War II when he served as a [[United States Marine Corps|US Marine]] officer.<ref name="profootballresearchers1"/>

==Sheriff of Orange County, California==
In 1946, Musick won election to the first of seven consecutive terms as [[Orange County Sheriff's Department (California)|Orange County Sheriff]], remaining at the post until deciding not to seek re-election in 1974.<ref name="profootballresearchers1"/>

Musick died December 15, 1992, at a nursing home in his hometown of [[Santa Ana, California]].

==Honors==
* Named to the 1933 National Football League All-Star team.
* Inducted into the Orange County Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.<ref name="profootballresearchers1"/>
* The [[James A. Musick Facility]], part of the [[Orange County Sheriff's Department (California)|Orange County Sheriff's Department]], is named for him.
* 2017 La Cita member/guest champion

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-12-16-me-2048-story.html|title='Legendary' Ex-Sheriff James Musick, 82, Dies : Death: He modernized the department over seven terms and was revered for his personal integrity and style.|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=December 16, 1992|last=Hernandez|first=Greg}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-12-22-me-2462-story.html|title=Longtime Sheriff Musick Is Eulogized as 'Great Leader' : Memorial: At a service attended by hundreds, Brad Gates terms his predecessor, who died last week at 82, a personal and professional inspiration.|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=December 22, 1992|last=Wilgoren|first=Jodi}}
* {{Find a Grave}}

{{Washington Commanders starting quarterbacks}}
{{1931 USC Trojans football navbox}}
{{1932 Boston Braves (NFL)}}
{{NFL rushing yards leaders}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Musick, Jim}}
[[Category:1910 births]]
[[Category:1992 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century California politicians]]
[[Category:American football fullbacks]]
[[Category:Boston Braves (NFL) players]]
[[Category:Boston Redskins players]]
[[Category:California sheriffs]]
[[Category:USC Trojans football players]]
[[Category:People from Kirksville, Missouri]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Santa Ana, California]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps officers]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Military personnel from California]]