University Southern California Trojans
Lou Welsh, USC's 1952 Football Captain, Died Feb. 14
February 18, 2005 | Football
Feb. 18, 2005
Lou Welsh, who captained the 1952 USC football team that beat Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl, died on Feb. 14 in Reno, Nev. He was 73.
A memorial service will be held on Feb. 21 at 1 p.m. at St. Philip the Apostle Church, 161 So. Hill Ave., Pasadena, with a reception immediately following at Annandale Golf Club, 1 No. San Rafael Ave., Pasadena.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the USC Catholic Center Capital Campaign (www.catholictrojan.com) or USC/Norris Cancer Center (http://ccnt.hsc.usc.edu/about/help.htm).
Welsh was a 3-year (1950-51-52) letterman center and linebacker for the Trojans. He earned All-Conference honors as a center in 1952. That 1952 team won its first 9 games before finishing 10-1 overall and fifth in the final AP poll. USC defeated Wisconsin, 7-0, in the 1953 Rose Bowl.
He also was the Most Inspirational Player on the 1951 USC team that started off the season with 7 consecutive wins before losing its final 3 contests.
He won USC's Spartan Award in 1950 as the top junior varsity player.
Although he was drafted by the Rams in 1953, he instead began working at Washington Iron Works, a steel contracting firm in Gardena, Calif. He then became owner and operator of the company until semi-retiring to Northern California a few years ago.
He is survived by his wife, Mary, and his brother, Dick, who was a 3-year (1953-54-55) letterman on USC's basketball team, plus seven children-Dan, Karey, Rich, Rebecca, Jeni, Luke and Nick-and 24 grandchildren.
