University Southern California Trojans
USC All-American Footballer Jim Sears Dies
Jan. 7, 2002
LOS ANGELES - Former USC All-American halfback Jim Sears, who was seventh in the 1952 Heisman Trophy voting, died Friday (Jan. 4) in Woodland Hills, Calif., of complications from a brain hemorrhage and stroke. He was 70.
A memorial service will be held on Jan. 19 at 1 p.m. at United Methodist Church in Westlake Village (1049 So. Westlake Blvd.). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Jim Sears Football Scholarship Fund at USC in care of senior associate athletic director Don Winston (213-740-4155).
Sears, a 3-year (1950-52) letterman at USC, was a consensus All-American in 1952 as he led the 10-1, No. 5-ranked Trojans to the Pacific Coast Conference championship and a win over Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. In USC's 14-12 win over UCLA in 1952 that sent the Trojans to the Rose Bowl, he scored a touchdown and threw for the other TD.
Sears was USC's leader in passing (712 yards), total offense (1,030 yards), scoring (36 points) and punt returns (478 yards) in 1952. That season, he won the Voit Trophy (outstanding player on the Pacific Coast) and Pop Warner Award (most valuable senior on the Pacific Coast), as well as All-PCC first team honors. He then played in the College All-Star Game and Hula Bowl.
He played professionally for the Chicago Cardinals (1954, 1957-58), Los Angeles Chargers (1960) and Denver Broncos (1960-61). He was an assistant coach at USC in 1959.
After his playing career, he entered private business.
Sears prepped at Inglewood (Calif.) High and then starred at El Camino Junior College in Torrance, Calif., where he is a member of the school's Athletic Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his former wife, Diane, sons Rick and Gifford, and 5 grandchildren.
