December 5, 2008
Webster, who lost quest to have NFL pension increased, dies at 61
EAST LANSING, Mich. - George Webster, the battered former Michigan State All-American and pro football star who lost a U.S. Supreme Court attempt to have his NFL disability pension increased, died yesterday. He was 61.
Michigan State associate athletic director John Lewandowski said Webster died in Houston of heart failure.
Webster, an All-America defensive standout at Michigan State, was the Houston Oilers' first draft pick in 1967. He spent 5 1/2 seasons with Houston, a year and half with the Pittsburgh Steelers and then played three seasons for the New England Patriots.
In 1989, Webster applied for benefits as totally and permanently disabled. He was found to have lost most use of a hand, foot, knee and ankle due to football-related injuries but did not meet the NFL's definition of totally disabled.
"He beat it all, but it took a toll on his heart," Hank Bullough, a close friend who served as defensive coordinator at Michigan State when Webster played for the Spartans, told the Lansing State Journal. "People remember George not only as a great athlete but just a great guy. He had feelings for everybody."
In 1998, the Supreme Court let stand a finding by the NFL's retirement board that Webster's disability was not related to his football career.
Football-related disability benefits are $4,000 a month; non-football disability monthly benefits are $750.
In 2002, Webster had his right leg amputated above the knee because the limb had little circulation despite four previous surgeries.
Mixx it!
Copyright © 2008, The Baltimore Sun
Popular stories
- A welcome bit of Iraq news
- Everybody looks fabulous in green
- Opening record for Phelps
- Plans for Pimlico: raze and rebuild it
- Hotel discovers better occupancy
- Alvin Anderson dies, a great civic leader
- Prostitution ring was well-organized
- Winter cutbacks among deepest at CW
- W&M dropout gives $6 million
- Global Warming
- Hampton Roads
- Cedric Jones
- Government
- Injuries
