William Edward Daley

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Daley, William Edward Of Edina. Born Sept. 16, 1919 in Melrose, MN, passed away on Oct. 19, 2015 at the age of 96. Bill was an All-American fullback who played for the University of MN Golden Gophers from 1940-42 and for the University of MI Wolverines in 1943. The Gophers were national champions in his freshman and sophomore years. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943 and was assigned to the V-12 Navy College Training Program at the University of MI. He played football for the Wolverines in 1943 where he rushed for 817 yards in just 6 games before being reassigned by the Navy. Based on his performance in 1943, he was named an All-American and finished 6th in the Heisman Trophy voting. Daley has the unique status of having played in and won Little Brown Jug games for both MN and MI, compiling a record of 4-0 in those contests. After active service in the Pacific Theater during WWII, Daley played professional football for 3 years in the All-American Football Conference with the Brooklyn Dodgers (1946), Miami Seahawks (1946), Chicago Rockets (1947) and New York Yankees (1948). He later was one of the radio announcers for MN Golden Gopher Football for 10 years and for the MN Vikings when they first arrived in MN. Since 1973 he has owned and operated the Daley Illustration Gallery in downtown Minneapolis, MN. Survived by loving wife, Melba; 3 sons; 1 daughter; 2 grandchildren and 1 sister. Memorials preferred to the University of MN Foundation Interment Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Visitation 10:30 to 11:30 AM Monday, Oct. 26, with a memorial service at 11:30 AM all at: Washburn-McReavy.com Edina Chapel 952-920-3996 West 50th St. & Hwy 100

Published on October 22, 2015