Former Canton High School football great Dick Himes, who went on to play 10 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, has died at age 80.
Himes passed away earlier this month at his home in Luxemburg, Wis. He had suffered from Parkinson’s disease and was receiving hospice care, according to a story posted on Packers.com.
A Stark County High School Football Hall of Famer, Himes played on the offensive and defensive lines for Canton South. He made the 11-man All-Stark County team as a junior in 1962, was named the county’s MVP in 1963 and earned all-state honors twice. He also was a starting forward on the Wildcats basketball teams that went 36-5 in his last two seasons.
Himes started three seasons at Ohio State and was a two-time All-Big Ten tackle. A third-round pick of the Packers in 1968, he initially backed up future Pro Football Hall of Famer Forrest Gregg before he became a fixture at right tackle. He became one of only five right tackles in Packers history to start more than 100 games.
“He was an established guy when I came here and everybody respected him,” former Green Bay center Larry McCarren told Packers.com. “He came here with fundamentals and used them.”
Packers.com reported that Himes did not want a funeral or an announcement about his death. His one request was for his brain to be donated to Boston University’s CTE Center for research.
The Canton Repository sports department can be contacted via email at sports@cantonrep.com.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton South football legend Dick Himes, a former Packers star, has died
Reporting by Canton Repository / The Repository
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