GENE UPSHAW                          

                                         8/15/1945   -   8/21/2008

Eugene Thurman Upshaw, Jr. (August 15, 1945 - August 21, 2008) was born in Robstown, Texas) was a former American football guard, who played for the Oakland Raiders in the American Football League and the National Football League for 16 years after graduating from Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M University-Kingsville). He played in three Super Bowls; in the 1967, 1976 and 1980 seasons. He also played in three AFL Championship Games, seven American Football Conference title games, one AFL All-Star game, and six NFL Pro Bowls. He was selected by The Sporting News' to the 1969 AFL All League team.

Upshaw was currently the only player in Pro Football history to play in three Super Bowls with the same team in three different decades. In 1999, he was ranked number 62 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.

He was an active member of the bargaining committee for the National Football League Players' Association (NFLPA) throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s. He led the NFLPA in its unsuccessful strike in 1987 and through years of anti-trust litigation against the league, including a brief period in which the NFLPA became a professional association rather than a union, that ended with the union's acceptance of a salary cap in return for free agency and an enhanced share of league revenues for the union's members. Until his death, he was the Executive Director of the Association. In 2006 he alienated many retired players. 325 former AFL and NFL players receive minimal retirement benefits. When they attempted to have the league and the Association consider their plight, Upshaw responded: "I don't work for them. They are not union members and they have no vote."[citation needed] A campaign is currently being led by Ravens kicker Matt Stover to oust Gene Upshaw as head of the NFLPA. Kevin Mawae has denied reports of mass callings from players for Upshaw to step down.

Upshaw was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate fraternity established for African Americans.

In 2004, the NCAA Division II sports information directors awarded the first Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year award. It is presented each year during the weekend of the NCAA Division II Football Championship by the Manheim (Pa.) Touchdown Club.

On August 21, 2008, Gene Upshaw died. He had been fighting pancreatic cancer.[1]

My thoughts and prayers are with the Upshaw family and to all those who were fans and friends of Gene.     

                                  May he rest in peace

Bio and information from Wikipedia search Gene Upshaw