Back to good health

Cliff Livingston, whose Orange Coast College football jersey No.

47, was retired in the early 1960s, is returning to good health

following a severe back injury last July when a big plumbing fixture

toppled on him during a business project.

Livingston, who endured 13 years of professional football with the

New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams, and his

lovely wife, Linda, are now managing an apartment complex in Newport

Beach. Prior to that, he was operating his own building maintenance

business.

He played fullback under Coach Ray Rosso at Orange Coast College

in 1949, then played at UCLA under the famed Henry (Red) Sanders and

on a national championship military team, Fort Ord, which defeated

Quantico Marines for the title, 53-7.

Born in Compton and raised in Montebello, he followed his

outstanding brother, the late Howie, into pro grid ranks. Both had

great speed. Cliff ran a 9.8 century while Howie clocked at 9.7

during their prime time.

During a recent rehabilitation session at a Newport facility,

Livingston crossed paths with another rehab client, former OCC coach

Rosso. Both were surprised. Livingston said, “I hadn’t seen Ray in 30

years. He was an excellent coach and a very knowledgeable man.”

He said the rehab program has been helping immensely and values

the facility’s staff.

Reflecting back on the jersey retirement, he said it was,

“Exciting,” when word of the rare honor came his way.

“I was elated,” he said.

It also called for the college to invite him and his parents to a

colorful banquet on campus.

Memories of the ’49 team have dimmed slightly, but he still

recalls some of the players, including halfback Raul Hernandez,

tackle Kermit Stangs, fullback Larry Willoughby, center Boyd “Bogie”

Horrell and guard Al Muniz.

Livingston faced college with two scholarships. He chose to try

one to Arizona State because he favored a top track coach there and

had a tentative goal of considering a role in the Olympics. However,

the day after his arrival, the temperature was 115 degrees and he

decided to fade away.

He phoned the UCLA official to seek permission to first attend a

junior college (OCC), then shift to the Bruin campus on its extended

scholarship. It was approved.

After an impressive 8-2 season at OCC, he advanced to UCLA and

found Sanders to be a great tactician in the single-wing offense.

“He was the leader of everybody. He was different, but he was a

nice person. He was also very astute and serious. I learned a lot

from Rosso and Sanders,” said Linvingston.

Woven into his career was a military period when he played Army

ball at Fort Ord, Calif., which became undefeated and won the

national service title, beating Quantico Marines, 53-7.

The Army period found his name standing strong with the

professionals.

He had several pro choices, but he finally accepted a spot with

the New York Giants. In time he drew national attention with a noted

linebacking crew that included All-Pro Sam Huff.

They were being coached by future Dallas Cowboys head coach Tom

Landry.

Jim Lowell was the Giants’ head coach, but he had Landry running

the defense and Vince Lombardi directing the offense.

Livingston said, “Landry was very brilliant.”

He was always impressed by his polished preparedness.

He developed different defenses to counter 4-5 offenses and

labeled each one with a color. The rival offense set immediately

dictated the Giant defense.

He remembers the grim day when teammate Frank Gifford was hit hard

by All-Pro Chuck Bednarik and collapsed to the turf.

Livingston said, “I walked by Frank once and I thought he was

dead.” Gifford survived.

Livingston was traded to Minnesota after eight years with the

Giants, then suffered a severe ankle injury after an intense head-on

collision with a fullback. That put him on the sidelines.

He later “got a call from the Rams’ Harlan Svare and said he’d

push for a trade if I would join the Rams.”

Livingston said that worked out “very well and it was a great

opportunity.”

So he spent four years with the Rams.

At one point, he said, “I became an actor.”

It led to a bright income since it led to as many as 23

commercials.

In fact, he once portrayed “The Marlboro Man.”

Interestingly enough, he said, one commercial paid more residual

than football. And, in off seasons, he worked in the construction

business.