Charlie Tolar Dead at 65

April 29, 2003, 10:23PM

Former Oiler Tolar dies
Adams recalls star RB as `human bowling ball'
By JOHN McCLAIN
Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle
The first time Oilers owner Bud Adams saw Charlie Tolar was in 1959 when Pittsburgh and Chicago came to Houston to play a preseason game at Jeppesen Stadium.

Tolar, a 5-6, 210-pound running back from Northwestern State in Louisiana, was the Steelers' 27th-round draft choice that year. Tolar didn't make the Steelers' roster that rookie season, but he made such an impression on Adams the Oilers signed him six months later to become a member of their inaugural American Football League team in 1960.

Tolar died Monday of cancer. He was 65.

"If Charlie wasn't the original human bowling ball, I don't know who was," Adams said Tuesday. "Charlie was powerful on the field and popular with the fans. He meant a lot to our team, and he was an outstanding person. I know he's going to be missed by a lot of people."

Tolar played seven seasons with the Oilers before a knee injury forced him to retire. He helped them win AFL championships in 1960 and 1961 and advance to the title game in 1962, when they lost to the Dallas Texans.

"We had Billy Cannon at running back, too, and Billy was about 6-2," Adams said. "I remember one time, Billy said, `I can't believe a little guy like Charlie can do so many things.'

"But Charlie could do just about anything. He was a hell of a runner, and he was fearless. The defensive players couldn't see him about half the time, because he ran so low to the ground."

Tolar led the Oilers in rushing in 1962 (1,012 yards) and 1963 (659).

"Defensive players used to complain to the officials that when Charlie blocked them, he'd grab their ankles to knock them off their feet," Adams said. "We used to help our guys get jobs in the offseason back then. Charlie went to work for Red Adair fighting oil well fires.

"After Charlie spent an offseason working with Red, he came to me and said, `Mr. Adams, that's dangerous. Sometimes, I had to run for my life. I'd rather run from defensive linemen.' "

Bob Talamini, an All-AFL guard, was also one of the original Oilers. He played one year longer than Tolar.

"The only thing Charlie didn't have was breakaway speed, but he'd run through a brick wall to get one yard," said Talamini, now a senior vice president at Salomon Smith Barney. "He was so tough. He played with the kind of injuries that kept other players on the sideline. Charlie would have it wrapped and shot up, and he'd be on the field.

"Charlie was quite a character, too. He was fun-loving, and he had a great sense of humor. I went to see him recently and told him how sorry I was about his illness. He didn't want anyone to feel sorry for him. He smiled and said, `Bob, I should have died long ago.'

"If you ask guys who played with him, I think most would tell you that if they had to go to war, Charlie Tolar's the guy they'd want in their foxhole."

Tolar is survived by his wife of 47 years, Barbara, and three daughters. There will be a memorial service at 3 p.m. Thursday at Forest Park East Funeral Home, 21620 Gulf Freeway, in Webster.

Contributions can be made to the Charlie Tolar Athletic Scholarship Fund at Northwestern State in Natchitoches, La.

 

Boy, doesn't he!

God, how I loved those good old days of the AFL. Tolar was, as I recall, "The Human Cannonball."

I remember Bob Talamini came and spoke at my peewee football banquet in 1965. He was about 5'9" and 230 pounds and All-Pro. Times have changed.