Arthur Anthony Decarlo Sr.

Arthur Anthony DeCarlo, Sr., former NFL player, devoted husband, father and grandfather passed away December 21, 2013 from complications associated with dementia. Arthur was born of Josephina and Antonio DeCarlo in Youngstown, Ohio on March 23, 1931 and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1954 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration. As a member of the Bulldogs football team, he received a number of awards, including induction into the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame, The University of Georgia Chapter in 1976 and being selected to Georgia’s All-time Football team, among many others. Post graduation Art played in the NFL for the Pittsburg Steelers in 1954. He was drafted by the Army after one year of playing with Steelers and served his country for two years during which time he met his wife Mary. They have been married for 57 years and have five children and fourteen grandchildren. While in the Army, Art was traded to the Washington Redskins where he played for one season. In 1957 he became a member of the Baltimore Colts where he played in his words "with some of the greatest football players ever to play the game.” During his football career Art played in what many consider to be the "Greatest Game Ever Played", winning two back-to-back World Championships in 1958 and 1959 with the Baltimore Colts. After retiring from the NFL in 1961, Art went on to coach a semi-pro football team, the Harrisonburg Capitals and then on to coach football and teach math at Loyola High School in Baltimore. Over the next decade Art built and ran multiple Putt-Putt golf courses, a home construction business and a restaurant in the Baltimore area before finally retiring from Panasonic as National Sales Manager. He enjoyed his retirement years spending time with his family and grandchildren and pursuing his many hobbies, including publishing a novel, which kept him very active. Art will be most remembered for his gentle, kind, generous and loving nature that was a living example of his devotion to his family and faith. Funeral arrangements for Mr. DeCarlo are incomplete at this time, for more information you can go to www.ridoutsvalleychapel.