Hugh Edward McElhenny is a former American football running back in the National Football League who played from 1952–1964, for the San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and Detroit Lions. He was noted for his explosive, elusive running style and was frequently called "The King" and "Hurryin' Hugh". He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1970. McElhenny suffered from Guillain-Barre Syndrome, from which he almost died. He was temporarily paralyzed from the neck down and had to use a walker for a year. After graduating from Washington Preparatory High... School in Los Angeles, McElhenny attended Compton Junior College where he was a starter on Compton's undefeated football team in 1948. One of McElhenny's Compton teammates was future 1952 Olympic gold medalist Sim Iness. McElhenny then starred at the University of Washington where he was an All-America selection. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981. He was a member of Alpha Theta Delta of Chi Psi fraternity at the university.
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