The end of the road
Utah State athletics lost a legend Monday. Former Utah State athlete Earl Lindley passed away in his Smithfield home.
At USU Lindley was a standout in two sports. His athletic successes garnered him many honors.
Playing with the likes of LaVell Edwards and David Kragthorpe, Lindley excelled on the football field. As a senior, in 1953, he led the entire nation in scoring with 81 points in one season.
Lindley played on both sides of the ball, offensively as a half back and defensively as a lineman, under head USU coach John Roning.
He also lettered twice for the Utah State basketball team in 1952 and 1953.
After graduating from Utah State, Lindley was drafted into the NFL by the Chicago Bears, but he told the Smithfield Sun he made the decision to play in the Canadian Football League, because he didn’t want to play on Sundays.
In Canada, Lindley helped the Edmonton Eskimos to three straight Gray Cup wins from 1954-1956.
A shoulder injury ended Lindley’s football career, but he continued to build his resume with teaching and coaching gigs, first in Canada and then back in the U.S. He taught high school health and physical education in Edmonton, Alberta, before moving back to the U.S.
Lindley became the backfield coach for Brigham Young University, serving on the staff of former teammate Edwards for seven years before moving back to Cache Valley.
In 2010, Lindley was inducted into the Utah State Athletics Hall of Fame. He was also a member of the Utah Sports Hall of Fame.
Lindley married his wife Marilyn during his sophomore year at Utah State. The two were married for 60 years.
Lindley and his wife have four sons and one daughter. He also has 24 grandchildren, including current Utah State football tight end Brad Thuerer.
– meredith.kinney@aggiemail.usu.edu