A year after his passing, Greenwood’s Harland Carl remembered for his contributions to football

As published in the Wisconsin State Journal on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023.

Harland Carl Oct. 1, 1931-July 28, 2023 MADISON-Harland Carl, the speedy left halfback carried the ball for the last time and scored his final touchdown on July 28, 2023, when he cut outside and shook off the defenders to break the goal line into the big end zone in the sky … He was 91 ...

He had a good run... A very good run! A small-town kid from tiny Greenwood, Wis.,' Hy,' as he was called by his family and friends, was born on Oct 1, 1931, to Ida and Irvin Carl. He excelled at sports in high school and ended up starring for the Wisconsin Badgers on the football field and on the track where he held the indoor records in the 40- and 60-yard dash... He went on to play football for the Chicago Bears in the NFL before another knee injury ended his football career. In his free time, he also earned his bachelors and masters degrees in education while attending The University of Wisconsin.

When your name is mentioned with some of the greatest Wisconsin Badger running backs of all time, you're in pretty good company!

James White averaged 6.2 yards per carry, Ron Dayne 5.2 yards, Elroy 'Crazy Legs' Hirsh 5.4 yards, Billy Marek 5.2 yards, Alan 'the Iron Horse' Ameche 4.8 yards, Rufus' the Roadrunner' Ferguson 3.3 yards and the small-town kid from Greenwood, Harland Carl, averaged 7.1 yards per carry. He also averaged a touchdown every 10 times he touched the ball. If only he could have outrun the injury bug that plagued him throughout his football career...

Harland had the great honor of playing in a Rose Bowl (1953), and the NFL Championship game (1956), not bad for a kid from Greenwood, Wis.

One of his best stories about his days with the Bears was driving down to Chicago the first time in his new car and parking it outside the player's housing units and when he went out the next morning his car was up on blocks and the tires were gone...welcome to the NFL rookie!

Harland served in the Army for two years between his college and pro-football days. He also got married during that time to Lesley Jean Riley, and they had four children, Lesa, Rick, Jeff and Greg.

After his playing days were over, Harland started coaching football and teaching at Neenah High School where they won many conference and state titles. He came back to the Badgers to coach football in the late 60s as the 'offensive backfield coach' under Head Coach John Coatta. After his coaching career, Harland worked at Valley School Supply in Appleton, for the great Green Bay Packer legend Bob Skoronski (#76), running their athletic division supplying high schools and colleges with athletic equipment. After he 'retired' Harland went to work as a manufacturer's rep selling printed garments to stores and resorts around the state.

Harland was also the proud owner of his company called, 'Wisconsin Athletic Products.' For the last 50 years he sold a basketball rack called the 'Rol-O-Bin' that can be found today in many high school and college gyms across the country and he always made sure it was manufactured entirely in the state of Wisconsin.

He probably worked way too long but he enjoyed what he did, meeting people and talking to them... and boy could he talk! If you listen closely, you can probably hear him talking right now up in heaven!

Harland loved going to his cottage in northern Wisconsin and fishing and telling stories with his buddies. He had a close group of friends that would go to the fishing opener every year and try to catch dinner and have a few cold ones and play his favorite dice game 'Olay' ... If only those cottage walls could talk, they would tell some great stories!

He also enjoyed going to deer camp at 'Dewey's Woods' with his brother Dewey, and his nephew, David, and their friends. He wasn't much of a hunter; I think he went for the good food and good company and I'm sure he helped keep the conversations and good times rolling...

Harland also kept active playing handball in the early days after football, then progressing to paddle ball and eventually racquetball where he won the 50 and over Wisconsin State Singles Championship when in his early 50s.

Harland had something special, he had 'it' as they say ... not sure what 'it' is, whether it's charisma, confidence, charm, swagger... but he could light up a room with his smile and he would treat everyone with respect from the person sweeping the floor to the person in the big office ... he was a people guy and everyone else was better off for being around him.

'Harland you're on the All-Star Team in Heaven now, keep on running…”

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO