White served in the United States Army during World War II causing a break in his collegiate education.

[3] At River Rouge High School he played baseball, basketball and football before attending Ohio State.

He is one of only three players (along with Justin Boren and Howard Yerges) to have played for the football teams of both Michigan and Ohio State; this low number can be attributed to the strong rivalry between the two schools.

[1] White matriculated at Ohio State University, where he earned a varsity letter playing for Paul Brown's 1942 team.

[3] He served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1945 during World War II and lettered two years for Fritz Crisler's Michigan teams.