Jim Mello

He won two national championships at the University of Notre Dame and went on to play professionally between 1947 and 1950 as a member of the Boston Yanks, Chicago Rockets, Los Angeles Rams, Detroit Lions, and Paterson Panthers.

He graduated from West Warwick High School in Rhode Island and also attended LaSalle Military Academy.

[1] As a student at West Warwick High School, Mello was a three-sport athlete, winning three varsity letters in football, three in baseball, and two in basketball.

[4] The 1942 season saw Mello splitting time at the fullback position with teammates Corwin Clatt and Gerry Cowhig.

In the absence of Clatt and Cowhig, who had been drafted into the armed forces, Mello became the starting fullback for the Irish.

Now almost 26 years old, married, and the father of a young son, Mello returned to a team with significant depth in the backfield.

[11] Even still, Mello was able to reclaim his job as starting fullback for the Irish, something that he told the student newspaper was one of his "biggest personal thrills.

"[11] Respected as a leader and a reliable ball-carrier, Mello was named team captain for the Irish's 49-6 route against Purdue on October 12, 1945.

[14] After retiring from professional football, Mello served as Director of Physical Education at the Mansfield Training School for Special Needs Children.