Hall of Fame
Football (1949-50)
In 1950, the ball was just in front of Nevada’s goal line in a game with Loyola. Southpaw quarterback Pat Brady dropped into his end zone and booted the longest punt in NCAA history. It sailed over the head of the Loyola safety at midfield, kept bouncing and was recovered just in front of the Loyola goal. Brady came to Nevada in 1949 from Everett Junior College in Washington where the Seattle product was the standout of the Evergreen Conference. When Nevada dropped football in 1951, Brady transferred to Bradley University to finish his collegiate career. (He was also inducted into the Bradley Hall of Fame). The 6-4, 200-pounder entered pro ball in 1952 with Hamilton in the Canadian League, and the same season came to the Pittsburgh Steelers. That year, he finished second in NFL punting, behind another ex-Nevada player, Horace Gillom of Cleveland. Brady was pro football’s top kicker in 1953 and ’54, with the best average in the National Football League. But in the last exhibition game of 1955, he suffered torn Achilles tendon, an injury which ended his career. Returning to Reno, Brady became office manager of Reno Printing Co., then was appointed Nevada State Printer for seven years. He later owned the Bonanza Square Casino. He and his wife, Odille, had five children, and he served on the board of directors of Reno National Air Races for many years.
