Glenn Presnell, ex-football great

IRONTON, Ohio -- Glenn Presnell, who starred for the Detroit Lions in the 1930s and later spent 28 years as a college head coach and athletic director, died Monday at age 99.

After playing semiprofessional ball for the Ironton Tanks from 1927 to 1930, Mr. Presnell joined the Portsmouth Spartans of the National Football League, which three years later became the Detroit Lions.

It was in Detroit that Mr. Presnell enjoyed his finest NFL seasons, leading the Lions to the 1935 league championship. There he earned his highest professional football salary of $4,000, huge in that era.

Mr. Presnell led the league in scoring that season and was the first team All-Pro. He had earned second team honors before and on Oct. 7, 1934, kicked a 54-yard field goal, an NFL record at the time. The record stood for 19 years.

Mr. Presnell retired after nine seasons. He was head coach at Eastern Kentucky University for 17 years.