Tom Dempsey, Record-Setting Kicker, Dies at 73

He went on to play with the Eagles, the Los Angeles Rams, the Houston Oilers and the Buffalo Bills, though he never regained the form he displayed with the Saints. He retired after the 1979 season with 159 field goals in 258 tries and 252 extra points on 282 attempts.

Thomas John Dempsey was born on Jan. 12, 1947, in Milwaukee and grew up in Southern California. His father, Huey, was a mechanic for a public utility company and joined with his mother, LaVerne (Sorce) Dempsey, in owning a jewelry store in Encinitas.

He was a defensive lineman and kicker in high school, played briefly at Palomar College in San Diego County and was signed by the Saints as an undrafted player.

After retiring from football, he worked as an oil field salesman in Louisiana until the late 1980s and ran a car dealership owned by the Saints’ owner, Tom Benson.

In addition to his wife, Dempsey is survived by his daughters Ashley Dempsey and Meghan Dempsey Crosby; his son, Toby; his sister Janice MacArthur and three grandchildren.

Dempsey loved New Orleans nightlife.

He and Carlene were dating at the time of the 63-yard kick. “He courted me mainly at the Old Absinthe House on Bourbon Street,” she told The Times in 2013, recalling that she did not hear from him for days after his stunning field goal.

“It was Thursday before he called me,” she said, adding that Tom explained that some New Orleans police officers had rewarded him with a couple of cases of cold Dixie beer in the locker room after the game, and it became a long night of celebrating. Carlene married him two months later.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/05/obituaries/tom-dempsey-dead.html