Football Hall of Fame

After a spectacular high school career under coach George Taylor at Chillicothe High School, where he was twice named to multiple all-state teams, Bill Roehnelt accepted a scholarship to play football for Bradley University. Playing both ways, this stellar offensive lineman and defensive linebacker helped the Braves to four consecutive winning seasons. He gained Little All-America status during his senior season.

Taken in the 19th round of the 1958 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears, he appeared in 12 games for Chicago during the 1958-59 season. Traded to Washington in the off-season, Bill played 12 games for the Redskins during the 1959-60 season before moving on to the Denver Broncos where he played five seasons as a defensive linebacker.

His Air National Guard unit was activated in 1965 and Bill served two years before trying out with the Vikings in a comeback attempt that ended with a fatal auto crash at age 32.

In all, Roehnelt appeared in 54 NFL games, intercepting two passes and returning one kickoff in his seven seasons. He is a member of Bradley University's Hall of Fame.