Posthumously
Robert Victor Sullivan was born on December 10, 1918 in Echola, Alabama. He graduated from Aliceville High School in 1938, but only after establishing himself as a football standout and earning a football scholarship to Union University. He attended Union for two years, then the University of Nevada-Reno, subsequently graduating with a B.S. degree in Physical Education from the George Peabody College (Vanderbilt University). He later earned an M.A. in anthropology sociology from Mississippi State University in 1965 with additional study toward a Doctorate in Anthropology. Mr. Sullivan was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, national honorary scholastic society.
Upon coming to Union University, Mr. Sullivan immediately earned himself two nicknames: “Bull”, suggesting power and tenacity, and “Cyclone”, indicating that he possessed lightning speed and destroyed everything in his past. He was named “All-American Center” for Union University in 1942. That same year he played in the Shrine All-Star game in Honolulu in the Aloha Bowl.
“Bull/Cyclone” Sullivan went on to play professional football for the Detroit Lions. A letter from Union University coach Fred Delay reads: “I am enclosing a letter just received from Gus Dorias (Detroit Lions Coach). He Is very anxious that you get your contract in as soon as possible. You can judge from his letter how he feels regarding you and your prospects in pro ball. If you are interested, attend to this at once!”
Mr. Sullivan went on to play with the Detroit Lions from 1943-48.
In 1948-49 Mr. Sullivan served as Assistant Coach at the University of Oregon, where he coached John McKay, later coach at USC and Tampa Bay, and Norm Van Brocklin, a stand-out quarterback in the NFL for 12 seasons and coach for Atlanta. Oregon went undefeated and played in the Cotton Bowl.
Mr. Sullivan coached sixteen years at East Mississippi Junior College (97-62-3), coaching nine All-American High School and Junior College games. Over 200 players coached by Mr. Sullivan went on to become coaches themselves.
Mr. Sullivan was married to Virginia Dale. They had four children. He died on September 8, 1970 in Columbus, Mississippi.
Posthumously
