First South Carolina AP football All-American Sossamon dies

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina's first-ever AP All-American football player Lou Sossamon has died at age 97.

The school and an obituary from the Blakely Funeral Home in Sossamon's hometown of Gaffney said the former center and linebacker died at his home Monday. No cause of death was given.

Sossamon spent 30 years as publisher of the Gaffney Ledger, a newspaper founded by his grandfather in 1894.

Sossamon played at South Carolina from 1940-42. He was named to the AP's All-American second team after the 1942 season. Sossamon was later elected to the school and the state's athletic halls of fame.

Sossamon was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers and, after serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, played professionally for three years with the New York Yankees of the All-American Football Conference.

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