CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Former NFL player Marvin Upshaw died Tuesday while being treated at a hospital in Modesto, California. He was 77.
Marvin and his older brother Eugene "Gene" Upshaw were born and raised in Robstown and grew up to show great athletic talent. Both brothers had successful careers in the NFL.
Marvin was offered both baseball and football scholarships to Trinity University in San Antonio in 1964. Listed at 6-4, 245 lbs., Marvin -- who was one of the school's only African Americans at the time -- was a standout in both sports, and was inducted into the Tigers' Hall of Fame in 2001.
He was taken in the first round of the 1968 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns with the 21st pick and stayed there for two seasons.
Having left for the draft before graduating, he returned in 1970 to finish his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education degree, according to project about Marvin Upshaw on website for Trinity's Coates Library.
The defensive end and defensive tackle then played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1970-1975, and ended his career with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1976.
After leaving the NFL, he moved to Oakland, California.
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