Mike O'Hara, a former Detroit News football reporter who writes for the Detroit Lions, notes that former running back Mel Farr, who died on Monday at age 70, wound up recognized mainly for something other than sports stardom.
Ironically and unfortunately, Farr would become known in later life more for the campy commercials that portrayed him as the “Mel Farr, Superstar” auto dealer than for his performance on the field because of injuries that hampered and ultimately ended his career prematurely.
Farr died Monday night at his home in Metro Detroit. His passing sent shock waves through former teammates. He was 70 and appeared in good health as recently as when he attended the funeral of former teammate and all-time Lions great Charlie Sanders.
Greg Landry, the Lions’ starting quarterback for much of Farr’s seven-year career as a Lion from 1967-73, was stunned to hear the news.
“That’s a shocker,” Landry said Tuesday morning. “He played hard when he was on the field. He always seemed to be a very educated man who was looking to better himself.
