Clarence Peaks, ex-Eagle, dead

Former Eagles star Clarence Peaks, 71, died Saturday at a nursing home in Voorhees, the team announced yesterday.

The running back from Michigan State was the Eagles' first-round draft choice (the seventh choice overall) in 1957.

Mr. Peaks still ranks 10th on the Eagles' all-time rushing list with 2,927 yards in seven seasons. He finished his career in 1965 after two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Mr. Peaks was an analyst for broadcasts of Eagles games on WIP-AM (610) as well as a TV analyst for ABC. Mr. Peaks followed his broadcasting career by becoming a financial consultant.

Mr. Peaks was a three-sport star at Flint (Mich.) Central High School, then went to Michigan State, where he was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 1956. The winner was Notre Dame's Paul Hornung, a bitter irony since the Spartans had trounced the Irish, 47-14.

In the 1956 Rose Bowl, Mr. Peaks participated in one of the fabled bowl's most memorable plays. He took a lateral from quarterback Earl Morrall and threw a 67-yard touchdown pass to John Lewis.

At the time, it was the longest touchdown pass in Rose Bowl history. Mr. Peaks also caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Morrall as the Spartans beat UCLA.

He is survived by two sons, Clarence Jr. and Allan; a brother, Ronald; and a sister, Cathy.

The funeral will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday at Reformation Lutheran Church, 1215 E. Vernon Rd., Philadelphia.