How does an Armenian tie maker who played for the Miami Dolphins end up in Media, PA?

[saturdaysarebetter]

I came across this and what caught my eye was the last sentence. I've been to Media, PA. Broomall too. How does an Armenian tie maker who played for the Miami Dolphins end up in Media, PA? I thought perhaps someone here would know the backstory.

On June 2, 1944 the late Garo Yepremian was born Garabed Sarkis Yepremian in Larnaca, Cyprus. Yepremian and his brother, Krikor, who attended Indiana University on a soccer scholarship, immigrated to the United States. Yepremian, who had earlier played in an organized soccer league in London, was not eligible to play college football. He was offered to play with Arsenal, but Krikor wanted his brother to play football in the United States. With Krikor acting as his agent, he earned a contract with the Detroit Lions. Yepremian signed with the Lions on October 13, 1966. In his rookie year, he broke an American football record by kicking six field goals in a single game against the Minnesota Vikings on November 13th. After the 1967 season, Yepremian left football to enlist in the United States Army. When he returned to the Detroit area in 1968, however, the Lions chose not to re-sign him, so Yepremian signed a contract to be a kicker/punter for the Michigan Arrows of the Continental Football League.

After sitting out the 1969 season, Yepremian earned a spot on the Miami Dolphins roster in 1970. In his first season with Miami, he converted all 31 extra point attempts and 22 of 29 field goal attempts. During his nine seasons with the Dolphins, Yepremian led the league in scoring in 1971, received two Pro Bowl and two first-team All-Pro honors, and helped the Dolphins win two Super Bowltitles. Yepremian's first championship victory in Super Bowl VII occurred as a member of the 1972 Dolphins, the only team to complete a perfect season in NFL history.

He also played for the New Orleans Saints (1979) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1980–1981). Yepremian and kick returner Rick Upchurch are the only first-team members of the 1970s NFL All-Decade team to not be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Over his career, Yepremian was successful on 210 of 313 field goals (.671) and 444 of 464 (.957) extra points for a total of 1,074 points. Yepremian is best known for two feats — one famous and one infamous. In a Divisional Round playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day 1971, he kicked a 37-yard field goal 7 minutes and 40 seconds into double overtime, ending the longest game in NFL history and sending the Dolphins to the AFC Championship.

Despite all of Yepremian's success, many people remember him for a play in Super Bowl VII in 1973. Instead of falling on top of a blocked field goal, Yepremian picked it up and attempted a pass. The ball slipped from Yepremian's hands and went straight up in the air. Yepremian then attempted to bat the ball out of bounds but instead batted it back up in the air, and it went right into the arms of his former Lions teammate, Redskins cornerback Mike Bass, who returned it for a touchdown. The Dolphins managed to hold on to win, 14–7, thus completing the Dolphins' undefeated 1972 season. He passed away on May 15, 2015 in Media, Pennsylvania at the age of 70.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

He died in Riddle Hospital. The mailing address for the hospital is Media, PA, though technically it's located in Middletown Township, which is located next to Media.

His wife, Maritza, was from Philadelphia. They met in Miami, when she was a student at the University of Miami and he was the field goal kicker for the Miami Dolphins. They both were of Armenian descent. The two met at an Armenian restaurant in Miami (introduced by friends), and were engaged a week later. They both were members of the Armenian Apostolic church.

They lived in the Miami area for about a decade after Garo's NFL career was over, but then moved to the Philadelphia region. I don't know if he initially moved to Philadelphia and later moved to the suburbs, but he lived for quite a few years in Chester County -- about an hour from Center City Philadelphia.

 

[saturdaysarebetter]

He died in Riddle Hospital. The mailing address for the hospital is Media, PA, though technically it's located in Middletown Township, which is located next to Media.

His wife, Maritza, was from Philadelphia. They met in Miami, when she was a student at the University of Miami and he was the field goal kicker for the Miami Dolphins. They both were of Armenian descent. The two met at an Armenian restaurant in Miami (introduced by friends), and were engaged a week later. They both were members of the Armenian Apostolic church.

They lived in the Miami area for about a decade after Garo's NFL career was over, but then moved to the Philadelphia region. I don't know if he initially moved to Philadelphia and later moved to the suburbs, but he lived for quite a few years in Chester County -- about an hour from Center City Philadelphia.

Thank you for the info. I knew someone in the AKB would know.

 

[LionJim]

Garo is lucky the Dolphins won. The Redskins were totally outclassed that game. Garo gave them hope.

 

[Bkmtnittany1]

View attachment 812146

I came across this and what caught my eye was the last sentence. I've been to Media, PA. Broomall too. How does an Armenian tie maker who played for the Miami Dolphins end up in Media, PA? I thought perhaps someone here would know the backstory.

On June 2, 1944 the late Garo Yepremian was born Garabed Sarkis Yepremian in Larnaca, Cyprus. Yepremian and his brother, Krikor, who attended Indiana University on a soccer scholarship, immigrated to the United States. Yepremian, who had earlier played in an organized soccer league in London, was not eligible to play college football. He was offered to play with Arsenal, but Krikor wanted his brother to play football in the United States. With Krikor acting as his agent, he earned a contract with the Detroit Lions. Yepremian signed with the Lions on October 13, 1966. In his rookie year, he broke an American football record by kicking six field goals in a single game against the Minnesota Vikings on November 13th. After the 1967 season, Yepremian left football to enlist in the United States Army. When he returned to the Detroit area in 1968, however, the Lions chose not to re-sign him, so Yepremian signed a contract to be a kicker/punter for the Michigan Arrows of the Continental Football League.

After sitting out the 1969 season, Yepremian earned a spot on the Miami Dolphins roster in 1970. In his first season with Miami, he converted all 31 extra point attempts and 22 of 29 field goal attempts. During his nine seasons with the Dolphins, Yepremian led the league in scoring in 1971, received two Pro Bowl and two first-team All-Pro honors, and helped the Dolphins win two Super Bowltitles. Yepremian's first championship victory in Super Bowl VII occurred as a member of the 1972 Dolphins, the only team to complete a perfect season in NFL history.

He also played for the New Orleans Saints (1979) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1980–1981). Yepremian and kick returner Rick Upchurch are the only first-team members of the 1970s NFL All-Decade team to not be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Over his career, Yepremian was successful on 210 of 313 field goals (.671) and 444 of 464 (.957) extra points for a total of 1,074 points. Yepremian is best known for two feats — one famous and one infamous. In a Divisional Round playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day 1971, he kicked a 37-yard field goal 7 minutes and 40 seconds into double overtime, ending the longest game in NFL history and sending the Dolphins to the AFC Championship.

Despite all of Yepremian's success, many people remember him for a play in Super Bowl VII in 1973. Instead of falling on top of a blocked field goal, Yepremian picked it up and attempted a pass. The ball slipped from Yepremian's hands and went straight up in the air. Yepremian then attempted to bat the ball out of bounds but instead batted it back up in the air, and it went right into the arms of his former Lions teammate, Redskins cornerback Mike Bass, who returned it for a touchdown. The Dolphins managed to hold on to win, 14–7, thus completing the Dolphins' undefeated 1972 season. He passed away on May 15, 2015 in Media, Pennsylvania at the age of 70.

He was living in Intercourse, Pa… but got kicked out! Shrinkage!!

 

[psuro]

Garo was awesome.

I kick Touchdown!

 

[Nittering Nabob]

View attachment 812146

I came across this and what caught my eye was the last sentence. I've been to Media, PA. Broomall too. How does an Armenian tie maker who played for the Miami Dolphins end up in Media, PA? I thought perhaps someone here would know the backstory.

On June 2, 1944 the late Garo Yepremian was born Garabed Sarkis Yepremian in Larnaca, Cyprus. Yepremian and his brother, Krikor, who attended Indiana University on a soccer scholarship, immigrated to the United States. Yepremian, who had earlier played in an organized soccer league in London, was not eligible to play college football. He was offered to play with Arsenal, but Krikor wanted his brother to play football in the United States. With Krikor acting as his agent, he earned a contract with the Detroit Lions. Yepremian signed with the Lions on October 13, 1966. In his rookie year, he broke an American football record by kicking six field goals in a single game against the Minnesota Vikings on November 13th. After the 1967 season, Yepremian left football to enlist in the United States Army. When he returned to the Detroit area in 1968, however, the Lions chose not to re-sign him, so Yepremian signed a contract to be a kicker/punter for the Michigan Arrows of the Continental Football League.

After sitting out the 1969 season, Yepremian earned a spot on the Miami Dolphins roster in 1970. In his first season with Miami, he converted all 31 extra point attempts and 22 of 29 field goal attempts. During his nine seasons with the Dolphins, Yepremian led the league in scoring in 1971, received two Pro Bowl and two first-team All-Pro honors, and helped the Dolphins win two Super Bowltitles. Yepremian's first championship victory in Super Bowl VII occurred as a member of the 1972 Dolphins, the only team to complete a perfect season in NFL history.

He also played for the New Orleans Saints (1979) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1980–1981). Yepremian and kick returner Rick Upchurch are the only first-team members of the 1970s NFL All-Decade team to not be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Over his career, Yepremian was successful on 210 of 313 field goals (.671) and 444 of 464 (.957) extra points for a total of 1,074 points. Yepremian is best known for two feats — one famous and one infamous. In a Divisional Round playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day 1971, he kicked a 37-yard field goal 7 minutes and 40 seconds into double overtime, ending the longest game in NFL history and sending the Dolphins to the AFC Championship.

Despite all of Yepremian's success, many people remember him for a play in Super Bowl VII in 1973. Instead of falling on top of a blocked field goal, Yepremian picked it up and attempted a pass. The ball slipped from Yepremian's hands and went straight up in the air. Yepremian then attempted to bat the ball out of bounds but instead batted it back up in the air, and it went right into the arms of his former Lions teammate, Redskins cornerback Mike Bass, who returned it for a touchdown. The Dolphins managed to hold on to win, 14–7, thus completing the Dolphins' undefeated 1972 season. He passed away on May 15, 2015 in Media, Pennsylvania at the age of 70.

You need to quickly improve your posting skills. In order to be recognized as someone whose posts we might want to read, you should include video links to important, defining events in this individual's career.

I'll cover you this time, but you remain on posting probation.

 

[saturdaysarebetter]

You need to quickly improve your posting skills. In order to be recognized as someone whose posts we might want to read, you should include video links to important, defining events in this individual's career.

I'll cover you this time, but you remain on posting probation.

I grew up in the '60s, I'm lucky I can figure out how to post a picture (and now with so many too large, ugh!).

 

[psuro]

How does an Armenian tie maker who played for the Miami Dolphins end up in Media, PA?

Pretty sure he used I-95 North.

 

[MtNittany]

How does an Armenian tie maker who played for the Miami Dolphins end up in Media, PA?

Pretty sure he used I-95 North.

W/ a lot of US 1 included. I-95 wasn't even finished in Palm Beach County when I arrived in the mid 80's. I remember them using a PGA Blvd. ramp (not opened yet) as a soapbox derby host b/c there were no hills. The sh** you could get away with back then.

 

[CFLion]

 

[Bwifan]

W/ a lot of US 1 included. I-95 wasn't even finished in Palm Beach County when I arrived in the mid 80's. I remember them using a PGA Blvd. ramp (not opened yet) as a soapbox derby host b/c there were no hills. The sh** you could get away with back then.

I can remember as a young child driving down I-95 south in the carolina's during the mid 70s to go to Disney World with my parents. Driving through the night we had to get off different sections of 95 and take route 301 for 10 miles or so and then get back onto 95. Back when south of the border was 1 building that sold post cards and few other small items but had billboard signs it seemed like every 2 miles from Philly telling everyone to stop there.

 

[MtNittany]

I can remember as a young child driving down I-95 south in the carolina's during the mid 70s to go to Disney World with my parents. Driving through the night we had to get off different sections of 95 and take route 301 for 10 miles or so and then get back onto 95. Back when south of the border was 1 building that sold post cards and few other small items but had billboard signs it seemed like every 2 miles from Philly telling everyone to stop there.

Part of Miami is obviouisly 1-95/US1 still to this day. Makes sense that PGA-PSL was one of the last stretches down here done because US1 is close by and was always the way to go anyway.

 

[Bwifan]

Part of Miami is obviouisly 1-95/US1 still to this day. Makes sense that PGA-PSL was one of the last stretches down here done because US1 is close by and was always the way to go anyway.

I am at Nicklaus Children's Hospital often on business and I still get a kick out of going south in Miami to where I-95 ends. Pretty cool to have been where it starts/ends in Maine and Florida and remember when it was actually being built.

 

[MtNittany]

I am at Nicklaus Children's Hospital often on business and I still get a kick out of going south in Miami to where I-95 ends. Pretty cool to have been where it starts/ends in Maine and Florida and remember when it was actually being built.

Guy I used to work for (crooked Miami Cuban) sold all that synthetic ivy on the wall there in Gables (if it's still even there). Probably 200% profit and looked like hell from day one.

 

[Bwifan]

Guy I used to work for (crooked Miami Cuban) sold all that synthetic ivy on the wall there in Gables (if it's still even there). Probably 200% profit and looked like hell from day one.

I will take a look I am going there Friday