In anticipation for the Columbia University Athletics Hall of Fame this October, GoColumbiaLions.com is taking a look at the teams, student-athletes, coaches and staff members that are set to be inducted. Our next installment features the Columbia's all-time school record holder in rushing yards per carry, Howard Hansen:
A West Hempstead, Long Island native, former Columbia football player Howard Hansen '52CC has demonstrated a lifetime of achievement in athletics, leadership and loyalty to Columbia.
A three-year letterwinner in Lou Little's T formation where all running backs blocked and rushed equally, Hansen averaged a school-record 6.2 yards per carry over his three-year career, a mark that most likely will never be broken. He totaled 86 total points and 1,203 rushing yards in his three-year career. In a 14-0 win over Yale on Oct. 13, 1951, he became just the third player in school history to surpass the 1,000-yard milestone for a career, following in the footsteps of Lou Kusserow and Gene Rossides. He also has the distinction of serving as a captain for winning teams as both a freshman (1948) and senior (1951).
In addition, Hansen was the only Columbia player and one of 75 players across the country featured in the initial 1951 Topps Trading Cards and one of only two Lions (teammate was guard Gerry Audette) to compete at the 1951 North-South College All-Star Shrine Game at the Orange Bowl on Christmas night.
As a senior captain in 1951, Hansen led the Lions in scoring with 30 points (five touchdowns) and ran for 379 yards while playing in the same backfield as left back and honorable mention All-American Vernon Wynott. Hansen led Columbia to a 5-3 record which was even more impressive considering the caliber of competition the Lions played. The Ivy League was strong in those days as Princeton was always a nationally ranked team, ranked No. 3 after going undefeated for the second straight year with Heisman Trophy candidate Dick Kazmier guiding their triple threat. The Lions also played Navy and Army as non-conference opponents as Army was ranked No. 2 nationally in 1950. The 1951 Lions proved to be one of six winning teams at Columbia over a 68-year period (since 1947).
As a junior, Hansen scored 56 total points (nine touchdowns and two PAT) and rushed for 571 yards. He ranked among Ivy League statistical leaders in three categories: ninth in total offense, fourth in rushing yards and third in scoring.
Hansen was also involved on campus as he served as a member of the Senior Society of Sachems. Later in life he was instrumental in organizing the Lou Little Scholarship Fund for worthy football student-athletes, which has raised $3.5 million for Columbia University.
After graduation from Columbia College in 1952, Hansen had some “feelers” from professional teams but with Naval Officer candidate school in California during his junior and senior years, combined with a two-year commitment, it was a dead issue. He served in the U.S. Navy as an officer assigned to the Admiral's staff at Little Creek, Va. during the Korean conflict. He was a Service League Football standout at Little Creek and was named "Player of the Week" by Navy Times Poll following a performance against Bainbridge Naval Training Center, whose team featured former Notre Dame quarterback Bob Williams, who had previously guided the Fighting Irish to an undefeated season and national championship.
After discharge, he spent the bulk of his professional career with Home Life Insurance Company, a company where he formed a new company branch from scratch and managed it for 20 years. He is also the past President of General Agents and Managers Association. Over the years, Hansen and wife his Dianne was also responsible for his Columbia football team's regular reunions, where the players and spouses get together to continue close-knit bonds. There is no other group of players from any team or era who have remained so close over the years.
Hansen resides with his wife Dianne in Fort Pierce, Florida.
