Kenneth Roy Heineman

Kenneth Roy Heineman of Rogers passed away on July 10, 2012, at Innisfree Nursing and Rehab. Kenneth was born Jan. 13, 1918, in Yorktown, Texas, to the late Charles and Anna Heineman. He was a lifelong resident of El Paso, Texas, until moving to Rogers in 1999. Kenneth played in the first Sun Bowl game in El Paso, Texas, in 1935. He was an All-American football player at Texas College of Mines (now the University of Texas at El Paso). In 1939, Kenneth played in the Blue-Gray All-Star Game in Montgomery, Ala. In 1940, he played for the College All-Stars against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field in Chicago. Prior to serving his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he played in the National Football League for the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Cleveland Rams, leading the league in kickoff returns in 1943. In recent years, Kenneth was installed into the University of Texas at El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame and was recognized as a "Legend of the Sun Bowl." Kenneth was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Annie Laurie; and a son, Ronald Roy Heineman. He is survived by a son, Kenneth H. and his wife, Judy of Rogers; a brother, Lloyd Heineman of Midland, Texas; a daughter-in-law, Sharon Heineman of Dripping Springs, Texas; four grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Private interment will be held in the Fayetteville National Cemetery. Services are under the care of Rollins Funeral Home of Rogers. Memorials may be made in Kenneth's name to the Athletic Scholarship Fund at the University of Texas at El Paso. Online condolence may be made at www.rollinsfuneral.com.