July 31, 2012

In memory of Arthur Lee Malone

TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State Sun Devil Sports Hall of Fame member Art Malone died on July 27, 2012. He was 64. Malone, who was a member of the Sun Devil football team from 1967-69 and was inducted into the Sun Devil Hall of Fame in 1979, is considered one of the top running backs in school history.

The memorial service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 4, at 10 a.m., at Resthaven Park Mortuary & Cemetery, which is located in Phoenix at 4310 East Southern Ave.

Malone's 2,649 career rushing yards are the seventh-most in school history, and his 28 career rushing touchdowns put him near the top of Sun Devil running backs. He was selected to the All-Western Athletic Conference First Team in both 1968 and 1969, and was an NEA Second Team All-America in 1969.

Malone rushed for 1,431 yards in 1968, which still stands as the third-best single-season total in ASU history. His 239 rushing yards vs. New Mexico that season is the third-highest total in school record He tallied 23.5 rushing attempts per game in 1968, which is the highest total in Sun Devil annals.

Malone was drafted in the second round (39th overall) by the Atlanta Falcons, and played seven seasons in the NFL, including five in Atlanta and two with the Philadelphia Eagles. He ended his professional career with 2,457 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns, and tallied 1,465 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 161 receptions.

His younger brother, Ben, played for the Sun Devils from 1971-73, and set single-game Sun Devil records for rushing yards (250) and touchdowns (five) in 1973. He was inducted into the Sun Devil Hall of Fame in 1983. He spent seven seasons in the NFL, including five with the Miami Dolphins and two with the Washington Redskins.