SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- The University of San Francisco athletics family is saddened to acknowledge the recent of passing of former USF football player Dick Colombini last month at the age of 91.
A member of the undefeated 1951 USF football team, Colombini spent his life recounting the stories of his time competing on the Hilltop while proudly standing with his Black teammates Burl Toler and Ollie Matson when the pair were banned from competing in the Orange Bowl due to the color of their skin.
After a stint in the Army at the conclusion of the Korean War in the mid-1950's, Colombini began working as an apprentice for his father in his construction company that helped set up his future career path in the business as he became a partner in 1962 before eventually rising to become the president.