Maurice Britt
| Maurice Britt | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Maurice Lee Britt |
| Nickname(s) | "Footsie" |
| Born |
June 29, 1919 Carlisle, Arkansas |
| Died | November 26, 1995 (aged 76) Little Rock, Arkansas |
| Place of burial | National Cemetery in Little Rock, Arkansas |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1941–1944 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Company L, 3rd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
Medal of Honor Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star Bronze Star (2) Army Commendation Medal Purple Heart (4) Presidential Unit Citation Combat Infantryman Badge British Military Cross Italian Military Medal for Valor |
| Other work |
NFL football player Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas |
Maurice Lee "Footsie" Britt (June 29, 1919 – November 26, 1995) was an American professional football player, Medal of Honor recipient of World War II, businessman, and Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas. He played for the Detroit Lions in 1941 and later served as the seventh Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas during the administration of Governor Winthrop Rockefeller from 1967 to 1971. Rockefeller and Britt were the first Republicans to serve in the state of Arkansas's top two offices since Reconstruction.
He was born Maurice Britt in Carlisle, Arkansas, the son of Maurice Lee and Virgie Britt. His family moved to nearby Lonoke when he was a boy. He received the nickname "Footsie" after winning a pair of shoes at a local fair as an adolescent. He was also known for his size-thirteen feet. He graduated as the valedictorian of Lonoke High School in 1937. He entered the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where he was supported by an athletic scholarship in both football and basketball. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and an Army Reserve commission as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry through Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps upon graduation in 1941. He played professional football with the Detroit Lions during the 1941 season. He was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.
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