Joe Meglen

Englewood Blues

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1927-1930; 1934

A fleet-footed athlete at Butte Central, Joe Meglen, a 1927 graduate immediately started playing for the Englewood Blues the following fall where he was recognized as one of the top athletes in the Butte, Montana region as a young 17-year old.  Speed and power in the run game, Joe was also adept at the forward pass, finding his targets on numerous occassions throughout his career.

By the 1929 season Joe Meglen, even though he missed games with a broken finger and broken ankle in 1928 and 1929, was elected captain of the Blues squad for the 1930 season.

Voted to the League All-Star teams in 1927 and 1930, Joe had garnered attention from the East Coast and was soon being courted to attend college and play football, but not until Meglen was finished starring on the hardwoods as a defensive-minded hoopster with the Cenerists squad.

Georgetown University 1931-1935

Starring with Georgetown University of Washington DC from 1931-1935, he was elected Co-Captain for the 1935 season and graduated with a Law degree.  Following the 1935 season, the Associated Press tabbed Meglen an All-American, earning spots on the All-Eastern, and All-DC area teams.  One reporter wrote: "in a 13-0 win over Manhattan, Meglen scored both TD's, kicked the extra point, punted for 60, 70 and 80 yards as well as made 'bone shattering' tackles as a linebacker on defense".

The summer prior to his senior campaign with Georgetown, Joe was back in Butte serving as a Deputy Sheriff under Larry Weir, returning from college in the winter and starring once again for Englewood enroute to his third placement on the Butte League All-Star team at the ripe old age of 24.  Englewood would be crowned League Champions with Joe leading a 19-0 victory over the Dublin Gulch on Dec 9th.

Before being drafted by the Pittsburg Pirates (Steelers) in the 9th round of the 1936 draft, #75 overall, Joe was a member of the 1935 College All-Stars, squaring off against the Pirates in the St. Vincent De Paul charity game.  Meglen opted not to sign with Pittsburgh, instead completing his bar exam and beginning his law career.  Only 3 of the Pirates 9 draftees actually played for Pittsburgh as the money to play pro-ball during the Depression Era was nothing to write home about.

From 1933-1935 Meglen was the Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight amateur boxing champion and was later a judge scoring boxing matches in Montana as well as assisting with political campaigns.

Joe served in the Navy during World War II and remained in the DC area serving with the Justice Department in the mid 1940's.  The remainder of his life, Joe was active in politics helping with Senator Mike Mansfield and was also involved in the 1955 bill to open up gas and oil exploration in the Rocky Mountains.  Joe passed away in April of 1986.

The Meglen name was known throughout Butte as a football family with Joe, older brother John and younger brother Frank leading the Butte Central High teams, before starring with the Independent teams of Englewood, Centerville and Hub Addition.  All three were inducted into the 2013 Butte Sports Football Hall of Fame as members of the Championship teams from 1913-1940.