by Larry Finley, The Chicago Sun-Times , Chicago Sun Times

Robert "Bob" Jeter was known for his speed on the Football field, breaking records for the Iowa Hawkeyes in the 1959 Rose Bowl and playing for the champion Green Bay Packer teams in the first two Super Bowls.

"He was a fierce competitor in Football," said his son Robert "Rob" Jeter III. "But the other side of him was someone who wanted to give back for all that he had gotten."

Robert DeLafayette Jeter Jr., 71, died in Chicago of an apparent heart attack on Nov. 20. He was recuperating from prostate cancer surgery at the time.

After playing for the Packers, he was a Chicago Bears defensive back from 1971 until 1973. Following retirement from pro Football, he worked for the Chicago Park District, setting up athletic programs and events for children.

"He also loved golf," said his son Rob, head basketball coach for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. "He came up to Wisconsin a lot and did charity work. He played in charity golf tournaments and signed autographs."

Mr. Jeter was "a great guy both on and off the field," according to his former Green Bay teammate Dave Robinson. "You just wanted to be around him."

Mr. Jeter was born May 9, 1937, in Union, S.C., and grew up in Weirton, W. Va. He received a scholarship to the University of Iowa, where he played halfback for the Hawkeyes.

In the 1959 Rose Bowl against U. of C. Berkeley, he was named the MVP after setting a rushing record of 194 yards in nine carries and another record for an 81-yard touchdown run. His 21.6 yards-per-carry average set another Rose Bowl record.

He was drafted by Green Bay coach Vince Lombardi in the second round of the 1960 NFL draft, but chose to sign with the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League.

In 1962, he went to Green Bay, where he played cornerback for eight years, including in the 1967 Super Bowl I defeat of Kansas City and the win in Super Bowl II against Oakland. He made the Pro Bowl teams of 1967 and 1969.

His teammate Robinson said he remembered Mr. Jeter for his quickness and for a play he made in a 1967 game against the Bears.

"The first thing you think about with Bob was his speed," Robinson said. "I remember we were playing the Bears, and Gale Sayers broke loose. . . . Bob came out of nowhere and caught Gale Sayers. Bob's speed was legendary."

Packers guard Jerry Kramer said that when Mr. Jeter started with the team, "We knew his speed. We knew he had talent. There wasn't a lot of concern. . . . He stepped in right away and did a hell of a job."

Scoring a touchdown in a Rose Bowl game and playing on two winning Super Bowl teams were career high points for Mr. Jeter, but he was not one to boast, his son said.

"He was really a very humble guy and never talked a lot about his achievements," he said.

Mr. Jeter played in 107 regular-season games for Green Bay and 32 for Chicago.

He finished his 11-season career with 26 interceptions, 333 yards, and two touchdowns. He was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1985.

His other survivors include his wife, Gwendolyn; two other sons, Carlton and Dantrell; three daughters, Sheila Nyberg, Jasmine Jeter and Maria Jeter; seven grandchildren; three great grandchildren; two brothers, Leon and Anthony, and two sisters, Carol Hudson and Eunice Sykes.

A service will be at 6 p.m. Monday at Martin Temple AME Zion Church, 6930 S. Cottage Grove.

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