The Bills lost a member of their two-time AFL title teams in 1964 and 1965 this past week. The starting left tackle on those teams and many others during Buffalo's American Football League days, Stew Barber, passed away on June 11th, just three days shy of his 87th birthday.
Barber, who earned All-American honors at Penn State as a two-way tackle, was a fourth-round pick of the Bills in 1961 AFL draft. However, he was also selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the NFL draft. A Bradford, PA native, Barber chose to stay close to home and signed with Buffalo.
After a rookie season at outside linebacker, where he posted three interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown, Barber was moved to offensive tackle. It would be a role he would man for the Bills for the remainder of the decade.
Barber served as Jack Kemp's blind side protector. In addition to his contributions to the back-to-back AFL title teams, his exploits on the field earned him a pair of All-AFL First Team nods and five consecutive appearances in the AFL All-Star Game.
A remarkably durable player, Barber, missed just one game in his professional career.
Following his retirement at the close of the 1969 season, Barber was named to the Second Team AFL All-Time Team in 1970.
After his playing career, Barber transitioned to college scouting serving in Buffalo's personnel department. He rose through the ranks to Assistant General Manager and Vice President. Barber's front office time with the Bills closed in 1983.
Barber was enjoying retirement in South Carolina before he passed this past Wednesday. He was 86. Barber's full obituary can be read here.
