New York, NY -- Cliff Montgomery, who was a captain on Columbia's 1934 Rose Bowl team, died Thursday at the age of 94.

Montgomery was a quarterback and also played in the National Football League. More significantly, he earned the Silver Star for his heroics in World War II.

He was the Most Valuable Player in the 1934 Rose Bowl when Columbia staged what is widely regarded as one of the greatest athletic upsets of the 20th century. An 18-point underdog, the Lions shut out Stanford, 7-0, in Pasadena.

Also in 1934, he competed in the first collegiate All-Star football game, in which a collegiate all-star squad tied the NFL's Chicago Bears -- led by Red Grange.

Montgomery went on to play professional football for the Brooklyn Dodgers for one year following graduation. He served in the Navy in World War II and attained the rank of lieutenant commander. He is credited with saving the lives of 400 sailors at Okinawa on April 6, 1945. The commander of a group of close-in fire support ships, he brought his flagship alongside a burning destroyer in rough seas to bring the sailors aboard before the destroyer exploded, according to the then-Secretary of the Navy.

Following his military service, Montgomery was a college football official for more than 25 years. He officiated five Army-Navy games.

In 1963, he was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Montgomery met seven United States Presidents during his lifetime, starting with Calvin Coolidge.