A native of Jacksonville, Curtis served as director of the division of services for the deaf in Texas. During that time, he developed, implemented and evaluated a statewide program that serves more than 4,000 hearing-impaired students who are enrolled in the public school system. Curtis earned letters in football, basketball and baseball, but it was on the gridiron where he made his claim to fame. After an 18-game stretch during which he never missed a down, played both ways and called all of the offensive and defensive signals, the Chicago Sun-Times featured Curtis in an article that referred to him as the “Iron Man of Illinois Football.” As a senior, he captained the Blueboys and averaged 12 unassisted tackles per game. That feat earned him an invitation to the Chicago Bears training camp in 1957. He later served as assistant football coach at American School for the Deaf in Connecticut and the West Virginia School for the Deaf. Curtis earned his master’s degree at Gallaudet University and embarked on a 30-year career as an advocate for hearing-impaired students.