Harold Ketron

Harold Wayne "War Eagle" Ketron (July 21, 1879 – December 22, 1946) was a college football player and coach.

Harold Ketron
Georgia Bulldogs
PositionCenter/Tackle
Career history
CollegeGeorgia (1901–1903)
Personal information
Born:(1879-07-21)July 21, 1879
Clarkesville, Georgia
Died:December 22, 1946(1946-12-22) (aged 67)
Santa Barbara, California
Career highlights and awards

Early years

Harold Wayne Ketron was born on July 21, 1879 in Clarkesville, Georgia to Irenaus Amelicu Ketron and Roselena McConnell. His father Irenaus was a physician.[1][2] Raised on a mountain farm, he and his brothers roamed the hills of Habersham County, converting any likely pasture into a playing field, and participating in any available contest of skill or brawn.[1][2] One book reports that Ketron is the origin of the War Eagle cry now used by the Auburn Tigers, bringing the cry to Athens when he enrolled at the University of Georgia. It was the favorite expression of Habersham residents when they partook of 'double and twisted' corn.[3]

University of Georgia

Ketron was a prominent member of the Georgia Bulldogs football teams of the University of Georgia. Some note him as Georgia's first great football player.[1] Ketron was known as quite a physical player, one source reporting he pulled hair and spat tobacco juice in faces.[4] His younger brother Grover Cleveland Ketron played for Georgia in later years.

1902

In 1902, Ketron was selected All-Southern from his center position.[5]

1903

He was the only returning starter and captain of the 1903 team;[6][7] "Fortunately," remarked the Atlanta Constitution, "Ketron is a whole team in himself."[2] Ketron was shifted from center to tackle in 1903.[8]

One writer claims "There have been many of the old players who have followed the Georgia games long after graduation, but none of them with a record of more loyalty than the "War Eagle."'[8] He recruited Charley Trippi to play for the Bulldogs,[9][10][11] seeing him in high school while officiating high school games and owning a Coca-Cola bottling plant in Wilkes-Barre.[12][13][14]

Coaching career

He was later an assistant at his alma mater, in 1912 and 1913.

References
  1. Charlie Norris. "UGA's First Great Football Player: Harold Ketron".
  2. John F. Stegeman. The Ghosts of Herty Field: Early Days on a Southern Gridiron. p. 63.
  3. "Magazine Picks UF No. 10 in Nation". Gainesville Sun. June 23, 1892.
  4. Patrick B. Miller. The Sporting World of the Modern South. p. 36.
  5. "From Southeastern College Teams The Constitution Selects An Eleven". Atlanta Constitution. December 1, 1902.
  6. "Team Captains".
  7. "Ketron Is Chosen As Captain of Next Year's Georgia Team". Athens Daily Banner. December 6, 1902. p. 1.
  8. Reed, Thomas Walter (c. 1949). "Athletics at the University from the Beginning Through 1947". History of the University of Georgia. dlg.galileo.usg.edu. p. 3466. Retrieved 2006-12-21.
  9. Patrick Garbin. About Them Dawgs!: Georgia Football's Memorable Teams and Players. p. 76.
  10. Dan Wolken (April 21, 2013). "Oldest Living No. 1 pick remembers a different draft". Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  11. Donald Freeman (October 16, 1949). "Trippi's Terrific". Chicago Tribune.
  12. Tony Barnhart. Always A Bulldogs. p. 279.
  13. Triumph Books. Echoes of Georgia Football: The Greatest Stories Ever Told. p. 50.
  14. T. Kyle King (July 24, 2012). "Why Football Players at Penn State Should Choose to Become Georgia Bulldogs". Retrieved January 28, 2015.
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