Professional Football Player. For eleven seasons (1921 to 1931) he played at the position of center in the Canadian Football League with the Hamilton Tigers. He was named a Canadian Football League All-Star six times (1923, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1930) and a Jeff Russel Trophy Winner Most Outstanding Player of the Canadian Football League's East Division was presented to him for possessing the highest qualities of courage, fair play, and sportsmanship in 1928. He was also a part of three Grey Cup Winning Teams (1927, 1928, and 1929). Born in Hamilton, Ontario, he began his interests in sports by playing football on the local sandlots. He later played collegiate football and then, of course, professional football as he got older. He was considered by many to be one of the greatest centers of all time. He was also known as a clean, hard player, a driving tackler, and for his blocking ability. Later, under the guidance of legendary coach Mike Rodden, he introduced the cross-field direct snap to the halfback play, which ultimately led to touchdowns in two Grey Cup Championship games. During his time as a professional football player, he worked on the sidelines as a firefighter with the Hamilton Fire Department and was affectionately given the nickname of "The Iron Fireman". After his retirement from football, he worked as a firefighter full time. He retired from the Hamilton Fire Department in 1955 after 33 years of service with the rank of Lieutenant. He passed away in his native Hamilton at the age of 78. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1963, and posthumously into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1975.
Professional Football Player. For eleven seasons (1921 to 1931) he played at the position of center in the Canadian Football League with the Hamilton Tigers. He was named a Canadian Football League All-Star six times (1923, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1930) and a Jeff Russel Trophy Winner Most Outstanding Player of the Canadian Football League's East Division was presented to him for possessing the highest qualities of courage, fair play, and sportsmanship in 1928. He was also a part of three Grey Cup Winning Teams (1927, 1928, and 1929). Born in Hamilton, Ontario, he began his interests in sports by playing football on the local sandlots. He later played collegiate football and then, of course, professional football as he got older. He was considered by many to be one of the greatest centers of all time. He was also known as a clean, hard player, a driving tackler, and for his blocking ability. Later, under the guidance of legendary coach Mike Rodden, he introduced the cross-field direct snap to the halfback play, which ultimately led to touchdowns in two Grey Cup Championship games. During his time as a professional football player, he worked on the sidelines as a firefighter with the Hamilton Fire Department and was affectionately given the nickname of "The Iron Fireman". After his retirement from football, he worked as a firefighter full time. He retired from the Hamilton Fire Department in 1955 after 33 years of service with the rank of Lieutenant. He passed away in his native Hamilton at the age of 78. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1963, and posthumously into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1975.
Bio by: The Silent Forgotten
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