Pete Henry

Pete Henry

Chest-up black and white photograph of Henry facing the camera
Personal information
Date of birth	(1897-10-31)October 31, 1897
Place of birth	Mansfield, Ohio, U.S.
Date of death
Place of death	Washington, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Career information
Position(s)	Tackle
College	Washington & Jefferson
Career highlights
Honors	NFL 1920s All-Decade Team 4× first-team All-Pro (1920, 1921, 1922, 1923) 2× NFL Champion (1922, 1923) NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
Head coaching record
Regular season	3–17–3 (.196)
Stats
Playing stats	Pro Football Reference
Coaching stats (NFL)	Pro Football Reference
Team(s) as a player
1920–1926 Canton Bulldogs 1927 New York Giants 1927–1928 Pottsville Maroons
Team(s) as a coach/administrator
1926 Canton Bulldogs 1928 Pottsville Maroons 1942,1945 Washington & Jefferson
College Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1963

Wilbur Francis "Pete" Henry (October 31, 1897 – February 7, 1952) was a professional American football player and coach in the National Football League. He later worked for more than 20 years as athletic director and occasional football coach at Washington & Jefferson College, his alma mater.

Early life

Henry attended college at Washington & Jefferson, where he was an All-American tackle. In 1919, the reigning national champion Pittsburgh Panthers argued that Henry was an ineligible college player and refused to play against him. A gentleman's agreement among all college teams generally allowed players, like Henry, whose 1918 seasons were cut short by mandatory training for World War I to play. In fact, Pitt played several other teams with similarly situated players on several teams without complaint. The Panthers' stand caused an outcry among the local press and the Pitt alumni, but Henry agreed to sit out the game. In the end, Pitt won the game 7–6. In his later years, Henry was not one to keep souvenirs, but he did keep the program from that game.

Professional football career

Henry's small charm made from anthracite coal given to members of the 1928 Pottsville Maroons

Henry signed with the Canton Bulldogs on September 17, 1920. During the 1922 season while playing primarily offensive tackle with Canton, Henry, playing alongside Link Lyman and Guy Chamberlin, helped make Canton the first true powerhouse team of professional football, with a 10–0–2 record.

Despite his size and abilities at blocking, Henry was also considered one of the greatest kickers of his era. Statistics for kicks were imprecise at best during that time, however one accurate statistic was that of a 45-yard drop kick field goal kicked by Henry on December 10, 1922. He set a professional football record with that kick that stood for twelve years. Many claimed that both Jim Thorpe and Paddy Driscoll had beaten that record, both supposedly drop-kicking field goals at 50 yards. Driscoll was alleged to have kicked two from 50 yards in one game on September 28, 1924. However, these claims could not be supported by any verifiable records. Henry was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963.

In 1931, Henry was hired as the athletic director (AD) for Washington & Jefferson College, a position he held until his death in 1952. As the college and football team struggled during World War II, he served as coach in 1942 and 1945. As AD, he wanted every student to participate in some form of athletics and required every student to know how to swim. He personally raised substantial funds for the Gambolier Fund to pay for scholarships. He continued to work, even after losing a leg to diabetes.

Henry was inducted into the Dapper Dan Club's Pittsburgh Sports Hall of Fame in 1967. He is also enshrined in the Helms Sports Hall of Fame as well as the College Football Hall of Fame.

Upon his death, Henry was eulogized in W&J's college newspaper, the Red & Black, as "capturing the very spirit of Wash Jeff and, for many people was the College."

See also

• Henry Memorial Center
• List of college football head coaches with non-consecutive tenure

External links

• Pete Henry at the Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Pete Henry at the College Football Hall of Fame
• Pete Henry at Find a Grave