Eugene Mayer
|
Mayer c. 1915 | |
| Virginia Cavaliers | |
|---|---|
| Position | Halfback |
| Class | Graduate |
| Major | Law |
| Career history | |
| College | Virginia (1912–1915) |
| Personal information | |
| Date of birth | February 14, 1892 |
| Place of birth | Norfolk, Virginia |
| Date of death | October 21, 1918 (aged 26) |
| Place of death | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Weight | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Eugene Noble "Buck" Mayer (February 14, 1892 - October 21, 1918) was a college football player for the University of Virginia. He was the first football player from a Southern school to be recognized as a consensus first-team All-American. Mayer was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1980.[1]
University of Virginia
A native of Norfolk, Virginia, Mayer played halfback for the Virginia Cavaliers from 1912 to 1915.[2] During Mayer's four years at the University of Virginia, the football team compiled a record of 39-6. He set school records for most points scored in a game (36), most touchdowns in a season (21 in 1914), most career touchdowns (48), and career points scored (312).[1] Mayer also competed for Virginia in track and field. In addition to athletics, Mayer was an excellent student who earned a Rhodes scholarship.[3] He graduated from the University of Virginia in 1916 with a law degree.[4]
Track and field
He threw the 16-pound shot put 42 feet, 3 inches, ran the 100-yard dash in 10.1 seconds, and had a career best of 22 feet, 9 inches in the broad jump.[4]
Football
1915
In 1915, Mayer was selected as a first-team All-American by International News Service sports editor Frank G. Menke and Eastern football expert Parke H. Davis. He was the first player from a Southern school to be a consensus first-team All-American.[2][5] He led Virginia to an 8-1 record in 1915, scoring five touchdowns in a 74-0 win over Richmond.[2] Mayer's 36 points against Richmond was the most by a UVA player in one game.[6]
Law career
After graduating, Mayer began practicing law in Charleston, West Virginia.[7]
WW1 and death
In 1918, during World War I, Mayer enlisted in a machine gun company. He died of pneumonia at Camp Johnston in Jacksonville, Florida, in October 1918.[7][8] He was 26 years old at the time of his death,[7] and was survived by his wife and one child.[8]
References
- 1 2 Clay Shampoe (2005). The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, p. 48. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0-7385-1776-3.
- 1 2 3 "Great Virginia Players". University of Virginia Cavaliers.
- ↑ "untitled". The Columbus Enquirer-Sun. 1918-10-26.
- 1 2 "Eugene Noble "Buck" Mayer". Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.
- ↑ Patrick Garbin. "Bob McWhorter: 'Everybody's All-American'" (PDF). Patrick Garbin.
- ↑ "Virginia Sportswriters Name 16 Athletes To Hall of Fame". The Bee. February 9, 1956. p. 22. Retrieved April 9, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 3 "Football Player Dead". The Washington Post. 1918-10-23.
- 1 2 "Virginia Obituary". The Wall Street Journal. 1918-10-24.