Joel Whitaker

Herb Appenzeller
Biographical details
Born(1877-10-05)October 5, 1877
Warrenton, North Carolina, U.S.
DiedOctober 13, 1947(1947-10-13) (aged 70)
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Playing career
1895North Carolina
Position(s)Fullback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1897Guilford
Head coaching record
Overall2–2–1

Joel D. Whitaker (October 5, 1877 – October 13, 1947) was an American ophthalmologist and college football player and coach. He was hired as one of the first coaches of the Guilford Quakers in 1897, posting a 2–2–1 record.[1] Whitaker played college football at the University of North Carolina, where he was a prominent fullback, described by Kemp Plummer Battle as "probably the university's best all around athlete."[2] In the 1895 Georgia vs. North Carolina football game, Whitaker threw what is purported by some to be the first forward pass.[3] He picked an all-time UNC team in 1910.[4]

Whitaker was born on October 5, 1877, in Warrenton, North Carolina. He died on October 13, 1947, at St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Full text of "Guilford Review"". archive.org. 1988.
  2. ^ "History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, by special staff of writers". google.com. 1919.
  3. ^ "Tar Heels Credited with Throwing First Forward Pass". Tar Heel Times. tarheeltimes.com. Archived from the original on December 19, 2006. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  4. ^ Kemp Plummer Battle (1912). History of the University of North Carolina. p. 752.
  5. ^ "Prominent Eye Specialist Dies". The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, Indiana. October 14, 1947. p. 8. Retrieved June 14, 2019 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.


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