Elmer Oliphant

Wabash Valley profiles : a series of tributes to hometown people and events that have shaped our history

Description:	One typed page including photograph; biography of Elmer Oliphant, the greatest athlete ever produced in the Wabash Valley. ABASH VALLEY WP R O F I L E SA series of tributes to hometown heroes who have made a difference.Elmer OliphantThough his name is virtually forgotten today, Elmer Quillen Oliphant may be the greatest athlete ever produced in the Wabash Valley. Catchy, as Elmer was called by his family, was born in Bloomfield, Ind., on July 9, 1892, the son of Marion Ellsworth and Ada (Crum) Oliphant. He first demonstrated his athletic prowess as a student at Washington High School but transferred after two years to Linton High School, graduating in 1910. Oliphant earned 26 varsity letters, more than anyone in the history of intercollegiate sports. The first nine were acquired at Purdue and, at one time, the schools trophy room exhibited four life-sized images of Oliphant, each in a different uniform: football, basketball, baseball and track. Elmers primary fame came in football. He was brilliant at Purdue from 1911 though 1913, twice earning all-Western (now Big Ten) Conference honors. On Nov. 17, 1912, he scored five touchdowns and 13 extra points without a miss in a 91-0 victory over Rose Poly, school records that still exist. In 1913 he singlehandedly beat Illinois, 3-0, kicking the winning field goal with a broken ankle. Later that season he ran 80 yards for a touchdown to lead the Boilermakers over Indiana University. Credited with establishing Purdues intramural sports program, Oliphant earned a degree in civil engineering in 1914. The next September he matriculated to the U.S. Military Academy and, under existing rules, was eligible to participate in sports. In four years at West Point he earned 17 letters in seven sports and was a consensus football All-America in 1916 and 1917. In 1916 Armys undefeated (9-0) squad was the nations number one team. During his collegiate career, Elmer scored 468 points, 333 while at Army. He still holds school records at West Point for most points scored in a game (45) and season (125). In baseball he was an outstanding catcher, outfielder and hitter. In track he set a world record in the low hurdles. In basketball he once hit a last second shot to win a game while seated on the floor. He also lettered in swimming, boxing and hockey. The National Football League was in its infancy but Oliphant starred for two seasons (1920-1921) with the Rochester (N.Y.) Jeffersons and the Buffalo AllAmericans. In 1922 Elmer became athletic director at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y. In 1924 he went to work for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in New York and moved to Ridgefield, Conn. He and his wife Barbara relocated in 1952 to New Canaan, Conn., where Elmer died July 3, 1975, at age 82. The Oliphants were childless. Legendary Michigan coach Fielding Yost named Oliphant to his 11-man all-time All-America football team and, in 1950, Elmer was chosen to the Early-Day Half Century All-America football team. He has been enshrined in the National Football Hall of Fame and the Indiana Football Hall of Fame, among others. Until recently, the football stadium in Linton was named Oliphant Field in his honor. Several of Elmers cousins reside in Greene County.MEMBER FDICAlways Close to HomeHO HO HO! Join our812-238-6000Member FDICChr ist mas Club for Holiday DoughOpen your account today at any First banking center -- and have more dough for holiday spending next year!File name: Elmer Oliphant 2005 profileDate Published: December 29, 2005
Origin:	2006-01-03
Created By:	McCormick, Mike
Publisher:	Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Source:	http://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/vchs/id/942
Collection:	Vigo County Historical Society
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/
Copyright:	Copyright Undetermined
Subjects:	Oliphant, Elmer Q. (Elmer Quillen), 1893-1975 Sports Athletes Football Basketball Baseball Track athletics People Sports

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