Bill Amos
William Enlow Amos (July 6, 1898 – April 26, 1987) was an American college football player and coach.[1] He is considered to be one of the best college football players in Washington & Jefferson College history.[2]
Biographical details | |
---|---|
Born | Graysville, Pennsylvania | July 6, 1898
Died | April 26, 1987 88) Washington, Pennsylvania | (aged
Playing career | |
1923 | Washington & Jefferson |
1925–1927 | Washington & Jefferson |
Position(s) | Fullback |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
1929–1931 | Washington & Jefferson |
1932–1936 | Grove City |
1937–1945 | Washington HS (PA) |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 34–24–8 (college) |
Amos was born in Graysville, Pennsylvania. He attended The Kiski School and was a veteran of World War I.[3]
As a fullback for Washington & Jefferson for was named to the 1926 College Football All-America Team and the 1927 College Football All-America Team.[3]
After graduation, he turned down an offer from Pete Henry to play for the New York Giants and a minor league baseball contract.[3] He returned to coach the Washington & Jefferson College football team from 1929 to 1931, amassing a record of 17–8–3.[4] During the 1929 football season, Amos shared the head coach title with Ray Ride, who resigned after the season citing it being impossible to operate under dual authority.[5] From 1937 through 1946, he was a multi-sport coach at Washington High School.[3] He was a driving force in the creation of PONY Baseball and Softball.[3] He also volunteered at the Brownson House.[3]
In 1932, Amos was seriously injured in an automobile collision, sustaining a fractured skull and broken left arm.[6]
He married Dora Polan in 1928 and with her had three children.[3][7] Amos died in 1987 at the age of 88.[8] Dora died the following year.[9]
Head coaching record
College
Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington & Jefferson Presidents (Independent) (1929–1931) | |||||||||
1929 | Washington & Jefferson | 5–2–2 | |||||||
1930 | Washington & Jefferson | 6–2–1 | |||||||
1931 | Washington & Jefferson | 6–4 | |||||||
Washington & Jefferson: | 17–8–3 | ||||||||
Grove City Crimson (Tri-State Conference) (1932–1933) | |||||||||
1932 | Grove City | 3–5–1 | 2–3 | 4th | |||||
1933 | Grove City | 6–1–1 | 4–1 | 2nd | |||||
Grove City Crimson (Independent) (1934–1936) | |||||||||
1934 | Grove City | 5–1–1 | |||||||
1935 | Grove City | 2–4–1 | |||||||
1936 | Grove City | 1–5–1 | |||||||
Grove City: | 17–16–5 | 6–4 | |||||||
Total: | 34–24–8 |
References
- "Observer-Reporter - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
- "Bill Amos Featured Speaker - Press Fetes Most Valuable Gridders Tomorrow Night". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh. November 19, 1944. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
- Smialek, Byron (May 16, 1980). "Friends, Admirers to Escort Bill Amos Down Golden Path". Observer-Reporter. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
- "Presidents Football Media Guide 2008" (PDF). Washington & Jefferson College. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 27, 2009. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
- https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19300203&id=GsoaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DEsEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6393,1011508&hl=en
- "Bill Amos Hurt in Auto Crash". The Pittsburgh Press. March 24, 1932. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
- "Testimonial Will Honor Bill Amos". Observer-Reporter. May 1, 1980. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
- Smialek, Byron (May 3, 1987). "Bill Amos Was City's Last Link With Past". Observer-Reporter. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
- "Dora Amos". The Pittsburgh Press. March 14, 1988. Retrieved August 15, 2013.