Walter R. Okeson

Walter R. Okeson
Sport(s) Football
Biographical details
Born October 3, 1875(1875-10-03)
Place of birth Port Royal, Pennsylvania
Died November 4, 1943(1943-11-04) (aged 68)
Place of death Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Playing career
1897
1898		 Latrobe Athletic Association
Duquesne Country & A. C.
Position(s) End
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1897
1900
1901		 Latrobe Athletic Association
Lehigh
Lehigh (assistant)
Head coaching record
Overall 10-6 (college)
10-2-1 (professional)
Statistics
College Football Data Warehouse
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
1897 All-Western Pennsylvania team
1898 Pennsylvania state champion

Walter Raleigh Okeson (October 3, 1875 – November 4, 1943)[1] was the eighth head football coach for the Lehigh Mountain Hawks in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and he held that position for the 1900 season. His overall coaching record at Lehigh was 5 wins, 6 losses, and 0 ties. This ranks him 17th at Lehigh in terms of total wins and 15th at Lehigh in terms of winning percentage.[2]

Okeson was also an All-American end at Lehigh University. In 1897 he was a player-coach for the Latrobe Athletic Association and led the team to a 10-2-1 record. He was later named to the "All Western Pennsylvania Team" by the Pittsburgh Times after the season. In 1898, he played for the Duquesne Country and Athletic Club. At the end of that season, Okeson played for Duquesne against the 1898 Western Pennsylvania All-Star football team, formed by Latrobe manager Dave Berry.[3][4][5] Duquesne would go on to win the game 16-0.

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ Lehigh Coaching Records
  3. ^ "The First All-Star Game". Coffin Corner (Professional Football Researchers Association) 1 (1): 1–9. 1979. http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/01-01-001.pdf. 
  4. ^ Van Atta, Robert (1980). "Latrobe, PA: Cradle of Pro Football". Coffin Corner (Professional Football Researchers Association) 2 (Annual): 1–21. http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/02-An-052.pdf. 
  5. ^ Last Hurrah in Allegheny. Professional Football Researchers Association. 1980. pp. 1–3. http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Articles/Last_Hurrah_In_Allegheny.pdf.