Al Mahrt

Al Mahrt
Date of birth: October 12, 1893
Place of birth: Dayton, Ohio
Date of death: 1970
Career information
Position(s): Quarterback/Tackle/Head Coach
Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight: 190 lb (86 kg)
College: Dayton
Organizations
As coach:
1914-1915
1915
1917-1919		 Dayton
Dayton Triangles
Dayton
As player:
1913-1914
1915
1916-1917
1919-1922		 St. Mary’s Cadets
Dayton Gym-Cadets
Dayton Triangles
Dayton Triangles
Career highlights and awards
  • 1x 2nd Team All-AFPA
  • 3x Dayton city champion (1913, 1914, 1915)

Military career

Allegiance United States United States
Service/branch U.S. Army
Battles/wars World War I

Alphonse Herman Mahrt (October 12, 1893 – 1970) was a professional football player and coach who played his entire career with the Dayton Triangles of the "Ohio League" and later the National Football League. He was an early proponent of the forward pass after the revolutionary play was added to an extensive list of regulations to college football in 1906. By 1911 when most of the pass restrictions were lifted, Mahrt debuted as regular back on St. Mary’s Institute’s (now the University of Dayton) varsity football team. Mahrt discovered that spinning the throw of the ball increased accuracy and distance, establishing an aerial offense against such teams as Xavier University and Otterbein College.

In 1913 Mahrt switched to the St. Mary’s Cadets, the precursor of the future Dayton Triangles, he was also named the team's captain. Mahrt returned to St. Mary’s varsity in 1914, and captained the team. That season a 70-yard spiral to Babe Zimmerman against Ohio Northern University set a school record. Aside from his college career, Al continued to play for the Cadets. From 1913 until 1915 the team won the Dayton City Championship every year. In 1914 Mahrt was injured through most of the season, however in 1915 he was named the team's coach. In 1918, Al joined the army and took part in World War I.

In 1920, Al led all passers in the American Professional Football Association (renamed the NFL in 1922), completing 28 aerials for 591 yards. He was runner-up in 1921 completing 29 that were good for 452 yards. He was chosen to the 1920 All-Pro team, which placed him as a second team quarterback.

He retired from the Triangles after the 1922 season.

After his football career, Mahrt worked at Dayton Brewing Co, Dayton Metal Products, and Smart Co. He then worked with Mead Corporation (now MeadWestvaco) for nearly 30 years before retiring in 1959. When he retired he was the Vice President of the corporation.[1] MeadWestvaco's Mahrt paper mill in Cottonton, Alabama, was named in Mr. Mahrt's honor.

References

  1. ↑ "Calvary Cemetery". Calvary Cemetery Dayton. Retrieved 2014-09-30.