Bill Middlekauff

Bill Middlekauff

Middlekauff c. 1927
Florida Gators
Position Fullback
Class Graduate
Major Law
Career history
College Florida (1923–1924; 1927)
Personal information
Date of birth December 28, 1904
Place of birth Miami, Florida
Date of death September 1957
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Career highlights and awards

Willis William "Bill" Middlekauff (December 28, 1904 – September 1957) was an American college football player, attorney, boxer, and wrestler.[1]

University of Florida

Middlekauff was a prominent fullback for the Florida Gators football team of the University of Florida. Middlekauff in 1922-25 and 1927 was a member of the University of Florida swimming, track and boxing teams.[2] He was often called "Big Bill." At UF he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega.[2][3]

Football

Middlekauff "rams a line and can back one up to perfection."[4]

1927

He was captain of the team in 1927, elected after the regular captain Frank Oosterhoudt was declared ineligible.[5][6] The season started poorly including an 0–12 upset to Davidson before Middlekauff was elected captain, and was much better afterwards.[6] Aside from Davidson the Gators lost only to Jack McDowall's SoCon champion NC State Wolfpack and the Georgia Bulldogs' "dream and wonder team." He was the only player of the Gators selected All-Southern that year.[7] In an all-star game of Pacific Coast stars against Southern stars hampered by rain, Middlekauff got the only score of the game in an 8–0 victory for the South.[2]

Boxing

After practicing law in Miami for a short time, Middlekauff was a professional boxer, scoring several knockouts.[2][8][9][10]In a professional boxing career as a heavyweight, he had record of 6 Wins (5 by knockout) 7 Losses (5 by knockout) and 1 Draw in 14 bouts.

Wrestling

Middlekauff also professional wrestled[11][8][12][13] from 1930 to 1946. He once met former Georgia Tech fullback Doug Wycoff in a match, the main event at the Atlanta Municipal Auditorium for Georgia Championship Wrestling promoter Henry Weber.[14] Wycoff won the contest.[15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Who's who in American Sports. 1928. p. 560. Retrieved March 15, 2015 – via archive.org.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "The Undergraduates". The Palm of Alpha Tau Omega: 75; 81; 229. Retrieved March 15, 2015 – via archive.org.
  3. ↑ "All-Southern Eleven Beats West's Representatives On Rain-Soaked Grid, 8 to 0". Santa Ana Register. December 27, 1927. p. 8. Retrieved March 4, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ Horace C. Renegar (December 22, 1927). "Bama Star Is Captain Of Eleven". The Bismarck Tribune. p. 12. Retrieved March 15, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Crimson Tide Big Favorite Over Florida". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. November 11, 1927. Retrieved March 15, 2015 – via Google news.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Grid Star Gets Good Study Mars". The Ogden Standard-Examiner. November 20, 1927. p. 17. Retrieved March 15, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Spears Given Highest Vote in Selection". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. November 27, 1927. Retrieved March 15, 2015 – via Google news.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Meets Hesslyn On Mat Here". Kingsport Times. December 18, 1934. p. 2. Retrieved March 15, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Florida Grid Star Joins Pro Boxers". The Bismarck Tribune. April 23, 1928. p. 6. Retrieved March 15, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Bill Middlekauff".
  11. ↑ Old Yearbook Filled with Future Leaders. Ocala Star Banner. October 17, 1992.
  12. ↑ "Marvin Knocks out Kelly To Win Main Event Match". Monroe News. October 18, 1935.
  13. ↑ "Middlekauff Next Foe For Rollo At Armory". The Evening Independent. November 17, 1938. Retrieved March 15, 2015 – via Google news.
  14. ↑ "Football Rivals To Meet on Mat". The Evening Independent. February 24, 1936. Retrieved March 15, 2015 – via Google news.
  15. ↑ "Wyckoff Meets Dick Powell In Mat Headliner". The Evening Independent. March 11, 1936. Retrieved March 15, 2015 – via Google news.