The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-11-13

Ralston T. (Big Jack) Wilbur, coach OF
| the Christian Brothers College football
| squad. besides being an all-around athlete.
is a professor of higher mathematics and
mechanical engineering and is acting in
that capacity at the college as we'll as the
Rugby instructor.
Wilbur Is a native OF San Francisco and
Is &c years Old. He ter the Oakland,
Cal. High School and INDUCED in the
football games and athletics there and
later went to Leland Stanford, where he
broke the worlds record in the hammer
| throw with one arm. He made two throws
-1:i feet 10 inches ard 1S5 feet . inches.
! each being accepted by some as the
| worlds MARI
He also held the title OF champion shot
put o. the Pacific Coast. showing out the
underground weight a distance of 81 feet
| i0;. inches. This is two inches less than
| the worlds record for this sized weight
and was accomplished by Wilbur when he
was but IS years old and a member OF
OF the Oakland High School. He was the
first Splinter to cover the hundred yards
in l0is econd OF the coast and also dis
tnguished himself while quite young in
clearing twrnty-ons feet in the broad
jump.
While at this school Wilbur began to
grow to enormous proportions II was
one of the busiest and largest players on
the team. although not very old.
After leaving the Western college, he
became a member OF the crack Butte,
Mont, team. which in 1895 defeated all
Corners in the professional line. Wilbur
w. 49,, $500 I-t .,U A.
grow. He played guard and tackle, being
equally good at each position
This q was composed OF Western
boys, who had Just completed college or
had served on the varsity teams and
formed u team that won from many of
The cracks of the country.
The following year Wilbur moved to Re-
lance. Cal. whsro he Joined the Reliance
Athletic Club and captained the football
team OF hat association. This team was
one Of the crack Rugby elevens in tina
section OF the country.
When lie was playing guard on this
team. the University of California eleven
went down to defeat at their hands, the
score being 50 to 0. Seeking bigger game,
they played the University of Chicago
team and walioped them. the score at the
end OF the second half being IS TO o.
MAKES YALE TEAM.
Wilbur then went East and entered
Yale. Being experienced. no soon made
the team and played two years on the
varsity. serving as tackle and guard dur
ing his service on the blue team.
He played twelve games on the regular
Yale team, defeating Amherst. Harvard.
Princeton and other OF the big Eastern
colleges. Shortly after Harvard's defeat
at the hands Of Yale. wilbur's standing
as an amateur was questioned. and it was
found that he was a pro"
The A. A. Us investigation OF wflburs
standing furnished the sole question Of
the football world.
Before it was found that he had COM
peted as a professional, he was in the
Yale track and field meets and one year
won the high jump. clearing the bar at
a height of 8 feet 1o& inches.
After he wis barred, he coached III.
track team and did much for the better
ment Of the athletes.
When he was graduated and made his
E." he went to Mexico, where he
was engaged as general master mechanic