Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-03-16
Walter Camp, Noted
Football Authority
Dies in New York


Camp, the founder of modern inter
collegiate football, died today while
sleeping in his room in the Hotel
He was in his Goth year.
Coming to New York Friday af-
ternoon to attend the conference OF
the intercollegiate football rules
committee, of which he was secre-
tary, the former Yale player, coach
and critic succumbed to angina pee
toris which overlook him in his bed
after he had returned last night
from the committees first session at
the Hotel Pennsylvania.
The body was found by William
w. Roper, Princeton's head gridiron
coach, and w. S. Langford of Tri-
nifty, who were sent to the Belmont
by the committee after Mr.. Camp
had failed to appear for this morn
ing's meeting. Getting no response
to repeated knockings at the room
door, they summoned hotel officials
who forced an entrance. Mr.. Camp,
in his pajamas, was in bed. APP
parently asleep. An examination,
however, showed he was dead.
Tributes TO the famous football ex-
pert poured in throughout the day
from all parts of the country. Noted
gridiron men of this and other days,
many of whom owed their success
as coach or as player to what Wal
ter Camp had taught them. fastened
to pay their respect to his memory.
Although man of varied activi
ties, Walter Camp was best known
through his connection with athlet-
les, particularly football. To the
great American college game he had
devoted a large part of his time
since his graduation from Yale, and
he came to be known affectionately
as THE Father of Football" He
earned his title because the numer-
GUS amendments to the playing code,
which he suggested and which We're
adopted, not only revolutionized, but
virtually re-created the game.
AS a player on Yale football teams
for six years Camps interest IN the
game extended far beyond the goal
posts, and the improvements in the
game which he evolved were readily
accepted by the intercollegiate foot
ball committee. 1t was during his
incumbency as chairman of the COM
mittee that the game was extensive
ly nodded along the lines on which
it is played today.
The first revolutionary change In
the gridiron game suggested by
Camp was the rule requiring FIVE
yards gain in three downs. That
was in 1883 and was the first step
that led to the modern style of play.
He also suggested the change to III
yards gain in four downs in 1906.
Camp was born at New Haven, CT,
l.. Camp and Ellen Cornwell Camp.
He prepared for college at Hopkins
grammar school and was graduated
from Yale in 1850. He then entered
the medical school, but resigned af-
ter two years to enter business with
a clock concern in New York. After
a year he went to the New Haven
Clock Company. He was made
treasurer and general manager of
the concern in 1902 and a year later
became president and treasurer. AZ
ter several years he relinquished the
duties of those positions to become
chairman of the board.
Camp had written extensively on
football and other sports, as we'll as
on bridge, of which he was an eX-
pert player. His two years of medi-
cal study, together with his athletic
experience, enabled him to write as
an expert on training and health eX-
ercises. He was the author of
Camps Daily Dozen. q series of set
ting-up exercises, which were re-
corded as photograph records and
through which he is said to have
started more persons taking regular
daily exercise than any other in
dividual.
During the training period of
American troops for service in the
World War. Camp acted as physical
director for the air service and also
aided the navy as director of ath-
letics at naval training camps. For
this work he received the thanks of
Brigadier General T. c. LISTER of
the medical corps and Josephus
Daniels. then secretary of the navy.
In 1883 Camp married Alice Ora
ham Sumner. They had two chill
Aron