Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-01
GRID COACH VICTIM
OF PLANE DISASTER
Had Risen From Immigrant
Boy to Supreme Place
in Sports Realm.
~ the Associated Press.

reer of Norwegian immi-
~ grant boy, career that
reached heroic heights, has
ended. Knute Rockne is dead.
The man whose keen mind and
matchless leadership made Notre
Dame, that little college in the
Middle West" the greatest power
in intercollegiate foot ball, passed
on yesterday as he had lived, in
action. An airplane disaster in
Kansas claimed his life, but can
not quench the memory OF his &C
compliShmentS.
Rockne was born in VoSs, Nor
wegian village, March 4, 1888. the son
of Mr.. and Mrs. Lewis Rockne. The
first four years of his life were spent in
Norway; then his father, carriage
maker brought one Of his products
to the World Fair at Chicago in 1893.
His exhibit won medal, and ne DE,
cided to make Chicago his home, and
sent for his family, which arrived two
months later.
The elder Rockne was able to put
young Knute through grammar school,
but it was necessary for the future
wizard of foot ball and psychology to
earn his way through high school and
college.
Base Ball First Love.
While he was a youngster in the
Logan Square district, Rockne was more
interested in athletics than anything
, else, but concentrated on base ball. It
was not until he attended Northwest
Division High that he became interested
d. g. hall nj HE faNaOlYR
SCARED nose was caused by blow from
a base ball bat during a kid game.
He was graduated from high school
in 1907, but did not reach Notre Dame
until 1911 for the simple reason that he
didn't have enough money to go to COL
lege. He was determined, however. that
he would attend the University Of
Illinois, and 1t was because two close
friends had decided on Notre Dame
that he changed his plans.
During the four years following his
graduation from high school he worked
at various jobs. but most OF the time
was spent In the employ Of the post
Office. He also worked on lake steamers
and did odd jobs, and after raise Of
30 cents week at the postof1ce failed
to satisfy him, he borrowed $45 and
went to Notre Dame.
Not much was heard of Knute Rockne
as an athlete until one amazing after
noon in 1918 on the plains of West
Point The Irish had gone there to
tackle one Of Army's strongest eleyens
and to take a handsome beating 1t
was expected.
But Rockne tore down the field ali
afternoon under forward passes flung
by Charles z. Gus" Doiais, Notre
the University Of Detroit now. The re-
suit was staggering 80 to IS triumph
for Notre Dame. and they no longer
called it that little college In the Md
die West.
Becomes Chemistry Teacher.
Rockne played under Coach Jess HAr-
per and after his graduation from Notre
Dame, returned to the university as as
sistant professor Of chemistry, a branch
in which he excelled to the point Of
almost deciding to make 1t his life
work, and to assist Harper.
Harper resigned after the 1917 sea-
son, and urged Notre Dame to make
Rockne his successor Rock was con-
and he was given the JOB. The war
year-l9l6-saw Rockneis team win
three games, lost two and tie one.
The next year he became the Rockne
who dominated foot ball from then
until his death yesterday. In 1919 and
1920, with the immortal George Gipp
carrying the ball and kicking it, Notre
Dame did not lose a game. Good sea-
SONS followed, but not until 1924 did
he produce his first gridiron master
piece-the Pour Horsemen" who raced
over 10 opponents behind the charges
of the Seven Mules"
Rockne's teams dropped q game or
two q season until 1923 when his worst
season came. Notre Dame dropped
four games But one year later
RockneS raiders were again the talk
of gridirondom-and on the strength Of
Rocks personality and genius.
He became critically III early in the
1929 season. an infection In the blood
stream of his right leg sending him
TO his bed. Tom Lieb took active
cha &c, but it was Rockne's teaching
that sent a great team through sui
eide schedule Of nine games without q
defeat.
That was considered the ultimate-it
might never again be accomplished, so
Rockne came right back last Fall, i'm
proved in health and brilliant as ever,
20 fashion his greatest machine; a
team that slashed through 10 foemen
Of major calibeT, closing with an
astonishing one-slded triumph Over
Southern California
Rockne was not simply a foot bail
coach. He was an extremely able
chemist, and his other interes were
enough for a half dozen men. His
Wit made him in demand as a writer,
after-dinner speaker and radio speaker
He did his own writing and made his
speeches extemporaneously.
Recently he became director of sales
promotion for the Studebaker Corpora
ton, and lost his life while on the way
to California to make motion pictures
He is survived by his widow and four
children, his mother and three sisters