Leon Kromer Leon Benjamin Kromer ( June 25 , 1876 – September 6 , 1966 ) was a United States Army officer and American football coach . From 1934 to 1938 , Major General Kromer was the Chief of U . S . Cavalry . He served as the head football coach at the United States Military Academy in 1901 , compiling a record of 5 – 1 – 2 . Early life , education , football coaching career . Kromer was born in 1876 in Grand Rapids , Michigan . Kromer graduated from West Point in February 1899 and began his service as a commissioned officer in the 10th Cavalry Regiment . In 1901 , Kromer was the head coach for the Army football team , with a record of 5 wins , 1 draw and 2 losses . " The New York Times " of 1930s noted that many contemporary U . S . Generals ( Kromer , Malin Craig , Dennis E . Nolan , Paul Bunker ) were connected by past football experience at West Point . Kromer also fenced for West Point against the Navy . Military career . In 1918 , Kromer served on the Western Front with the 82nd Division . According to his citation for the Distinguished Service Medal award , " As Assistant Chief of Staff of the 82d Division during the St . Mihiel offensive Colonel Kromer displayed military attainments of a high order in the planning of operations of great moment . Later as Assistant Chief of Staff , G - 3 , 1st Corps , and Assistant Chief of Staff , G - 1 , 1st Army , during the Meuse - Argonne operations , his initiative , sound judgment , and tireless energy solved difficult problems of traffic control and regulation , playing an important part in the successes achieved . " In the beginning of 1934 Kromer was appointed Chief of Cavalry . His tour began with the 1934 field maneuvers involving Adna R . Chaffee , Jr . ' s march from Fort Knox to Fort Riley , a demonstration of mechanized cavalry potential designed to determine how far cavalry had progressed to date . The future of cavalry was uncertain : it either remained the forward reconnaissance element of the Army , or had to develop into a completely new fighting force . Analysis of the maneuvers by Kromer ' s staff indicated that he seriously considered " marrying machine with the horse " . He cautiously envisioned " combat cars ( of mechanized cavalry ) assisting the horsed cavalry in closing with the enemy . " In a foreword to the 1937 " Cavalry Combat " Kromer wrote that mobility was antithesis to static warfare ; open flanks created by cavalry increased the magnitude of operations supported by horse troops . Only nine of 512 paged in this book were dedicated to mechanization , yet there is evidence that Kromer shared the opinion that if U . S . Cavalry did not mechanize it would disappear as a branch ( which is exactly what happened under his successor , John Knowles Herr ) . Kromer was dissatisfied with the growing organizational rift between horse ( Fort Riley ) and mechanized ( Fort Knox ) elements of U . S . Cavalry , and redesigned the structure to close the gap . He endorsed expansion of mechanized units at Fort Knox although shortage of funds ruled out any massive changes . Kromer was an open - minded man who did not perceive mechanization as a threat to horse cavalry : " rather , he tried to adapt to a change and give each a role . " By the end of his tenure Kromer embraced the modern concept of mechanized combat and , according to Robert W . Grow , " could have made cavalry " the " mechanized arm had he been supported by the army ' s General Staff and senior officers in his own branch . " Later life and family . Kromer retired in a critical moment in March 1938 and was replaced by John Knowles Herr . During World War II , Kromer returned to service as the commandant of Norwich University . Kromer died in 1966 in Germantown , Maryland . Kromer ' s son , captain William A . Kromer , became a soldier and was killed in action in Europe January 1 , 1945 . Another son , Leon B . Kromer Jr . ( 1912 – 1999 ) , joined the Navy during World War II and served with Admiral Lewis Combs . After the war he headed industrial associations and served as labor relations advisor under presidents Kennedy , Johnson and Nixon . Daughter , Jane Kromer , married Reverend C . D . Kean .