Duke Wyre | |
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Born | Alfred J. Wyre September 26, 1906 |
Died | April 1, 1968 Cheverly, Maryland, USA | (aged 61)
Occupation(s) | Athletic trainer, coach |
Known for | Duke Wyre Shoulder Vest |
Alfred J. "Duke" Wyre (September 26, 1906 – April 1, 1968) was an American athletic trainer and coach. He invented the Duke Wyre Shoulder Vest,[1] a protective device for football players against shoulder dislocations and separations.[2] Wyre was an athletic trainer at the College of the Holy Cross for one year and at Yale University for 15 years.[3] From 1947 to 1967, he was the head trainer at the University of Maryland.[1] He was a trainer for the United States Naval Academy team during the 1960 Summer Olympics held in Rome.[3]
Wyre was hospitalized in Prince George's County Hospital in Maryland for a stomach illness in March 1968. While there, he suffered a fatal heart attack on April 1, 1968, at the age of 61.[3] Wyre was inducted into the Helms Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame in 1961,[3] the National Athletic Trainers' Association Hall of Fame in 1966,[1] and the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994.[4]