 "Tiger" | |
| Florida Gators – No. 64 | |
|---|---|
| Position | Halfback |
| Class | 1937 |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | March 14, 1915 Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| Died: | by March 5, 1944 (aged 28) Rabaul, New Britain |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Weight | 172 lb (78 kg) |
| Career history | |
| College | Florida (1934–1937) |
| High school | Mainland (Daytona Beach, Florida) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Walter Thomas "Tiger" Mayberry (March 14, 1915 – by March 5, 1944) was an American college football player, and later a U.S. Marine Corps fighter pilot. Mayberry was a casualty of World War II; dying in a Japanese prisoner of war camp after his plane was shot down.[1]
Mayberry was a prominent running back for the University of Florida's Florida Gators football team.[2] A triple-threat man,[3] he also passed and punted. When punting he excelled at placing balls in the "coffin corner."[4] As was typical in the 1930s, he played both offense and defense, posting multiple school records for interceptions.[5] Mayberry was selected as a sixth round pick of the 1938 NFL draft, but never played in the NFL. He was the first Gator drafted into the league.[6][7]
- ^ Jim Folsom (August 5, 2014). "Athletes Who Played Their Part in WWII". Archived from the original on May 29, 2015.
- ^ "All-American Team Selected". Washington C. H. Record-Herald. December 4, 1937. p. 9. Archived from the original on December 6, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ John Wilds (September 14, 1937). "Josh Cody Builds For Next Season". The Evening Independent.
- ^ William J. Tucker (November 30, 1937). "Alabama Gets Three Places on S. E. Eleven". Anniston Star. p. 8. Retrieved June 11, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ University of Florida, p. 165
- ^ University of Florida, p. 110
- ^ Martin 2006, p. 23
