Harold Weekes

Harold Weekes
PositionHalfback
Class1903
Personal information
Born:April 2, 1880 (1880-04-02)
Oyster Bay, New York, U.S.
Died:July 6, 1950(1950-07-06) (aged 70)
New York, New York, U.S.
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight178 lb (81 kg)
Career history
College
Career highlights and awards
College Football Hall of Fame (1954)

Harold Hathaway Weekes (April 2, 1880 – July 6, 1950) was an American college football player. Weekes played halfback for the Columbia University Lions (1899-1902),[1] and he served as team captain during his senior year.[2] Weekes received induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954 [3] as the first of seven Columbia players enshrined. In 1962, the book Football Immortals profiled Weekes for their selection of the greatest 64 American football players from the game's first 93 years.[4] The Bill Shannon Biographical Dictionary of New York Sports termed him a "145-pound lightning bolt" who "hit the college football scene like a shot".[5] During Weekes's college football career, Columbia won 29 games, including 19 shutouts.[3]

  1. ^ Columbia Faculty Active – Five More Men Besides Harold Weekes Prevented from Playing Football on Local Eleven. The New York Times. September 29, 1901.
  2. ^ "Weekes Elected Captain; Football Meeting Held Wednesday". The Columbia Daily Spectator. December 13, 1901.
  3. ^ a b Harold Weekes at the College Football Hall of Fame. "A human projectile, Harold Weekes participated in one of the most dangerous of all football plays - the "flying hurdle." Mounted on the shoulders of teammates, Weekes was catapulted head-long across the line of scrimmage, landing on his feet and streaking away from the stunned defenders. He was gifted with unique agility and became known for his long- yardage runs. For example, as a freshman in 1899, Harold broke loose and streaked 55 yards to a touchdown that proved the decisive points in a 5-0 upset of previously unbeaten Yale. It was Columbia's first victory over the Elis in 18 seasons. For the next three years, Harold Weekes continued to dazzle enemy defenses, earning All-America honors each season. Walter Camp claimed Weekes "was powerful and fast, and had that certain burst of speed at just the right moment." During Weekes' four-year career at Columbia, the Blue and White won 29 games, 19 by shutout. Following graduation, Weekes worked as a successful broker on the New York Stock Exchange."
  4. ^ Weyand, Alexander M. (1962). "Harold Hathaway Weekes". Football Immortals. Macmillan. pp. 162–163.
  5. ^ Jordan Sprechman; Marty Appel (eds.), "Harold Weekes", The Bill Shannon Biographical Dictionary of New York Sports "A 145-pound lightning bolt from Morristown (N.J.) School, Harold Weekes hit the college football scene like a shot in 1899 when Columbia resumed intercollegiate competition after an eight-year absence."