| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 5, 1877 Warrenton, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | October 13, 1947 (aged 70) Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1895 | North Carolina |
| Position(s) | Fullback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1897 | Guilford |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 2–2–1 |
Joel D. Whitaker (October 5, 1877 – October 13, 1947) was an American ophthalmologist and college football player and coach. He was hired as one of the first coaches of the Guilford Quakers in 1897, posting a 2–2–1 record.[1] Whitaker played college football at the University of North Carolina, where he was a prominent fullback, described by Kemp Plummer Battle as "probably the university's best all around athlete."[2] In the 1895 Georgia vs. North Carolina football game, Whitaker threw what is purported by some to be the first forward pass.[3] He picked an all-time UNC team in 1910.[4]
Whitaker was born on October 5, 1877, in Warrenton, North Carolina. He died on October 13, 1947, at St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana.[5]
- ^ "Full text of "Guilford Review"". archive.org. 1988.
- ^ "History of North Carolina: North Carolina biography, by special staff of writers". google.com. 1919.
- ^ "Tar Heels Credited with Throwing First Forward Pass". Tar Heel Times. tarheeltimes.com. Archived from the original on December 19, 2006. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ Kemp Plummer Battle (1912). History of the University of North Carolina. p. 752.
- ^ "Prominent Eye Specialist Dies". The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis, Indiana. October 14, 1947. p. 8. Retrieved June 14, 2019 – via Newspapers.com
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