Merle Wendt
Encyclopedia
Merle Wendt was an All-American football player at Ohio State University
. Wendt played at the end position for Ohio State and was selected as an All-American in 1935.
, the "quiet, smiling and bashful son of a foreman in the steam fitting department of the American Rolling Mills." Wendt played basketball all four years at Middletown High School and played football on Elmo Lingrel's teams his sophomore, Junior and senior years. He was the captain of the football team during his senior year and also the class (1933) president. Wendt was highly recruited out of high school and received an offer from University of Southern California coach (and Butler County, Ohio
native) Howard Jones
to play for the Trojans. Wendt opted instead to accept an offer to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes
under head coach Francis Schmidt
. Schmidt tried Wendt at the center position at the start of the 1934 season and eventually moved the speedy Wendt to the end position. He was a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon
fraternity and worked his way through college as a caretaker at his fraternity house where he was responsible for firing the furnace, sweeping walks and shoveling snow. Wendt was a starter for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team from 1934 to 1936 and was captain of the 1936 team. Wendt was five feet eleven inches tall, and weighed 190 pounds. He was described as "A great pass catcher, hard tackier and tops in defense." Upon his selection as captain, one Ohio newspaper wrote: "A superb defensive man, the 188 pound flanker teamed with Gomer Jones
, Cleveland, whom he succeeds at the Ohio helm, in leading the charge of the forward wall of Francis Schmidt's eleven."
Wendt was selected as an All-Western Conference end as a sophomore in 1934. He was also selected as a first-team All-American in 1934 by the International News Service
-- the Hearst newspapers wire service. In 1935, Wendt was selected as a first-team All-American by Liberty Magazine
(based on "a poll of 1521 varsity players in all parts of the country") and the Newspaper Editors Association. He was also as second-team selection of the United Press, North American Newspaper Alliance, and Central Press in 1935.
Wendt became a popular figure through the state of Ohio, with newspapers covering the details of his personal life, including his interest in "nature study" and his love of Mexican food:
Wendt played on Ohio State teams that defeated the Michigan Wolverines
three straight years by a combined score of 93-0. In 1936, Wendt was asked about his greates thrill: "After no undue amount of deliberation Merle decided that his greatest thrill was the time he caught the winning touchdown pass against Michigan in 1934."
Wendt's brothers Chester and Emerson also played basketball and football at Ohio State.
Wendt had offers to play professional football from seven NFL teams, but opted instead to pursue a career in chemical engineering. He married his wife, June Stone, six days after receiving his degree in chemical engineering. For many years, Wendt was the director of chemical engineering for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. in Akron, Ohio
.
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
. Wendt played at the end position for Ohio State and was selected as an All-American in 1935.
Biography
Wendt was a native of Middletown, OhioMiddletown, Ohio
Middletown is an All-America City located in Butler and Warren counties in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. Formerly in Lemon, Turtlecreek, and Franklin townships, Middletown was incorporated by the Ohio General Assembly on February 11, 1833, and became a city in 1886...
, the "quiet, smiling and bashful son of a foreman in the steam fitting department of the American Rolling Mills." Wendt played basketball all four years at Middletown High School and played football on Elmo Lingrel's teams his sophomore, Junior and senior years. He was the captain of the football team during his senior year and also the class (1933) president. Wendt was highly recruited out of high school and received an offer from University of Southern California coach (and Butler County, Ohio
Butler County, Ohio
Butler County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of 2010, the population was 368,130. Its county seat is Hamilton. It is named for General Richard Butler, who died in 1791 fighting Indians in northern Ohio. Butler's army marched out of Fort Hamilton, where the city of...
native) Howard Jones
Howard Jones (football coach)
Howard Harding Jones was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Syracuse University , Yale University , Ohio State University , the University of Iowa , Duke University , and the University of Southern California , compiling a career record of...
to play for the Trojans. Wendt opted instead to accept an offer to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes are the intercollegiate sports teams and players of The Ohio State University, named after the state tree, the Buckeye. The Buckeyes participate in the NCAA's Division I in all sports and the Big Ten Conference in most sports...
under head coach Francis Schmidt
Francis Schmidt
Francis Albert Schmidt was an American football player and coach of football, basketball, and baseball. He served as the head football coach at the University of Tulsa , the University of Arkansas , Texas Christian University , Ohio State University , and the University of Idaho , compiling a...
. Schmidt tried Wendt at the center position at the start of the 1934 season and eventually moved the speedy Wendt to the end position. He was a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon
Tau Kappa Epsilon
Tau Kappa Epsilon is a college fraternity founded on January 10, 1899 at Illinois Wesleyan University with chapters in the United States, and Canada, and affiliation with a German fraternity system known as the Corps of the Weinheimer Senioren Convent...
fraternity and worked his way through college as a caretaker at his fraternity house where he was responsible for firing the furnace, sweeping walks and shoveling snow. Wendt was a starter for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team from 1934 to 1936 and was captain of the 1936 team. Wendt was five feet eleven inches tall, and weighed 190 pounds. He was described as "A great pass catcher, hard tackier and tops in defense." Upon his selection as captain, one Ohio newspaper wrote: "A superb defensive man, the 188 pound flanker teamed with Gomer Jones
Gomer Jones
-External links:...
, Cleveland, whom he succeeds at the Ohio helm, in leading the charge of the forward wall of Francis Schmidt's eleven."
Wendt was selected as an All-Western Conference end as a sophomore in 1934. He was also selected as a first-team All-American in 1934 by the International News Service
International News Service
International News Service was a U.S.-based news agency founded by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst in 1909.Established two years after the Scripps family founded the United Press Association, INS scrapped among the newswires...
-- the Hearst newspapers wire service. In 1935, Wendt was selected as a first-team All-American by Liberty Magazine
Liberty Magazine
Liberty is a magazine published by the Seventh-day Adventist Church that covers issues involving separation of church and state, and current events in politics...
(based on "a poll of 1521 varsity players in all parts of the country") and the Newspaper Editors Association. He was also as second-team selection of the United Press, North American Newspaper Alliance, and Central Press in 1935.
Wendt became a popular figure through the state of Ohio, with newspapers covering the details of his personal life, including his interest in "nature study" and his love of Mexican food:
"It's easy enough to see why Merle Wendt is the sort that makes feminine hearts flutter, but why this good-looking captain of the Ohio State university eleven should prefer chili con carne to chicken is beyond
us. Merle, you see, isn't Mexican nor Spanish, just plain American, but he'd rather have a bowl than a broiler, so that's that. But if Ohio State's leading chili hound can keep on playing football the way he has been from his end position, we'd say let him eat all the chili con carne
he can pack in."
Wendt played on Ohio State teams that defeated the Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which...
three straight years by a combined score of 93-0. In 1936, Wendt was asked about his greates thrill: "After no undue amount of deliberation Merle decided that his greatest thrill was the time he caught the winning touchdown pass against Michigan in 1934."
Wendt's brothers Chester and Emerson also played basketball and football at Ohio State.
Wendt had offers to play professional football from seven NFL teams, but opted instead to pursue a career in chemical engineering. He married his wife, June Stone, six days after receiving his degree in chemical engineering. For many years, Wendt was the director of chemical engineering for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. in Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
.
See also
- Middletown High School "Optimist" for 1930, 1931, 1932, and 1933
- 1934 College Football All-America Team1934 College Football All-America TeamThe 1934 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams for the 1934 college football season...
- 1935 College Football All-America Team1935 College Football All-America TeamThe 1935 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams for the 1935 college football season...
- 1936 College Football All-America Team1936 College Football All-America TeamThe 1936 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams for the 1936 college football season...