Harry Wilson (halfback)
_(cropped).png) Wilson in 1927 | |
| Army Cadets | |
|---|---|
| Position | Halfback |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | August 6, 1902 Mingo Junction, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died: | October 26, 1990 (aged 88) Rochester, New York, U.S. |
| Career history | |
| College | Penn State (1921–1923) Army (1924–1927) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| College Football Hall of Fame (1973) | |
| Resting place | St. Mary's Cemetery Sharon, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Spouse | Patricia |
| Children | 3 |
Harry Edgar "Light Horse" Wilson (August 6, 1902 – October 26, 1990) was an American college football, college basketball, and college lacrosse player. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973. He was elected to the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1963. While at West Point he earned a record 12 varsity letters in football, basketball, and lacrosse.
Early life
Wilson was born August 6, 1902 in Mingo Junction, Ohio.[1] He grew up in Sharpsville, Pennsylvania,[2] and attended high school in Sharon, Pennsylvania.[1]
College sports playing career
Wilson played college sports at Penn State University (1921–23) and the United States Military Academy (1924–27). During his college sports career, Wilson measured 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) in height and weighed 170 pounds (77 kg).[1]
Wilson received the nickname "Lighthorse Harry",[1][3] derived from the nickname of Henry Lee III (an American Revolutionary War hero).[1]
Penn State (1921–23)
Wilson played football (1921-1923),[1] basketball and lacrosse at Pennsylvania State University.[3] He was All-American at the U.S. Military Academy.[3]
During Penn State's 1923 football season, Wilson had touchdown runs in its game against Navy of 95, 80, and 55 yards. During its game against the University of Pennsylvania of 49, 45, and 25 yards. That season, Walter Camp opined of his performance in football, "Wilson on his good days has no peer."[1]
Army West Point (1924–27)
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Wilson competed for Army West Point (the United States Military Academy) from 1924 through 1927.[1] While at West Point he earned a record 12 varsity letters in football, basketball, and lacrosse.
During the 1926 and 1927 Army football seasons, Wilson paired with Red Cagle to form one of the greatest duo of halfbacks in college football history.[1]
In the 1926 Army–Navy Game, Wilson had a strong performance at halfback. In the game, he gained more yards than any other player (121 yards) and also carried the ball more times than any other player. He narrowly missed a field goal attempt in the closing seconds of the game. Since the result was tied, had Wilson made the field goal Army would have outright beaten Navy. His performance in the game was praised by Navy's coach, Bill Ingram as "the greatest halfback performance" he had seen.[2] Several writeups of the game considered Wilson to have put forward the most impressive performance of any player from either team. Stanford coach Pop Warner described him as the "individual star" of the game.[4] The Associated Press described him the "ace" of Army team "who had shared the brunt of the attack" during the game.[5] Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne described him as Army's "ace in the hole".[6] The 1926 Army–Navy game has been considered the among greatest in Army–Navy Game history, and one of the greatest games in the entire history of college football.[7] On the return train from the game (played in Chicago), Wilson was elected by his teammates to be the captain of Army football during the 1927 Army Cadets football team.[2]
Honors
Wilson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973[1][8] Wilson was inducted as a member of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame[3] in 1963
Wilson was named "Consensus All–American" in 1923. He was named "First Team All–American" in 1926. He was named "Third Team All–American" in 1924 and 1925.[1]
Military career
After graduating from West Point, Wilson joined the Army Air Corps.[1]
Wilson served in World War II as part of Air Force.[3] He flew 45 missions during the war as a bomber pilot[1] He retired as a colonel.[3]
Personal life
Wilson and his wife, Patricia, had three daughters: Patricia M., Mary, and Margaret.[3] He died on October 26, 1990. He was buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in Sharon, Pennsylvania.[3]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Inductee | Harry Edgar Wilson 1973". College Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Army-Navy Coaches Satisfied With Outcome of Game". The Scranton Republican. The Associated Press. November 28, 1929. p. 14. Retrieved August 1, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Wilson, Harry E., Col. USAF, Retired". Democrat and Chronicle. October 28, 1990. p. 8F. Retrieved January 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Warner, Glenn (November 28, 1926). "Mule Started Slowly; First Team Outsped at Start Just as Easily as Second-String Men; Navy Plays Deceptive; Army Has More Power; Middies Clever Fakes and Double Passes Put Panic Into Cadets in Early Minutes– Wide Formation Puzzling– Wilson Individual Star". The Chattanooga Times. p. 14. Retrieved August 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Army Starts Reserves; Navy Off to Two-Touchdown Lead Before Regulars Rushed to Beach; Cadets Quickly Score Thrice and Go Ahead; Middies Come Back With Grand Rush for Tying Touchdown – One Navy Break Fumble Punt Robs Team of Brilliant Victory". Newspapers.com. The Chattanooga Times. November 28, 1926. p. 14. Retrieved August 19, 2025 – via The Associated Press.
- ^ Rockne, Knute (November 28, 1926). "Teams Well Matched; Draw Score Genuine". The Chattanooga Times. p. 14. Retrieved August 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Army vs. Navy: Greatest games in history that have helped shape this storied college football rivalry". CBS Sports. December 6, 2023. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
- ^ McGuire, Kevin (June 5, 2021). "Every College Football Hall of Fame member from Penn State". USA Today. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
External links
