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Paul Withington

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Paul Withington
Biographical details
Born(1888-01-25)January 25, 1888
Escondido, California, U.S.
DiedApril 2, 1966(1966-04-02) (aged 78)
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Playing career
1908–1909Harvard
Position(s)Guard, center
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1910–1914Yale (line)
1915Harvard (assistant)
1916Wisconsin
1917Camp Funston
1923–1924Columbia (assistant)
1924Columbia
Head coaching record
Overall12–7–2
Accomplishments and honors
Awards

Paul Withington (January 25, 1888 – April 2, 1966) was an American football player and coach. He was the head coach at the University of Wisconsin–Madison for a season in 1916 and at Columbia University for part of one season in 1924.[1]

In 1905, Withington graduated from the Punahou School in Honolulu.[2] He then attended Harvard University, where he played football as a guard and center.[3] He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard in 1909,[4] and his Doctor of Medicine degree from Harvard Medical School in 1914. Withington is notable as the only coach in collegiate history to be a head coach at the same time as working as a doctor. In 1914, he also published the book "The Book of Athletics".[3]

89th Division team, Withington in lighter color jersey at front

Withington married Constance Restarick in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 18, 1911. In 1917, he entered the U.S. Army Medical Corps. He was in charge of athletics at Camp Funston, playing on the football team. After the war, Withington remained in Germany with the 89th Division and the Army of Occupation. Football teams were established and a championship playoff system established. Withington was the team captain for the 89th Division, which won the A.E.F. championship in March 1919.

Between World Wars, he transferred from the Army to the United States Navy Reserve. During World War 2, he was a member of the Navy's Medical Corps in Hawaii where he was responsible for managing the Navy's Hawaiian medical facilities.

Withington was awarded the Legion of Merit by the U.S. Navy in 1945, the Silver Star by the U.S. Army in 1919, the French Croix de Guerre, the British Mons Star, World War I victory ribbon, the Army of Occupation of Germany ribbon, the American Defense ribbon and the Pacific Asiatic ribbon with star. He was also an honorary lieutenant in the Royal Medical Corps of the British Army.

In later life, Withington served as physician for his alma mater, the Punahou School.[2] After his death in 1966, he was interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.[5]

Head coaching record

[edit]
Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Wisconsin Badgers (Western Conference) (1916)
1916 Wisconsin 4–2–1 1–2–1 6th
Wisconsin: 4–2–1 1–2–1
Camp Funston (Independent) (1917)
1917 Camp Funston 7–3
Camp Funston: 7–3
Columbia Lions (Independent) (1924)
1924 Columbia 1–2–1*
Columbia: 1–2–1 *Percy Haughton coached the first 5 games of the season.
Total: 12–7–2

References

[edit]
  1. ^ DeLassus, David. "Dr. Paul O. Withington Records by Year". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Dr. Paul Withington (1905)". Punahou School. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Withington, Paul (1914). The Book of Athletics. Norwood, Mass.: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Company. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  4. ^ Harvard University Directory. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. 1913. p. 888. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  5. ^ "Paul Withington". Veterans Legacy Memorial. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
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