Beaton Squires
Encyclopedia
Beaton Hall Squires, LL.B
, BA
(December 16, 1881 - ) was an All-American football player and a noted Canadian lawyer. Born in rural Newfoundland
, Squires became a star football player at Harvard and was selected by Walter Camp
as his first-team All-American at the right guard position in 1905. Squires received his law degree from Harvard and later became one of the leading solicitors in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan
.
, Squires attended the public school in Newfoundland before enrolling at Harvard University
. He came to Harvard on a fellowship given by the Canadian government. Squires received both BA
and LL.B
degrees from Harvard.
and tackle
for the Harvard football team from 1903-1905. Harvard coach Bill Reid kept a diary of the 1905 season that was published as a book in 1994. Reid wrote that Squires was a big man who had worked his way through college working odd jobs. Reid considered Squires "a thoroughly respectable and decent fellow, although he is perhaps a little thick headed." Reid wrote that Squires had a job in 1904 as a conductor on Boston's electric railway. When a drunk passenger refused to pay his fare, Squires grabbed him by the nape of the neck and the trousers and threw him to the ground. A lawsuit filed by the man was dismissed, but Squires was dismissed by the company with the comment, "You are too strong for us; come back next year."
Squires became a star as a senior in 1905 and was selected as a consensus All-American at the end of the season. In the years prior to the establishment of professional football as a major sport, selection as one of the eleven players on the All-American team marked the highest level of accomplishment in the sport. Squires won the All-American honor despite having broken his thumb in a game against Bates College
. As a senior in 1905, Squires was also selected as the captain of the Harvard football team, the first time a citizen of a country other than the United States received the honor. At the time, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported:
On the eve of his election as Harvard's captain, a New York newspaper noted that, despite growing up in rural Newfoundland and not being a society man, his skill and leadership on the field supported his candidacy:
In its coverage of the 1905 Harvard-Yale game, the Philadelphia Inquirer compared the "sturdy Squires" to a steam shovel smashing into the Yale line.
, proposed eliminating the sport from college campuses, and even President Theodore Roosevelt
, a Harvard alumnus, weighed in on the debate. In an editorial published in The Boston Journal, Squires wrote in support of the sport. Squires argued: "Let football alone. It is a grand game, a game which requires all the best qualities a man should possess, strength, endurance, quick perception, and self-control." Squires supported rule changes to reduce the likelihood of serious injury, including a 20-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness, creation of a body of officials to more clearly define unnecessary roughness, use of two umpires to more carefully watch for unnecessary roughness, a ban on tackling below the knees, and creation of a five-yard safe zone for a player catching the ball. However, Squires opposed proposals to more dramatically alter the rules of the game, noting, "You cannot make a parlor game out of football."
in 1913 where he became one of the leading lawyers in Saskatchewan
. In 1923, Squires and Andrew Sibbald formed a partnership that became the law firm of Squires & Sibbald.
Squires married Edith Louise Gaffield, a native of Brookline, Massachusetts
, in 1913.
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
, BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(December 16, 1881 - ) was an All-American football player and a noted Canadian lawyer. Born in rural Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, Squires became a star football player at Harvard and was selected by Walter Camp
Walter Camp
Walter Chauncey Camp was an American football player, coach, and sports writer known as the "Father of American Football". With John Heisman, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Pop Warner, Fielding H. Yost, and George Halas, Camp was one of the most accomplished persons in the early history of American football...
as his first-team All-American at the right guard position in 1905. Squires received his law degree from Harvard and later became one of the leading solicitors in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
.
Harvard
Born in NewfoundlandNewfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, Squires attended the public school in Newfoundland before enrolling at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. He came to Harvard on a fellowship given by the Canadian government. Squires received both BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and LL.B
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degrees from Harvard.
All-American football player
He played guardGuard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
and tackle
Tackle (American football)
Tackle is a playing position in American and Canadian football. Historically, in the one-platoon system a tackle played on both offense and defense. In the modern system of specialized units, offensive tackle and defensive tackle are separate positions....
for the Harvard football team from 1903-1905. Harvard coach Bill Reid kept a diary of the 1905 season that was published as a book in 1994. Reid wrote that Squires was a big man who had worked his way through college working odd jobs. Reid considered Squires "a thoroughly respectable and decent fellow, although he is perhaps a little thick headed." Reid wrote that Squires had a job in 1904 as a conductor on Boston's electric railway. When a drunk passenger refused to pay his fare, Squires grabbed him by the nape of the neck and the trousers and threw him to the ground. A lawsuit filed by the man was dismissed, but Squires was dismissed by the company with the comment, "You are too strong for us; come back next year."
Squires became a star as a senior in 1905 and was selected as a consensus All-American at the end of the season. In the years prior to the establishment of professional football as a major sport, selection as one of the eleven players on the All-American team marked the highest level of accomplishment in the sport. Squires won the All-American honor despite having broken his thumb in a game against Bates College
Bates College
Bates College is a highly selective, private liberal arts college located in Lewiston, Maine, in the United States. and was most recently ranked 21st in the nation in the 2011 US News Best Liberal Arts Colleges rankings. The college was founded in 1855 by abolitionists...
. As a senior in 1905, Squires was also selected as the captain of the Harvard football team, the first time a citizen of a country other than the United States received the honor. At the time, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported:
"Beaton H. Squires, Harvard's giant guard may be elected captain of the football eleven next year. It will be the first time that a man who is not a citizen of the United States will lead a Harvard football squad."
On the eve of his election as Harvard's captain, a New York newspaper noted that, despite growing up in rural Newfoundland and not being a society man, his skill and leadership on the field supported his candidacy:
"Born and reared in the country, the big fellow was proof against every accident. No matter how hard he was used he never seemed to mind it in the least, and fairly grew fat on the same diet which left others sprawling behind him on the ground. The reason undoubtedly was that the other men were nearly all city boys. Squires' steady and consistent work makes him a leading candidate for the captaincy next year, despite the fact that he is in no sense of the word a society man.
In its coverage of the 1905 Harvard-Yale game, the Philadelphia Inquirer compared the "sturdy Squires" to a steam shovel smashing into the Yale line.
Editorial opposing the elimination of college football
During the 1905 season, while Squires was captain of the Harvard team, a national debate erupted over the violent nature of the sport of football. Harvard's president, Charles William EliotCharles William Eliot
Charles William Eliot was an American academic who was selected as Harvard's president in 1869. He transformed the provincial college into the preeminent American research university...
, proposed eliminating the sport from college campuses, and even President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
, a Harvard alumnus, weighed in on the debate. In an editorial published in The Boston Journal, Squires wrote in support of the sport. Squires argued: "Let football alone. It is a grand game, a game which requires all the best qualities a man should possess, strength, endurance, quick perception, and self-control." Squires supported rule changes to reduce the likelihood of serious injury, including a 20-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness, creation of a body of officials to more clearly define unnecessary roughness, use of two umpires to more carefully watch for unnecessary roughness, a ban on tackling below the knees, and creation of a five-yard safe zone for a player catching the ball. However, Squires opposed proposals to more dramatically alter the rules of the game, noting, "You cannot make a parlor game out of football."
Legal practice
After receiving his law degree, Squires practiced as a lawyer in Boston from 1908-1912. He moved to SaskatoonSaskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
in 1913 where he became one of the leading lawyers in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
. In 1923, Squires and Andrew Sibbald formed a partnership that became the law firm of Squires & Sibbald.
Football coach and family
In addition to his legal practice, Squires served as head football coach for the University of Saskatoon Huskies in 1919.Squires married Edith Louise Gaffield, a native of Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 58,732.-Etymology:...
, in 1913.