Bill Guckeyson
Encyclopedia
John William "Bill" Guckeyson was an American athlete and military aviator. He was the first University of Maryland
football player selected in the NFL Draft
. Guckeyson was killed in combat as a fighter pilot during the Second World War.
and graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School
in 1933. While there, he played basketball, soccer, and competed in track & field. In 1932, at the Maryland state track meet, he set the state shot put
record at 50 feet (15 meters), which stood for 28 years. There, it is reported that Guckeyson also won the 100-yard dash event with a recorded time of 10.2 seconds. He was the captain of the basketball team for two years and the varsity soccer team for three years. Despite his high school not having a football team at the time, Guckeyson was awarded a football scholarship to attend Maryland based upon his soccer-playing ability.
He attended college at the University of Maryland
where he played football, basketball, and baseball, and ran track. In these athletic fields, Guckeyson compiled nine letters during his four years at Maryland. He set the school javelin throw
record at 204 ft, 5 in (62.22 meters). In both 1935 and 1936, he was named an All-Southern Conference
football player and an honorable-mention All-American
. Frank Dobson—who coached football for forty years at Georgia
, Clemson
, South Carolina
, Richmond
, and Maryland—said Guckeyson was the best athlete he had known. During his senior year, Guckeyson was elected class president.
in the sixth round of the 1937 NFL Draft
, making him the first Maryland player ever selected. However, he turned down offers to play professional sports, and instead accepted a nomination to attend the United States Military Academy
at West Point. While there, Guckeyson was no longer eligible to play football, but was named a first-team All-American in soccer in 1941. Once again, he was elected as class president.
Guckeyson graduated from West Point in 1942 and received a commission as an officer in the United States Army
. He again turned down offers for a professional sports career when the former Washington Senators manager, Clark Griffith
, and pitcher, Walter Johnson
, asked him to join the major league
. He attended flight school and was certified as a fighter pilot in the United States Army Air Forces
before being deployed overseas in December 1942.
As a fighter pilot, Guckeyson earned a Purple Heart
, three Air Medal
s, and two Distinguished Flying Cross
es—the fourth-highest award for combat valor in flight. While serving in the 375th Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group
, Guckeyson flew a P-47 Thunderbolt
("Contrary Mary") and, after his unit transitioned to the newer airframe, a P-51 Mustang
(serial: 42-103349) fighter aircraft. He was credited with at least 2.5 enemy aircraft kills in aerial combat: two Me-109
fighters and a Ju-188
night fighter
, which was destroyed with the assistance of another pilot. Guckeyson was reportedly killed on a strafing run on 21 May 1944 when his P-51 Mustang fighter was shot down. At the time of his death, he had attained the rank of captain, and his remains were interred in France. His remains are interred at the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial
in Saint-Avold
, France.
In 1955, Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School named its athletic playing field Guckeyson Memorial Stadium in his honor. He was inducted into the Touchdown Club
Hall of Fame, and in 1982, the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
.
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
football player selected in the NFL Draft
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
. Guckeyson was killed in combat as a fighter pilot during the Second World War.
Early life and college career
Guckeyson was born in Chevy Chase, MarylandChevy Chase, Maryland
Chevy Chase is the name of both a town and an unincorporated census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland. In addition, a number of villages in the same area of Montgomery County include "Chevy Chase" in their names...
and graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School is a Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, public school named for two of the towns it serves along with Kensington and Silver Spring, Maryland. It is located at 4301 East-West Highway, in Bethesda, an unincorporated community in Montgomery County...
in 1933. While there, he played basketball, soccer, and competed in track & field. In 1932, at the Maryland state track meet, he set the state shot put
Shot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
record at 50 feet (15 meters), which stood for 28 years. There, it is reported that Guckeyson also won the 100-yard dash event with a recorded time of 10.2 seconds. He was the captain of the basketball team for two years and the varsity soccer team for three years. Despite his high school not having a football team at the time, Guckeyson was awarded a football scholarship to attend Maryland based upon his soccer-playing ability.
He attended college at the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
where he played football, basketball, and baseball, and ran track. In these athletic fields, Guckeyson compiled nine letters during his four years at Maryland. He set the school javelin throw
Javelin throw
The javelin throw is a track and field athletics throwing event where the object to be thrown is the javelin, a spear approximately 2.5 metres in length. Javelin is an event of both the men's decathlon and the women's heptathlon...
record at 204 ft, 5 in (62.22 meters). In both 1935 and 1936, he was named an All-Southern Conference
Southern Conference
The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
football player and an honorable-mention All-American
College Football All-America Team
The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to the 1889 College Football All-America Team selected by Casper Whitney and published in This...
. Frank Dobson—who coached football for forty years at Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
, Clemson
Clemson Tigers football
The Clemson Tigers football team is an American football team from Clemson University in South Carolina. It competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
, South Carolina
South Carolina Gamecocks football
The South Carolina Gamecocks football team represents the University of South Carolina in NCAA Division I college football. The Gamecocks have been a member of the Southeastern Conference since 1992. Steve Spurrier is the current head coach, and the team plays its home games at Williams-Brice...
, Richmond
Richmond Spiders football
The Richmond Spiders are a college football team representing the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia. Richmond was the Division I Football Championship Subdivision champion for the 2008 season. Richmond currently competes in the Colonial Athletic Association of the NCAA's Division I...
, and Maryland—said Guckeyson was the best athlete he had known. During his senior year, Guckeyson was elected class president.
Military career
Upon graduation from Maryland, Guckeyson was selected by the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the sixth round of the 1937 NFL Draft
1937 NFL Draft
The 1937 National Football League Draft was the second draft held by the NFL. The draft took place December 12, 1936, consisting of 10 rounds, with 100 player selections two of which would later become members of the Professional Football Hall of Fame...
, making him the first Maryland player ever selected. However, he turned down offers to play professional sports, and instead accepted a nomination to attend the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point. While there, Guckeyson was no longer eligible to play football, but was named a first-team All-American in soccer in 1941. Once again, he was elected as class president.
Guckeyson graduated from West Point in 1942 and received a commission as an officer in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. He again turned down offers for a professional sports career when the former Washington Senators manager, Clark Griffith
Clark Griffith
Clark Calvin Griffith , nicknamed "the Old Fox", was a Major League Baseball pitcher, manager and team owner.-Biography:...
, and pitcher, Walter Johnson
Walter Johnson
Walter Perry Johnson , nicknamed "Barney" and "The Big Train", was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Washington Senators...
, asked him to join the major league
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. He attended flight school and was certified as a fighter pilot in the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
before being deployed overseas in December 1942.
As a fighter pilot, Guckeyson earned a Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
, three Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
s, and two Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
es—the fourth-highest award for combat valor in flight. While serving in the 375th Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group
361st Fighter Group
The 361st Fighter Group was a World War II United States Army Air Forces combat organization. It served primarily in the European Theatre of World War II....
, Guckeyson flew a P-47 Thunderbolt
P-47 Thunderbolt
Republic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
("Contrary Mary") and, after his unit transitioned to the newer airframe, a P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
(serial: 42-103349) fighter aircraft. He was credited with at least 2.5 enemy aircraft kills in aerial combat: two Me-109
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
fighters and a Ju-188
Junkers Ju 188
The Junkers Ju 188 was a German Luftwaffe high-performance medium bomber built during World War II, the planned follow-on to the famed Ju 88 with better performance and payload...
night fighter
Night fighter
A night fighter is a fighter aircraft adapted for use at night or in other times of bad visibility...
, which was destroyed with the assistance of another pilot. Guckeyson was reportedly killed on a strafing run on 21 May 1944 when his P-51 Mustang fighter was shot down. At the time of his death, he had attained the rank of captain, and his remains were interred in France. His remains are interred at the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial
Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial
The Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, is located just outside of Saint-Avold, Moselle, France. It covers and contains the largest number of graves of any American World War II cemetery in Europe. Those interred died mostly in the autumn of 1944 during the Drive to the Siegfried Line and...
in Saint-Avold
Saint-Avold
Saint-Avold is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.It is situated twenty-eight miles east of Metz and seventeen miles southwest of Saarbrücken....
, France.
In 1955, Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School named its athletic playing field Guckeyson Memorial Stadium in his honor. He was inducted into the Touchdown Club
Washington D.C. Touchdown Club
The Washington D.C. Touchdown Club was started in 1935 with a passion for charity and sports. In the ensuing years the Club has benefited many local charities as well as providing scholarships to deserving student/athletes....
Hall of Fame, and in 1982, the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
The University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1982 by the M Club Foundation to honor student-athletes, coaches, and administrators who made significant contributions to athletics at the University of Maryland...
.