Bill Supplee
Encyclopedia
William C. "Zuke" Supplee (c. 1903 – July 1966) was an American educator and college athlete. He attended the University of Maryland
where he played college football
and basketball
for the Maryland Terrapins
, and competed in track & field. In 1923, he received second-team All-America
football honors, which made him the first Maryland player honored as such.
In 1922, he enrolled at the University of Maryland
. During his initial year, he competed on the freshman track and football teams. Supplee earned varsity football letters each of the next three seasons. In 1923, Supplee was named a second-team All-American
by the Associated Press
, which made him the first Maryland football player to receive All-America honors. His performances during the team's win against Penn and its narrow loss to period powerhouse, Yale, have been cited as the main reasons for his selection. He also received an All-America honorable mention from Walter Camp
. In 1924, he was selected to the All-South Atlantic and the All-Maryland football teams, the latter of which was composed of the state's best players. Walter Camp again named Supplee an honorable mention All-American. In his final season in 1925, he served as the football team's captain.
Despite all of his athletic endeavors, Supplee excelled in his academic studies. One of his professors said of him, "To those who slander the American athlete as being a poor student and inferior intellect, I should like to point out Supplee as Maryland's refutation." Supplee graduated in 1926 with a bachelor of science degree in education.
Supplee and his wife, Grace, had two daughters. He drowned in 1966 at Rocky Gorge Reservoir
in Laurel, Maryland
at the age of 63. His wife, Grace died in 2000. In 1982, Supplee was posthumously inducted into 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...
where he played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
and basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
for the Maryland Terrapins
Maryland Terrapins
The Maryland Terrapins, commonly referred to as the Terps, consist of 27 men's and women's athletic teams that represent the University of Maryland, College Park in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition...
, and competed in track & field. In 1923, he received second-team All-America
1923 College Football All-America Team
The 1923 College Football All-America team consists of American football players selected to the College Football All-America Teams selected by various organizations in 1923.-Key:*FW = Football World magazine...
football honors, which made him the first Maryland player honored as such.
Early life and college
Supplee was born in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
In 1922, he enrolled 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...
. During his initial year, he competed on the freshman track and football teams. Supplee earned varsity football letters each of the next three seasons. In 1923, Supplee was named a second-team All-American
1923 College Football All-America Team
The 1923 College Football All-America team consists of American football players selected to the College Football All-America Teams selected by various organizations in 1923.-Key:*FW = Football World magazine...
by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, which made him the first Maryland football player to receive All-America honors. His performances during the team's win against Penn and its narrow loss to period powerhouse, Yale, have been cited as the main reasons for his selection. He also received an All-America honorable mention from 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...
. In 1924, he was selected to the All-South Atlantic and the All-Maryland football teams, the latter of which was composed of the state's best players. Walter Camp again named Supplee an honorable mention All-American. In his final season in 1925, he served as the football team's captain.
Despite all of his athletic endeavors, Supplee excelled in his academic studies. One of his professors said of him, "To those who slander the American athlete as being a poor student and inferior intellect, I should like to point out Supplee as Maryland's refutation." Supplee graduated in 1926 with a bachelor of science degree in education.
Later life
He later earned a doctorate and served on the university's faculty as a chemistry professor in the 1940s and 1950s. He also served on the university's athletic board.Supplee and his wife, Grace, had two daughters. He drowned in 1966 at Rocky Gorge Reservoir
Rocky Gorge Reservoir
Rocky Gorge Reservoir is located on the Patuxent River in Howard County, Montgomery County and Prince George’s County, Maryland near the town of Burtonsville. The reservoir was created in 1952 by the construction of the T. Howard Duckett Dam on the Patuxent. The dam is visible from Interstate 95...
in Laurel, Maryland
Laurel, Maryland
Laurel is a city in northern Prince George's County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County, Maryland, United States, located midway between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Incorporated in 1870, the city maintains a historic district including its Main Street...
at the age of 63. His wife, Grace died in 2000. In 1982, Supplee was posthumously inducted into 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...
.