Charles Fremont West
Encyclopedia
Charlies Fremont "Pruner" West was an American track star, football player, and respected medical doctor. He was the first African American to play quarterback in the Rose Bowl.
. He was the third of four children. The family moved from their farm in Burgettstown
to Washington, Pennsylvania
in 1911. West's father opened a drug store that later was turned into a grocery store and was elected to Washington City Council. West's nickname, Pruner, came from a mispronunciation of "Peruna" a cough syrup sold by his father. Charles was an outstanding athlete at Washington High School and was scouted by Pittsburgh Pirates
. Rumors circulated that he had outraced a horse and wrestled the family bull to the ground.
In 1920, he entered Washington & Jefferson College
, where he played football and threw javelin for the track and field team. He was captain of track team in 1924.
In 1921, he was the halfback
and the backup quarterback
for the Washington & Jefferson football team
, but took over the starting quarterback job after the game against University of Pittsburgh
, a position he would hold the rest of the season. That following January, he became the first African American
quarterback to play in the Rose Bowl
and led his team to a hard-fought 0-0 tie against the California Golden Bears
.
On November 24, 1921, W&J arrived via train in Wheeling, West Virginia
to play the West Virginia Mountaineers
amid chants of "Kill the nigger," in reference to West. The crowd was unable to tell which W&J player was him, as Pruner was a relatively light-skinned African American. West was the last member of the team off the train and told the confused crowd, "We didn't bring him with us this time." Following the 13-0 victory, Pruner visited a Wheeling drug stores that displayed a sambo-type doll with the tag "West" in an ambulance. West introduced himself to the drug store owner and asked for the display "after [he] was done with it." The embarrassed store owner gave it to him on the spot.
In a similar incident, Washington & Lee traveled to Washington for a game, but refused to play against West, as it was against their "tradition." Robert "Mother" Murphy
sent the Washington & Lee team, who knew that West was on the roster when they scheduled the game, a message saying, "W&J does not play without Pruner West." Washington & Lee balked and went home with their "guarantee" and a 1-0 forfeit loss amid catcalls and a "near riot" at the train station. It became known later that Murphy knew that West had a sprained ankle and would not have been able to play anyway, but he refused to honor W&L's request. Pruner missed the first half of the November 4, 1922 game against Lafayette College
at the Polo Grounds
with his arm taped to his side. He returned for the second half to spark a 14 point comeback to win 14-13. Walter Camp
named him as an All American honorable mention in 1923.
professional football team, but he quit to attend medical school at Howard University
in Washington, DC, where he also coached football. He practiced medicine in Alexandria, Virginia
for many years. He and his wife Laverne had 2 children: Linda West Nickens and Nathaniel West. He was an excellent skeet and trap shooter and loved hunting and fishing. In 1978, West was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Service Award from W&J. He was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame on May 6, 1979. He died in 1979.
In 2011, his role in the advancement of African Americans in collegiate sports was recognized in a joint W&J/West Virginia University
ceremony at the U. Grant Miller Library
.
Personal
West was born in 1899 to William B. and Hannah Thomas from Washington County, PennsylvaniaWashington County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 152,534 registered voters in Washington County .* Democratic: 89,027 * Republican: 49,025 * Other Parties: 14,482...
. He was the third of four children. The family moved from their farm in Burgettstown
Burgettstown, Pennsylvania
Burgettstown is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The population was 1,576 according to the 2000 census.-History:...
to Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh Metro Area in the southwestern part of the state...
in 1911. West's father opened a drug store that later was turned into a grocery store and was elected to Washington City Council. West's nickname, Pruner, came from a mispronunciation of "Peruna" a cough syrup sold by his father. Charles was an outstanding athlete at Washington High School and was scouted by Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. Rumors circulated that he had outraced a horse and wrestled the family bull to the ground.
Career at Washington & Jefferson
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
, where he played football and threw javelin for the track and field team. He was captain of track team in 1924.
In 1921, he was the halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
and the backup quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the Washington & Jefferson football team
Washington & Jefferson Presidents football
The Washington & Jefferson Presidents football team represents Washington & Jefferson College in collegiate level football. The team competes in NCAA Division III and is affiliated with the Presidents' Athletic Conference...
, but took over the starting quarterback job after the game against University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
, a position he would hold the rest of the season. That following January, he became the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
quarterback to play in the Rose Bowl
1922 Rose Bowl
The 1922 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 2, 1922, between Washington & Jefferson College and the University of California, Berkeley...
and led his team to a hard-fought 0-0 tie against the California Golden Bears
California Golden Bears football
The California Golden Bears football team is the college football team of the University of California. The team plays its home games at California Memorial Stadium, however the team played at San Francisco's AT&T Park in 2011 while Memorial Stadium was being renovated, the team will return to...
.
On November 24, 1921, W&J arrived via train in Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...
to play the West Virginia Mountaineers
West Virginia Mountaineers football
The West Virginia Mountaineers football team represents West Virginia University in the NCAA FBS division of college football. Dana Holgorsen is the team's 33rd head coach. He has held the position since he was promoted in June 2011 after the resignation of Bill Stewart. The Mountaineers play their...
amid chants of "Kill the nigger," in reference to West. The crowd was unable to tell which W&J player was him, as Pruner was a relatively light-skinned African American. West was the last member of the team off the train and told the confused crowd, "We didn't bring him with us this time." Following the 13-0 victory, Pruner visited a Wheeling drug stores that displayed a sambo-type doll with the tag "West" in an ambulance. West introduced himself to the drug store owner and asked for the display "after [he] was done with it." The embarrassed store owner gave it to him on the spot.
In a similar incident, Washington & Lee traveled to Washington for a game, but refused to play against West, as it was against their "tradition." Robert "Mother" Murphy
Robert M. Murphy
Robert Martin "Mother" Murphy was an administrator at Washington & Jefferson College; his efforts to improve theWashington & Jefferson Presidents football team directly led to its development as a national powerhouse during the early 20th century....
sent the Washington & Lee team, who knew that West was on the roster when they scheduled the game, a message saying, "W&J does not play without Pruner West." Washington & Lee balked and went home with their "guarantee" and a 1-0 forfeit loss amid catcalls and a "near riot" at the train station. It became known later that Murphy knew that West had a sprained ankle and would not have been able to play anyway, but he refused to honor W&L's request. Pruner missed the first half of the November 4, 1922 game against Lafayette College
Lafayette College
Lafayette College is a private coeducational liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. The school, founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter,son of General Andrew Porter of Norristown and citizens of Easton, first began holding classes in 1832...
at the Polo Grounds
Polo Grounds
The Polo Grounds was the name given to four different stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City, used by many professional teams in both baseball and American football from 1880 until 1963...
with his arm taped to his side. He returned for the second half to spark a 14 point comeback to win 14-13. 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...
named him as an All American honorable mention in 1923.
Medical career
Pruner later signed with the Akron ProsAkron Pros
The Akron Pros were a professional football team located played in Akron, Ohio from 1908–1926. The team originated in 1908 as a semi-pro team named the Akron Indians, however name was changed to the Pros in 1920 as the team set out to become a charter member of the American Professional...
professional football team, but he quit to attend medical school at Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
in Washington, DC, where he also coached football. He practiced medicine in Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
for many years. He and his wife Laverne had 2 children: Linda West Nickens and Nathaniel West. He was an excellent skeet and trap shooter and loved hunting and fishing. In 1978, West was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Service Award from W&J. He was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame on May 6, 1979. He died in 1979.
In 2011, his role in the advancement of African Americans in collegiate sports was recognized in a joint W&J/West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
ceremony at the U. Grant Miller Library
U. Grant Miller Library
U. Grant Miller Library is the academic library for Washington & Jefferson College, located in Washington, Pennsylvania. With its origins tracing back to a donation from Benjamin Franklin in 1789, the collection currently hold 210,000 volumes. The Archives and Special Collections contain...
.