Efton James
Encyclopedia
Efton M. James was an American football
player. He played end for Adrian College
in 1911 and for the University of Michigan
from 1912 to 1914. He was one of three former Michigan Wolverines football
players to be killed in World War I
.
James was born in Cass County, Michigan
in 1890, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Parker James. He listed his home town as Vandalia, Michigan
. He attended the public schools in Cass County, but moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan
, to attend Ann Arbor High School. James graduated from high school in 1911 and enrolled at Adrian College
where he became a star football player. After an outstanding season in 1911, he was elected captain of Adrian's football team for 1912. In December 1911, the Detroit Free Press
called him "one of the sensations of the inter-collegiate this year" and "not only one of the best ends the college ever had but also one of the most popular athletes in school."
After the 1911 season, James transferred to the University of Michigan
to play football under Michigan's legendary head coach Fielding H. Yost. James's Adrian College teammate and "inseparable friend" John Maulbetsch
followed James to Ann Arbor in 1913. James played for Yost's Michigan Wolverines football teams from 1912 to 1914.
James graduated from the University of Michigan in 1915. He moved to Detroit, Michigan
, where he became employed by the R.H. Taylor real estate company.
Following the United States entry into World War I
, James left his real estate job and entered the First Officers Training Camp at Fort Sheridan. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant and sailed for France in April 1918 as part of the 61st Infantry, Fifth Division. He was promoted to first lieutenant and placed in charge of the Stokes mortar platoon of the headquarters company until October 13, 1918. He then took charge of Company K. On October 14, 1918, while advancing near Sedan, France
, in the Verdun
sector, James was killed upon being struck by a shell fragment.
He was one of three former Michigan Wolverines football players to be killed while serving in World War I. The other two were Curtis Redden
, and Otto Carpell
. In November 1921, a bronze memorial tablet was unveiled at Michigan's football stadium to honor the four Michigan football players killed in the war.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. He played end for Adrian College
Adrian College
Adrian College is a private, co-educational liberal arts college related to the United Methodist Church in the city of Adrian, Michigan.-Campus:The school is approximately a 45-minute drive from Ann Arbor and Toledo, Ohio, and 90 minutes from Detroit...
in 1911 and for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1912 to 1914. He was one of three former Michigan Wolverines football
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
players to be killed in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
James was born in Cass County, Michigan
Cass County, Michigan
Cass County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 51,104. It is part of the South Bend–Mishawaka, IN-MI, Metropolitan Statistical Area which has a total population of 316,663 and is sometimes considered part of Greater Michiana...
in 1890, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Parker James. He listed his home town as Vandalia, Michigan
Vandalia, Michigan
Vandalia is a village in Penn Township, Cass County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 429 at the 2000 census. It is part of the South Bend–Mishawaka, IN-MI, Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. He attended the public schools in Cass County, but moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
, to attend Ann Arbor High School. James graduated from high school in 1911 and enrolled at Adrian College
Adrian College
Adrian College is a private, co-educational liberal arts college related to the United Methodist Church in the city of Adrian, Michigan.-Campus:The school is approximately a 45-minute drive from Ann Arbor and Toledo, Ohio, and 90 minutes from Detroit...
where he became a star football player. After an outstanding season in 1911, he was elected captain of Adrian's football team for 1912. In December 1911, the Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
called him "one of the sensations of the inter-collegiate this year" and "not only one of the best ends the college ever had but also one of the most popular athletes in school."
After the 1911 season, James transferred to the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
to play football under Michigan's legendary head coach Fielding H. Yost. James's Adrian College teammate and "inseparable friend" John Maulbetsch
John Maulbetsch
John F. "Johnny" Maulbetsch was an All-American football halfback at Adrian College in 1911 and for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1914 to 1916...
followed James to Ann Arbor in 1913. James played for Yost's Michigan Wolverines football teams from 1912 to 1914.
James graduated from the University of Michigan in 1915. He moved to Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, where he became employed by the R.H. Taylor real estate company.
Following the United States entry into World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, James left his real estate job and entered the First Officers Training Camp at Fort Sheridan. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant and sailed for France in April 1918 as part of the 61st Infantry, Fifth Division. He was promoted to first lieutenant and placed in charge of the Stokes mortar platoon of the headquarters company until October 13, 1918. He then took charge of Company K. On October 14, 1918, while advancing near Sedan, France
Sedan, France
Sedan is a commune in France, a sub-prefecture of the Ardennes department in northern France.-Geography:The historic centre is built on a peninsula formed by an arc of the Meuse River. It is around from the Belgian border.-History:...
, in the Verdun
Verdun
Verdun is a city in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Verdun is the biggest city in Meuse, although the capital of the department is the slightly smaller city of Bar-le-Duc.- History :...
sector, James was killed upon being struck by a shell fragment.
He was one of three former Michigan Wolverines football players to be killed while serving in World War I. The other two were Curtis Redden
Curtis Redden
Curtis Gerald "Cap" Redden was an American football player. He was the starting left end for the University of Michigan's football team from 1901–1904. He played for Michigan's "Point-a-Minute" teams and was unanimously selected as an All-Western player in 1903. Redden died of pneumonia...
, and Otto Carpell
Otto Carpell
Otto Christ Carpell was an American football player for the University of Michigan. He played halfback for the Michigan Wolverines football team from 1909 to 1912...
. In November 1921, a bronze memorial tablet was unveiled at Michigan's football stadium to honor the four Michigan football players killed in the war.