Gene Alderton
Encyclopedia
Wayne Eugene "Gene" Alderton (April 3, 1934 – July 2, 1992) was an American football
player. He played college football
for the University of Maryland
. He was selected by the Detroit Lions
of the National Football League
in the 1957 NFL Draft
.
, Alderton attended college at the University of Maryland
, where he played as a center
on the football team
. As a sophomore in 1955
, he was pressed into service to replace injured starting center Bob Pellegrini
. In 1956
, he was an honorable mention Associated Press
All-American
. The Associated Press also named him to its All-Atlantic Coast Conference
first team.
As a senior in 1957, he served as the team co-captain alongside Jack Healy. That season, Maryland played in the "Queen's Game"—the first American football game attended by Queen Elizabeth II. Alderton was scheduled to meet the Queen in the pre-game ceremonies. After he lost a tooth in the previous week's game, "university officials speedily ordered up a replacement so he could smile properly when he and the other co-captains were introduced to Elizabeth and Philip". Alderton presented a souvenir football to the Queen and Prince Philip alongside fellow co-captain Jack Healy before the game. The Newspaper Enterprise Association named him an honorable mention All-American
. The Atlantic Coast Conference selected him as a member of its All-ACC second team.
Head coach Tommy Mont
recommended Alderton, alongside back-up center Wilbur Main, for selection to the South squad in the all-star Shrine Game to Miami coach Andy Gustafson
. Upon the conclusion of his collegiate playing career, Alderton received the Teke Trophy for service by a football player over four years. He graduated from Maryland in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science
degree in education for industry.
by the Detroit Lions
. In the summer of 1958, he was competing for a position at the Lions' training camp, and considered to have a good chance at making the roster. He played for Detroit, the defending NFL champions, in the 1958 College All-Star Game
.
In mid-August, he was hired as the freshman team coach at his alma mater. In 1964, Alderton was elected to the Board of Trustees of the University of Maryland M Club, an athletic alumni organization. He died on July 2, 1992, while living in Hyattsville, Maryland
.
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 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...
for 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...
. He was selected by the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
in the 1957 NFL Draft
1957 NFL Draft
The 1957 National Football League Draft was held on November 27, 1956.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
.
College career
A native of Cumberland, MarylandCumberland, Maryland
Cumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...
, Alderton 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 as a center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
on the football team
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
. As a sophomore in 1955
1955 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 1955 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association college football in its third season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Their perfect 10–0 regular season culminated with a bid to the 1956 Orange Bowl, where...
, he was pressed into service to replace injured starting center Bob Pellegrini
Bob Pellegrini
Robert Francis Pellegrini was an American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Redskins. He played college football at Maryland, where he was an All-American as a center. Pellegrini was drafted in the first round of the 1956 NFL Draft...
. In 1956
1956 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 1956 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association college football in its fourth season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They were led by first-year head coach Tommy Mont, who had been promoted from backfield...
, he was an honorable mention 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...
All-American
1956 College Football All-America Team
The 1956 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams in 1956...
. The Associated Press also named him to its All-Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
first team.
As a senior in 1957, he served as the team co-captain alongside Jack Healy. That season, Maryland played in the "Queen's Game"—the first American football game attended by Queen Elizabeth II. Alderton was scheduled to meet the Queen in the pre-game ceremonies. After he lost a tooth in the previous week's game, "university officials speedily ordered up a replacement so he could smile properly when he and the other co-captains were introduced to Elizabeth and Philip". Alderton presented a souvenir football to the Queen and Prince Philip alongside fellow co-captain Jack Healy before the game. The Newspaper Enterprise Association named him an honorable mention All-American
1957 College Football All-America Team
The 1957 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams in 1957...
. The Atlantic Coast Conference selected him as a member of its All-ACC second team.
Head coach Tommy Mont
Tommy Mont
Thomas Allison "Tommy" Mont is an American educator, university administrator, college football coach, and NFL player. He played quarterback for the Washington Redskins as a back-up behind Sammy Baugh for three seasons. Mont served as the head football coach for three years at the University of...
recommended Alderton, alongside back-up center Wilbur Main, for selection to the South squad in the all-star Shrine Game to Miami coach Andy Gustafson
Andy Gustafson
-External links:...
. Upon the conclusion of his collegiate playing career, Alderton received the Teke Trophy for service by a football player over four years. He graduated from Maryland in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in education for industry.
After college
Alderton was selected in the 15th round of the 1957 NFL Draft1957 NFL Draft
The 1957 National Football League Draft was held on November 27, 1956.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
by the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
. In the summer of 1958, he was competing for a position at the Lions' training camp, and considered to have a good chance at making the roster. He played for Detroit, the defending NFL champions, in the 1958 College All-Star Game
College All-Star Game
The Chicago Charities College All-Star Game was a preseason American football game played annually from 1934 to 1976 between the National Football League champions and a team of star college seniors from the previous year...
.
In mid-August, he was hired as the freshman team coach at his alma mater. In 1964, Alderton was elected to the Board of Trustees of the University of Maryland M Club, an athletic alumni organization. He died on July 2, 1992, while living in Hyattsville, Maryland
Hyattsville, Maryland
Hyattsville is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 17,557 at the 2000 census.- History :The city was named for its founder, Christopher Clark Hyatt. He purchased his first parcel of land in the area in March 1845...
.