George V. Chalmers
Encyclopedia
George V. "Shorty" Chalmers (November 19, 1907 – March 1984) was an American college athlete. He served as the quarterback
of the University of Maryland
football team
from 1929 to 1931. Chalmers also played basketball
and baseball at Maryland
. He has been inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame and the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
.
, Chalmers attended the University of Maryland
, where he was a multi-sport athlete. He competed in football as a back, basketball as a forward, and baseball as an infielder
. On the football team
, Chalmers was a wingback
and played a pivotal passing role in head coach Curley Byrd
's high-powered double-wing offense, with his primary receiver being Boze Berger
. In Tales From The Maryland Terrapins, author David Ungrady called that tandem "one of the most dangerous pass-catch combinations in Maryland history."
Chalmers played on the freshman football team in 1928 before he "graduated" to the varsity, where he helped replace the loss of Gerald Snyder
and Gordon Kessler to graduation. During the 1929 season, he was one of the "heroes of Maryland's dramatic finish" in its upset 13–13 tie against , alongside Moon Evans
and Bosey Berger. Chalmers tallied one of the Old Liners' touchdown
s on a pass to Berger.
In 1931, Chalmers and Berger helped lead the Old Liners to an 8–1–1 record, and one of the best seasons of Coach Byrd's 24-year tenure. That season, Chalmers was one of four Maryland backs named to The Baltimore Sun
' s All-Maryland team. The paper noted, "Complete dominance of State football by the University of Maryland during 1931 is reflected in the naming of The Sun's All-Maryland team. While selection of all four backs from a single team is unprecedented, so is the manner in which that team swept aside all opposition in this territory." The Sun called him "one of Maryland's triple threats
", as a player capable of advancing the ball through the forward pass
, the rush
, or by tallying points through kicking, and considered him the best forward passer in the South
.
He graduated from Maryland in 1932 with a Bachelor of Arts
degree from the College of Education. He earned a total of 12 letters
during his college tenure, four each in football, basketball, and baseball. Chalmers was a member of the Sigma Nu
fraternity, the Omicron Delta Kappa
honor society, the Student Congress, and the "M" Club athletic alumni organization. The school yearbook named him the "Best Senior Athlete" in 1932. As a student, Chalmers raised pigeons as a hobby, and at one point boasted more than 110 of the birds.
. In 1933, he was signed by the Philadelphia-based professional football team, the Frankford Legion.
He was elected to the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame as an athlete in 1981. Chalmers was inducted into the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
in 1983.
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...
of 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...
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...
from 1929 to 1931. Chalmers also played basketball
Maryland Terrapins men's basketball
The Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition...
and baseball at Maryland
Maryland Terrapins baseball
The Maryland Terrapins baseball team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college baseball competition. The Terrapins compete as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Historically, Maryland has not been a strong baseball program, and the...
. He has been inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame and 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...
.
College career
A native of New Castle, DelawareNew Castle, Delaware
New Castle is a city in New Castle County, Delaware, six miles south of Wilmington, situated on the Delaware River. In 1900, 3,380 people lived here; in 1910, 3,351...
, Chalmers attended 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 was a multi-sport athlete. He competed in football as a back, basketball as a forward, and baseball as an infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
. 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...
, Chalmers was a wingback
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
and played a pivotal passing role in head coach Curley Byrd
Curley Byrd
Harry Clifton "Curley" Byrd was an American university administrator, educator, athlete, coach, and politician...
's high-powered double-wing offense, with his primary receiver being Boze Berger
Boze Berger
Louis William "Boze" Berger was an infielder who played for the Cleveland Indians , Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox...
. In Tales From The Maryland Terrapins, author David Ungrady called that tandem "one of the most dangerous pass-catch combinations in Maryland history."
Chalmers played on the freshman football team in 1928 before he "graduated" to the varsity, where he helped replace the loss of Gerald Snyder
Gerald Snyder
Gerald Theodore "Snitz" Snyder was an American football player and Army officer. He played college football as a back for the Maryland Terrapins at the University of Maryland...
and Gordon Kessler to graduation. During the 1929 season, he was one of the "heroes of Maryland's dramatic finish" in its upset 13–13 tie against , alongside Moon Evans
William W. Evans
William W. "Moon" Evans was an American attorney, Marine Corps officer, and athlete. He played college football, basketball, and lacrosse at the University of Maryland. In lacrosse, Evans led the nation in scoring in 1929 and 1930...
and Bosey Berger. Chalmers tallied one of the Old Liners' touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s on a pass to Berger.
In 1931, Chalmers and Berger helped lead the Old Liners to an 8–1–1 record, and one of the best seasons of Coach Byrd's 24-year tenure. That season, Chalmers was one of four Maryland backs named to The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun is the U.S. state of Maryland’s largest general circulation daily newspaper and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries....
Triple threat man
In gridiron football, the phrase triple-threat man refers to a player who excels at all three of the skills of running, passing, and kicking. In modern usage, such a player would be referred to as a utility player....
", as a player capable of advancing the ball through the forward pass
Forward pass
In several forms of football a forward pass is when the ball is thrown in the direction that the offensive team is trying to move, towards the defensive team's goal line...
, the rush
Rush (American football)
Rushing has two different meanings in gridiron football .-Offense:The first is an action taken by the offensive team that means to advance the ball by running, as opposed to passing. A run is technically any play that does not involve a forward pass...
, or by tallying points through kicking, and considered him the best forward passer in the South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
.
He graduated from Maryland in 1932 with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from the College of Education. He earned a total of 12 letters
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
during his college tenure, four each in football, basketball, and baseball. Chalmers was a member of the Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu is an undergraduate, college fraternity with chapters in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia...
fraternity, the Omicron Delta Kappa
Omicron Delta Kappa
Omicron Delta Kappa, or ΟΔΚ, also known as The Circle, or more commonly ODK, is a national leadership honor society. It was founded December 3, 1914, at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, by 15 student and faculty leaders. Chapters, known as Circles, are located on over 300...
honor society, the Student Congress, and the "M" Club athletic alumni organization. The school yearbook named him the "Best Senior Athlete" in 1932. As a student, Chalmers raised pigeons as a hobby, and at one point boasted more than 110 of the birds.
Later life
After graduation, Chalmers remained involved in football in the Maryland area as a refereeOfficial (American football)
In American football, an official is a person who has responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game.During professional and college football games, seven officials operate on the field...
. In 1933, he was signed by the Philadelphia-based professional football team, the Frankford Legion.
He was elected to the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame as an athlete in 1981. Chalmers was 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...
in 1983.