Gibby Welch
Encyclopedia
Gilbert Laverne "Gibby" Welch (December 24, 1904 – February 10, 1984) was an American football
player who played college football for the University of Pittsburgh
. He broke Red Grange
's single season yardage record in 1926 and was an All-American in 1927. He later played professional football for the New York Yankees
in 1928 and the Providence Steam Roller
in 1929.
, where he was successful in football, basketball and track. Welch next attended Bellefont Academy, before enrolling at the University of Pittsburgh
in 1924. He played three seasons of football at Pitt from 1925–1927, including the first game ever played at Pitt Stadium. Welch also ran track for Pitt in 1926, 1927 and 1928. He was one of the country's leading college discus throwers, and also competed in the shotput, javelin and broad jump. Welch was the captain of the football and track teams as a senior. He was the signal-calling left halfback in the single-wing offense run by coach Jock Sutherland
in 1926 and 1927.
In 1926, Welch broke the single-season yardage record set by Red Grange
, gaining 1,964 yards in just nine games. Welch was described as "one of the most dazzling open field sprinters in the collegiate ranks," an athlete whose "sensational runs are aided by his excellent use of twirls and pivots through an open field."
, United Press, Collier's Weekly
, Central Press Association
, Hearst newspapers, New York Sun
, Billy Evans
, and the Walter Camp
Football Foundation. Highlights of Welch's 1927 All-American season include the following:
in 1928 and the Providence Steam Roller
in 1929. He signed with the Steam Roller after the Yankees disbanded. A newspaper story announcing his signing by the Steam Roller noted:
.
In 1948, Welch gained attention when he was charged with felonious assault with intent to kill with a deadly weapon. Welch was charged with beating his third wife, Gladys Welch, after two months of marriage in November 1948.
In 1956, the Charleston Daily Mail called Welch "one of the most fabulous characters ever produced in West Virginia athletics." As of 1968, Welch's career total of 4,108 total yards was still a school record at Pitt. Welch's rushing records at Pitt stood for more than 50 years until they were broken by Tony Dorsett
in the 1970s.
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 who played college football for the 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...
. He broke Red Grange
Red Grange
Harold Edward "Red" Grange, nicknamed "The Galloping Ghost", was a college and professional American football halfback for the University of Illinois, the Chicago Bears, and for the short-lived New York Yankees. His signing with the Bears helped legitimize the National Football League...
's single season yardage record in 1926 and was an All-American in 1927. He later played professional football for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees (NFL)
The New York Yankees were a short-lived professional American football team from 1926 to 1928. The team was a member of the first American Football League in 1926, and later the National Football League from 1927-1928. They played their home games at Yankee Stadium...
in 1928 and the Providence Steam Roller
Providence Steam Roller
The Providence Steam Roller was a professional American football team based in Providence, Rhode Island in the National Football League from 1925 to 1931. Providence was the first New England team to win an NFL championship...
in 1929.
Early years
Welch attended Parkersburg High School in Parkersburg, West VirginiaParkersburg, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,099 people, 14,467 households, and 8,767 families residing in the city. In 2006 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Parkersburg's population had decreased 4.4% to 31,755. The population density was 2,800.5 people per square mile . There were 16,100 housing...
, where he was successful in football, basketball and track. Welch next attended Bellefont Academy, before enrolling at the 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...
in 1924. He played three seasons of football at Pitt from 1925–1927, including the first game ever played at Pitt Stadium. Welch also ran track for Pitt in 1926, 1927 and 1928. He was one of the country's leading college discus throwers, and also competed in the shotput, javelin and broad jump. Welch was the captain of the football and track teams as a senior. He was the signal-calling left halfback in the single-wing offense run by coach Jock Sutherland
Jock Sutherland
Dr. John Bain "Jock" Sutherland, D.D.S., was an American football coach. He coached college football at Lafayette College and the University of Pittsburgh and professional football for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Steelers...
in 1926 and 1927.
In 1926, Welch broke the single-season yardage record set by Red Grange
Red Grange
Harold Edward "Red" Grange, nicknamed "The Galloping Ghost", was a college and professional American football halfback for the University of Illinois, the Chicago Bears, and for the short-lived New York Yankees. His signing with the Bears helped legitimize the National Football League...
, gaining 1,964 yards in just nine games. Welch was described as "one of the most dazzling open field sprinters in the collegiate ranks," an athlete whose "sensational runs are aided by his excellent use of twirls and pivots through an open field."
1927 season
He was unanimously selected as an All-American at the halfback position in 1927 by, among others, the Associated PressAssociated 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...
, United Press, Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly was an American magazine founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and published from 1888 to 1957. With the passage of decades, the title was shortened to Collier's....
, Central Press Association
Central Press Association
The Central Press Association was an American newspaper syndication company based in Cleveland, Ohio. It was in business from 1910 to 1971. At its peak, the Central Press supplied features, columns, and photographs to more than 400 newspapers and 12 million daily readers.-History:Virgil Venice...
, Hearst newspapers, New York Sun
New York Sun
The New York Sun was a weekday daily newspaper published in New York City from 2002 to 2008. When it debuted on April 16, 2002, adopting the name, motto, and masthead of an otherwise unrelated earlier New York paper, The Sun , it became the first general-interest broadsheet newspaper to be started...
, Billy Evans
Billy Evans
William George Evans , nicknamed "The Boy Umpire," was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1906 to 1927...
, and the 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...
Football Foundation. Highlights of Welch's 1927 All-American season include the following:
- In a 21-13 win over Nebraska, Welch took the opening kickoff and ran 84 yards for a touchdown. In the second quarter of the same game, Welch caught a long forward pass and then "twisted and squirmed his way 71 yards down the field for another score."
- Welch also had a 105-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against West Virginia in 1927. His 105-yard return was the longest run of the year in college football.
- In late November 1927, Welch had another big game in a 30-0 win over Penn State. One newspaper writer noted that Welch "ripped the Penn State line to shreds, bent the Lion ends almost double with his wide sweeping runs, and kicked and passed in almost uncanny form when necessary."
- Welch also led Pitt to their first bowl game, the 1928 Rose Bowl game against Stanford. In a 7-6 Stanford win, Welch was held to 50 yards, as one reporter noted: "Gibby Welch, Pitt's All-American halfback, was a tower of strength for his alma mater, but Stanford had been coached to watch the stocky halfback who made eastern grid circles buzz this season."
Professional football
Welch also played professional football for the New York YankeesNew York Yankees (NFL)
The New York Yankees were a short-lived professional American football team from 1926 to 1928. The team was a member of the first American Football League in 1926, and later the National Football League from 1927-1928. They played their home games at Yankee Stadium...
in 1928 and the Providence Steam Roller
Providence Steam Roller
The Providence Steam Roller was a professional American football team based in Providence, Rhode Island in the National Football League from 1925 to 1931. Providence was the first New England team to win an NFL championship...
in 1929. He signed with the Steam Roller after the Yankees disbanded. A newspaper story announcing his signing by the Steam Roller noted:
"'Gibby', who was once known to have been addressed as Gilbert, functions effectively as a punter, pass dispatcher or receiver, line perforator and broken field runner. It is understood that the Roller management was forced to quote the highest figures ever whispered into a pro football player's ears before Welch affixed his signature to a contract. 'Gibby' was thrown on the open market by the recent dissolution of the New York Yankees."
Later years
After leaving professional football, Welch worked as a football coach at Morris Harvey College in 1931. He later became a leading real estate man and businessman in Parkersburg, West VirginiaParkersburg, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,099 people, 14,467 households, and 8,767 families residing in the city. In 2006 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Parkersburg's population had decreased 4.4% to 31,755. The population density was 2,800.5 people per square mile . There were 16,100 housing...
.
In 1948, Welch gained attention when he was charged with felonious assault with intent to kill with a deadly weapon. Welch was charged with beating his third wife, Gladys Welch, after two months of marriage in November 1948.
In 1956, the Charleston Daily Mail called Welch "one of the most fabulous characters ever produced in West Virginia athletics." As of 1968, Welch's career total of 4,108 total yards was still a school record at Pitt. Welch's rushing records at Pitt stood for more than 50 years until they were broken by Tony Dorsett
Tony Dorsett
Anthony "Tony" Drew Dorsett is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.-Early years:...
in the 1970s.