James Simrall
Encyclopedia
James Orlando Harrison Simrall, Jr. (November 16, 1909 – September 8, 1982) was an American football
player and medical doctor. A native of Lexington, Kentucky
, Simrall enrolled at the University of Michigan
where he played quarterback
and halfback
for the Michigan Wolverines football
teams from 1928 to 1930. He was selected as the Most Valuable Player on the 1929 team
and the captain of the 1930 team
. He later attended Harvard Medical School
, served as an instructor in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Michigan, and later became a medical doctor in Lexington, Kentucky
.
, in November 1909. His father, James O. Harrison Simrall, Sr. (1877–1934), was a Kentucky native who worked as the secretary of the city school board, personnel director and business manager of the public schools, and also operated an insurance agency under the name, J. O. H. Insurance Agency. His mother, Kitty C. (Chenault) Simrall, was also a Kentucky native. At the time of the 1910 United States Census, Simrall was living in Lexington with his parents and an older sister, Florence D. Simrall. At the time of the 1930 United States Census, his family continued to reside in Lexington, and he also had a younger sister, Kitty C. Simrall. In high school, Simrall played football and basketball and competed in track.
Simrall started eight games as quarterback in 1929 and another as halfback in Harry Kipke's first season as Michigan's head football coach. He also handled punting for the 1929 team and set an "iron man" record by playing in 488 minutes during the 1929 season. At the end of the 1929 season, Simrall was elected by his teammates as both the Most Valuable Player on the 1929 team and captain of the 1930 team
. The International News Service wrote at the time: "James O. Simrall of Lexington, Ky., is to lead the University of Michigan football team next year. He was elected yesterday to the captaincy. Only 19 years old and weighing 160 pounds, Simrall has played a brilliant game in Michigan's backfield for the last two years." A syndicated newspaper profile on Simrall reported that "Ducky" Simrall was the youngest Michigan captain in many years and added:
Another newspaper called him a "genial, quiet blonde ... well liked by all" and praised his work as a safety man: "Defensively Simrall is almost beyond reproach -- a deadly tackler and a good analyst of plays."
For the 1930 season, Harry Newman
took over the quarterback position, and Simrall started eight games at the halfback position. Newman and Simrall led the 1930 Wolverines
to an undefeated season and a tie for the Big Ten Conference
championship. In 13–0 victory over Ohio State
, Newman completed a pass to Simrall from Michigan's 46-yard line with a minute remaining in the game. Simrall took the ball to the one-yard line to set up the first score of the game. In the final game of the 1930 season, and Simrall's last appearance for Michigan, he threw a touchdown pass to Roy Hudson from midfield for Michigan's first points against the Chicago Maroons
. At the end of the 1930 season, Coach Kipke told the press that he considered Simrall to be the most valuable player and the key to the success of the 1930 team.
While at Michigan, Simrall was also a member of the Phi Delta Theta
fraternity. In February 1931, Simrall received national publicity when he was one of 70 University of Michigan students arrested in "rum raids" at five leading fraternities on the campus.
. He returned to the University of Michigan in 1935 to perform his residency at the University Hospital. He was also a teaching assistant in pathology. By 1940, he was an instructor in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Michigan. He co-authored a paper in 1940 entitled, "The Effects of Vaginal Mucosa of the Sponge and Foam Powder Method Used in Contraception," which was published by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America
in the journal, "Human Fertility."
He later returned to Lexington, Kentucky, where he established a medical practice. He was married to Irene Simrall. In 1949, he maintained his office at 332 W. Broadway in Lexington and lived at 316 Stilz Avenue in Lexington. Simrall died at Lexington in 1982 at age 72. In March 1931, Simrall was voted as the class athlete and the most popular man in the University of Michigan's Class of 1931.
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 and medical doctor. A native of Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
, Simrall enrolled at 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...
where he played 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...
and 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...
for the 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...
teams from 1928 to 1930. He was selected as the Most Valuable Player on the 1929 team
1929 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1929 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1929 college football season. The team's head coach was Harry G. Kipke...
and the captain of the 1930 team
1930 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1930 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1930 college football season. The head coach was former Michigan star, 31-year-old Harry Kipke, in his second year in the position....
. He later attended Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
, served as an instructor in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Michigan, and later became a medical doctor in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
.
Early years
Simrall was born in Lexington, KentuckyLexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
, in November 1909. His father, James O. Harrison Simrall, Sr. (1877–1934), was a Kentucky native who worked as the secretary of the city school board, personnel director and business manager of the public schools, and also operated an insurance agency under the name, J. O. H. Insurance Agency. His mother, Kitty C. (Chenault) Simrall, was also a Kentucky native. At the time of the 1910 United States Census, Simrall was living in Lexington with his parents and an older sister, Florence D. Simrall. At the time of the 1930 United States Census, his family continued to reside in Lexington, and he also had a younger sister, Kitty C. Simrall. In high school, Simrall played football and basketball and competed in track.
University of Michigan
Simrall enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1927. He played on the freshman football team in 1927. As a sophomore in 1928, he started five games at the halfback position for the Michigan team coached by Tad Wieman. Prior to the 1929 season, expectations were high for Simrall. A profile of the Michigan football team in the International News Service (predecessor to the UPI) noted:"The big 'if' is a youngster named Harrison Simrall of Lexington, Ky., who is looked upon as the man due to lead the maize and blue cohorts into the promised land. In practice -- at lease the one we saw -- he looks like the answer to the coaches' prayer. He can kick, forward pass and direct play in a manner that leaves little to be desired, and the experience gained last season seems to have ironed out the rough edges of his style."
Simrall started eight games as quarterback in 1929 and another as halfback in Harry Kipke's first season as Michigan's head football coach. He also handled punting for the 1929 team and set an "iron man" record by playing in 488 minutes during the 1929 season. At the end of the 1929 season, Simrall was elected by his teammates as both the Most Valuable Player on the 1929 team and captain of the 1930 team
1930 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1930 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1930 college football season. The head coach was former Michigan star, 31-year-old Harry Kipke, in his second year in the position....
. The International News Service wrote at the time: "James O. Simrall of Lexington, Ky., is to lead the University of Michigan football team next year. He was elected yesterday to the captaincy. Only 19 years old and weighing 160 pounds, Simrall has played a brilliant game in Michigan's backfield for the last two years." A syndicated newspaper profile on Simrall reported that "Ducky" Simrall was the youngest Michigan captain in many years and added:
"Simrall has established a reputation of 'taking the gaff' at Michigan that has been equaled by few men of his size. Although he weighs but 162 pounds the Wolverines has had time taken out for him but once in two seasons, established a record for minutes played. He participated in every minute during the last seven games with Michigan State, Purdue, Ohio State, Illinois, Harvard, Minnesota and Iowa as opponents."
Another newspaper called him a "genial, quiet blonde ... well liked by all" and praised his work as a safety man: "Defensively Simrall is almost beyond reproach -- a deadly tackler and a good analyst of plays."
For the 1930 season, Harry Newman
Harry Newman
Harry Lawrence Newman was an American football quarterback who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines , the New York Giants , and the Brooklyn/Rochester Tigers .-College career:...
took over the quarterback position, and Simrall started eight games at the halfback position. Newman and Simrall led the 1930 Wolverines
1930 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1930 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1930 college football season. The head coach was former Michigan star, 31-year-old Harry Kipke, in his second year in the position....
to an undefeated season and a tie for the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
championship. In 13–0 victory over Ohio State
1930 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1930 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1930–1931. The Buckeyes compiled a 5–2–1 record while outscoring their opponents 139–48.-Schedule:-References:...
, Newman completed a pass to Simrall from Michigan's 46-yard line with a minute remaining in the game. Simrall took the ball to the one-yard line to set up the first score of the game. In the final game of the 1930 season, and Simrall's last appearance for Michigan, he threw a touchdown pass to Roy Hudson from midfield for Michigan's first points against the Chicago Maroons
Chicago Maroons football
The Chicago Maroons are the college football team representing the University of Chicago. The Maroons play in NCAA Division III as a member of the University Athletic Association. From 1892 to 1939, the Maroons were a major college football power...
. At the end of the 1930 season, Coach Kipke told the press that he considered Simrall to be the most valuable player and the key to the success of the 1930 team.
While at Michigan, Simrall was also a member of the Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta , also known as Phi Delt, is an international fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. The fraternity has about 169 active chapters and colonies in over 43 U.S...
fraternity. In February 1931, Simrall received national publicity when he was one of 70 University of Michigan students arrested in "rum raids" at five leading fraternities on the campus.
Medical career and later years
After graduating from Michigan, Simrall attended Harvard Medical SchoolHarvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
. He returned to the University of Michigan in 1935 to perform his residency at the University Hospital. He was also a teaching assistant in pathology. By 1940, he was an instructor in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Michigan. He co-authored a paper in 1940 entitled, "The Effects of Vaginal Mucosa of the Sponge and Foam Powder Method Used in Contraception," which was published by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood Federation of America , commonly shortened to Planned Parenthood, is the U.S. affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and one of its larger members. PPFA is a non-profit organization providing reproductive health and maternal and child health services. The...
in the journal, "Human Fertility."
He later returned to Lexington, Kentucky, where he established a medical practice. He was married to Irene Simrall. In 1949, he maintained his office at 332 W. Broadway in Lexington and lived at 316 Stilz Avenue in Lexington. Simrall died at Lexington in 1982 at age 72. In March 1931, Simrall was voted as the class athlete and the most popular man in the University of Michigan's Class of 1931.