John Messmer
Encyclopedia
John Messmer was an American football
player and discus
thrower for the University of Wisconsin
. He was selected as a second-team All-American
by Walter Camp
in 1908. In 1959, Messmer was inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame.
, Messmer began his athletic career at Milwaukee East High School. In 1904, Messmer set a national high school record in the discus throw.
Messmer enrolled at the University of Wisconsin where he competed in track, football, baseball, swimming, water polo and crew, becoming the first Wisconsin athlete to win nine varsity letters in major sports. He was the captain of both the football and swim teams in 1907. In 1908, he was also selected by Walter Camp
as a second-team All-American at the guard
position.
In a May 1908 meet in Chicago, Messmer threw for a distance of 129 feet, 9 inches (39.54 meters), a distance that would have taken the bronze medal two months later at the 1908 Olympics. He reportedly won every discus competition he ever entered. He qualified for the U.S. Olympic team in 1908 with the best discus throw in the country, but he withdrew from the Olympic team because of a brother's illness. Messmer was also a member of the University of Wisconsin baseball team that toured Japan in 1909.
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Messmer worked as a surveyor in the Madison
area. He later became an architect in Milwaukee and worked on the design and supervised construction of such buildings as the Elks Club and West Allis
City Hall, churches, halls, schools, banks, Concordia College
and some industrial buildings. He also served as the general superintendent of Milwaukee County construction from 1928 until his retirement in 1956.
In 1959, Messmer was chosen unanimously for induction into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame
. The biography of Messmer at the Wisconsin Walk of Fame notes that, in addition to being captain of the football and swim teams, Messmer won three letters in each of track, football and baseball and concludes: "John Messmer might have been the most versatile athlete to ever compete at the University of Wisconsin." He was also inducted into the University of Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993.
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 discus
Discus
Discus, "disk" in Latin, may refer to:* Discus , a progressive rock band from Indonesia* Discus , a fictional character from the Marvel Comics Universe and enemy of Luke Cage* Discus , a freshwater fish popular with aquarium keepers...
thrower for the University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. He was selected as a second-team All-American
1908 College Football All-America Team
The 1908 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 for the 1908 college football season...
by 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...
in 1908. In 1959, Messmer was inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame.
Biography
A native of Milwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, Messmer began his athletic career at Milwaukee East High School. In 1904, Messmer set a national high school record in the discus throw.
Messmer enrolled at the University of Wisconsin where he competed in track, football, baseball, swimming, water polo and crew, becoming the first Wisconsin athlete to win nine varsity letters in major sports. He was the captain of both the football and swim teams in 1907. In 1908, he was also selected by 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...
as a second-team All-American at the guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
position.
In a May 1908 meet in Chicago, Messmer threw for a distance of 129 feet, 9 inches (39.54 meters), a distance that would have taken the bronze medal two months later at the 1908 Olympics. He reportedly won every discus competition he ever entered. He qualified for the U.S. Olympic team in 1908 with the best discus throw in the country, but he withdrew from the Olympic team because of a brother's illness. Messmer was also a member of the University of Wisconsin baseball team that toured Japan in 1909.
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Messmer worked as a surveyor in the Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
area. He later became an architect in Milwaukee and worked on the design and supervised construction of such buildings as the Elks Club and West Allis
West Allis, Wisconsin
West Allis is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the Milwaukee metropolitan area. The population was 61,254 at the 2000 census. Its name derives from Edward P. Allis, who started the Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company in the 19th century. The site of the town was...
City Hall, churches, halls, schools, banks, Concordia College
Concordia University Wisconsin
Concordia University Wisconsin is a private liberal arts college located in Mequon, Wisconsin. The school is an affiliate of the 10-member Concordia University System, which is operated by the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod ....
and some industrial buildings. He also served as the general superintendent of Milwaukee County construction from 1928 until his retirement in 1956.
In 1959, Messmer was chosen unanimously for induction into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame
Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame
The Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame is a promenade in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, dedicated to honoring distinguished members of Wisconsin's sports history. New members are honored at a biennial banquet.-History:...
. The biography of Messmer at the Wisconsin Walk of Fame notes that, in addition to being captain of the football and swim teams, Messmer won three letters in each of track, football and baseball and concludes: "John Messmer might have been the most versatile athlete to ever compete at the University of Wisconsin." He was also inducted into the University of Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993.