John W. Hollister
Encyclopedia
John Willis Hollister was an American football
player and coach in the United States.
Hollister was born in North Pawlet, Vermont in 1869, the son of F. S. Hollister, "a traveling agent," and Julia L. Hollister. Hollister attended Middlebury College
from 1889 to 1890 and received a bachelor of arts degree from Williams College
in 1893. At Williams, he played football and baseball and "received high praise as an all-around athlete." He subsequently attended the Law Department of the University of Michigan
from 1893 to 1896. While attending law school, Hollister played halfback
for the 1893
and 1895 Michigan Wolverines football team
s.
In the fall of 1894, Hollister took time off from his legal studies to accept a position as physical director and football coach at Beloit College
. An account from the Beloit College Hall of Honor, to which Hollister was posthumously inducted in 1980, notes: "In 1894, Beloit alumni interested in seeing the athletic program expand provided funds to hire a coach for one year. The subsequent appointment of John Hollister as the first physical training instructor and coach began a rich athletic tradition at the College."
After serving the 1894–95 academic year at Beloit, Hollister returned to the University of Michigan to complete his legal education, receiving an Ll.B. degree in 1896. After completing his legal studies, Hollister became the head football coach at the University of Mississippi
in 1896, leading the team to a 1–2 record.
In November 1897, Hollister married Margaret Hayden Reustle. They had a daughter, Margaret, in 1904.
In 1898, Hollister returned to coaching, serving as the football coach and athletic director from 1898 to 1903. He also served as the head football coach at Morningside College
in Iowa from 1908–1910. Hollister compiled a career college football
record of 49–38–11.
Hollister later worked as a publishing executive in Chicago
. At the time of the 1920 Census, Hollister was listed as a resident of Chicago with a wife (Margaret, age 38) and a daughter (Margaret, age 15), and a job as an accountant in the machinery industry. He died on March 8, 1950 in Chicago.
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 coach in the United States.
Hollister was born in North Pawlet, Vermont in 1869, the son of F. S. Hollister, "a traveling agent," and Julia L. Hollister. Hollister attended Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
from 1889 to 1890 and received a bachelor of arts degree from Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
in 1893. At Williams, he played football and baseball and "received high praise as an all-around athlete." He subsequently attended the Law Department of 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...
from 1893 to 1896. While attending law school, Hollister played 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 1893
1893 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1893 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1893 college football season. The team, with Frank Barbour as head coach, compiled a 7–3 record and outscored its opponents by a combined score of 278 to 102...
and 1895 Michigan Wolverines football team
1895 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1895 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1895 college football season. The team, coached by medical student William McCauley, compiled an 8–1 record, won seven of their games by shutouts, and outscored their opponents by a combined score of 266 to...
s.
In the fall of 1894, Hollister took time off from his legal studies to accept a position as physical director and football coach at Beloit College
Beloit College
Beloit College is a liberal arts college in Beloit, Wisconsin, USA. It is a member of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, and has an enrollment of roughly 1,300 undergraduate students. Beloit is the oldest continuously operated college in Wisconsin, and has the oldest building of any college...
. An account from the Beloit College Hall of Honor, to which Hollister was posthumously inducted in 1980, notes: "In 1894, Beloit alumni interested in seeing the athletic program expand provided funds to hire a coach for one year. The subsequent appointment of John Hollister as the first physical training instructor and coach began a rich athletic tradition at the College."
After serving the 1894–95 academic year at Beloit, Hollister returned to the University of Michigan to complete his legal education, receiving an Ll.B. degree in 1896. After completing his legal studies, Hollister became the head football coach at the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
in 1896, leading the team to a 1–2 record.
In November 1897, Hollister married Margaret Hayden Reustle. They had a daughter, Margaret, in 1904.
In 1898, Hollister returned to coaching, serving as the football coach and athletic director from 1898 to 1903. He also served as the head football coach at Morningside College
Morningside College
Morningside College is a private, liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church located in Sioux City, Iowa. Founded in 1894 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, Morningside College is a private, four-year, co-educational liberal arts institution. Morningside has 21 buildings on a ...
in Iowa from 1908–1910. Hollister compiled a career 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...
record of 49–38–11.
Hollister later worked as a publishing executive in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. At the time of the 1920 Census, Hollister was listed as a resident of Chicago with a wife (Margaret, age 38) and a daughter (Margaret, age 15), and a job as an accountant in the machinery industry. He died on March 8, 1950 in Chicago.