Leland Devore
Encyclopedia
Leland Swarts Devore was an American football
tackle
and military officer. He played college football
with Army
and was selected as a first-team All-American in 1911.
Devore grew up in Wheeling, West Virginia
and was the son of J. H. Devore, a prominent West Virginia broker. He graduated from Wheeling High School and enrolled at the United States Military Academy
at West Point, New York
. Devore, who was 6 feet, 4 inches tall, and weighed 225 pounds, played at the tackle position for Army's football team while attending West Point. In 1911, Devore was selected as a first-team All-American. D Devore was also selected as the captain of the 1912 Army Black Knights football
team. Devore was also the heavyweight boxing champion at the academy, the silver medalist in heavyweight wrestling, and lettered in both baseball and basketball.
Devore was commissioned as a lieutenant in the infantry and accompanied Gen. John J. Pershing
on the Pancho Villa Expedition
into Mexico in 1916. The expedition marked the first use of motorized transport trucks and cars by the U.S. Army, and Devore was selected as the Army's first motor transport officer. Devore served as an infantry officer in France during World War I
where he was wounded.
Devore spent his career in the Army and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He died in 1939 at Washington, D. C. Devore was married to Genevieve (Welty) Devore, and the couple had a son, Leland S. Devore, Jr.
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...
tackle
Tackle (American football)
Tackle is a playing position in American and Canadian football. Historically, in the one-platoon system a tackle played on both offense and defense. In the modern system of specialized units, offensive tackle and defensive tackle are separate positions....
and military officer. He played 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...
with Army
Army Black Knights football
The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946....
and was selected as a first-team All-American in 1911.
Devore grew up in Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and was the son of J. H. Devore, a prominent West Virginia broker. He graduated from Wheeling High School and enrolled at the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point, New York
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
. Devore, who was 6 feet, 4 inches tall, and weighed 225 pounds, played at the tackle position for Army's football team while attending West Point. In 1911, Devore was selected as a first-team All-American. D Devore was also selected as the captain of the 1912 Army Black Knights football
Army Black Knights football
The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946....
team. Devore was also the heavyweight boxing champion at the academy, the silver medalist in heavyweight wrestling, and lettered in both baseball and basketball.
Devore was commissioned as a lieutenant in the infantry and accompanied Gen. John J. Pershing
John J. Pershing
John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, GCB , was a general officer in the United States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I...
on the Pancho Villa Expedition
Pancho Villa Expedition
The Pancho Villa Expedition—officially known in the United States as the Mexican Expedition and sometimes colloquially referred to as the Punitive Expedition—was a military operation conducted by the United States Army against the paramilitary forces of Mexican insurgent Francisco "Pancho" Villa...
into Mexico in 1916. The expedition marked the first use of motorized transport trucks and cars by the U.S. Army, and Devore was selected as the Army's first motor transport officer. Devore served as an infantry officer in France during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
where he was wounded.
Devore spent his career in the Army and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He died in 1939 at Washington, D. C. Devore was married to Genevieve (Welty) Devore, and the couple had a son, Leland S. Devore, Jr.
See also
- 1911 College Football All-America Team1911 College Football All-America TeamThe 1911 College Football All-America team consists of American football players selected to the College Football All-America Teams selected by various organizations in 1911...
- 1912 College Football All-America Team1912 College Football All-America TeamThe 1912 College Football All-America team consists of American football players selected to the College Football All-America Teams selected by various organizations in 1912...