Milton Olander
Encyclopedia
Milton Martin Olander was an American football
player and coach.
Olander was born in 1899 at Rockford, Illinois
. His father, Frank Olander, emigrated from Sweden
in 1881 and became a saloon keeper in Rockford. His mother, Selma Olander, emigrated from Sweden in 1888. He had two older brothers, Carl (born May 1895) and Clarence (born April 1897).
Olander graduated from Rockford High School
, where he played on the football, basketball and track teams and was captain of the football team for two years. He next enrolled at the University of Illinois where he played at the tackle
position for Robert Zuppke
's Fighting Illini football
teams from 1918 to 1921. The University of Illinois yearbook noted: "'Milt' was the leading factor in the Illini line. His steadiness characterized him as Zup's most heady player. This was his fourth season."
At the time of the 1920 United States Census, Olander was working as a laborer in a warehouse and living in Rockford with his mother, his older brother Clarence, and his younger sister Alice.
After graduating from Illinois, Olander served as the head football coach at the Western State Normal School (now known as Western Michigan University
) in 1922 and 1923. In his first year as a head coach, he led Western State to a perfect 6-0 record as his team outscored its opponents 160 to 0.
In April 1924, Olander signed a contract to return to the University of Illinois as the freshman football coach. He served as an assistant football coach at Illinois through the 1934 season.
At the time of the 1930 United States Census, Olander was living in Champaign, Illinois
with his wife Mary S. Olander, daughter Suzanne Olander, and son Milton M. Olander, Jr. His occupation at that time was listed as an assistant coach for a university.
In 1940, Olander was appointed as the head of the Athletic Board of Control at the University of Illinois.
Olander lived in Sylvania, Ohio
in his later years. He worked as the director of industrial relations for Owens-Illinois Glass Co.
at Toledo, Ohio
. In 1953, he was offered a position as an Assistant Secretary of Labor
in the administration of President
Dwight Eisenhower.
Olander died in December 1961 at Toledo at the age of 62.
Olander was one of the original members of the parks commission in Sylvania, Ohio. In recognition of his efforts, the city's park system is known as The Olander Park System. The city's largest park, Olander Park, and its lake, Lake Olander, are also named after him.
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.
Olander was born in 1899 at Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
. His father, Frank Olander, emigrated from Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in 1881 and became a saloon keeper in Rockford. His mother, Selma Olander, emigrated from Sweden in 1888. He had two older brothers, Carl (born May 1895) and Clarence (born April 1897).
Olander graduated from Rockford High School
Rockford High School
Rockford High School in Rockford, Michigan services grades 9-12 for the Rockford Public Schools. The main campus is composed of two buildings, including a Freshman Center for all ninth graders and the Senior High School for grades 10-12, complete with an array of athletic, fine arts, and...
, where he played on the football, basketball and track teams and was captain of the football team for two years. He next enrolled at the University of Illinois where he played at the 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....
position for Robert Zuppke
Robert Zuppke
Robert Carl Zuppke was an American football coach. He served the head coach at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 1913 until 1941, compiling a career college football record of 131–81–12. Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951, Zuppke coached his...
's Fighting Illini football
Illinois Fighting Illini football
The Illinois Fighting Illini are a major college football program, representing the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. They compete in NCAA Division I-A and the Big Ten Conference.-Current staff:-All-time win/loss/tie record:*563-513-51...
teams from 1918 to 1921. The University of Illinois yearbook noted: "'Milt' was the leading factor in the Illini line. His steadiness characterized him as Zup's most heady player. This was his fourth season."
At the time of the 1920 United States Census, Olander was working as a laborer in a warehouse and living in Rockford with his mother, his older brother Clarence, and his younger sister Alice.
After graduating from Illinois, Olander served as the head football coach at the Western State Normal School (now known as Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
) in 1922 and 1923. In his first year as a head coach, he led Western State to a perfect 6-0 record as his team outscored its opponents 160 to 0.
In April 1924, Olander signed a contract to return to the University of Illinois as the freshman football coach. He served as an assistant football coach at Illinois through the 1934 season.
At the time of the 1930 United States Census, Olander was living in Champaign, Illinois
Champaign, Illinois
Champaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. The city is located south of Chicago, west of Indianapolis, Indiana, and 178 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. Though surrounded by farm communities, Champaign is notable for sharing the campus of the University of...
with his wife Mary S. Olander, daughter Suzanne Olander, and son Milton M. Olander, Jr. His occupation at that time was listed as an assistant coach for a university.
In 1940, Olander was appointed as the head of the Athletic Board of Control at the University of Illinois.
Olander lived in Sylvania, Ohio
Sylvania, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,670 people, 7,151 households, and 5,070 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,223.2 people per square mile . There were 7,392 housing units at an average density of 1,276.2 per square mile...
in his later years. He worked as the director of industrial relations for Owens-Illinois Glass Co.
Owens-Illinois
Owens-Illinois Inc. is a Fortune 500 company that specializes in container glass products. It is one of the world's leading manufacturers of packaging products, holding the position of largest manufacturer of glass containers in North America, South America, Asia-Pacific and Europe...
at Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
. In 1953, he was offered a position as an Assistant Secretary of Labor
United States Secretary of Labor
The United States Secretary of Labor is the head of the Department of Labor who exercises control over the department and enforces and suggests laws involving unions, the workplace, and all other issues involving any form of business-person controversies....
in the administration of President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Dwight Eisenhower.
Olander died in December 1961 at Toledo at the age of 62.
Olander was one of the original members of the parks commission in Sylvania, Ohio. In recognition of his efforts, the city's park system is known as The Olander Park System. The city's largest park, Olander Park, and its lake, Lake Olander, are also named after him.