Wally Fromhart
Encyclopedia
Wallace Leo Fromhart was born in the tiny mountain town of Newburg, West Virginia
where he lived and attended school up until his freshman year of high school, after which his family moved to the significantly larger town of Moundsville, West Virginia
. A gifted athlete, Fromhart played varsity baseball and football for Moundsville High School from 1929-31. Following high school graduation, he worked at the local US Stamping plant until 1932 when he was offered, and accepted, an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Notre Dame
and play for the university's baseball team. His athletic prowess also landed him the starting quarterback position on the Fighting Irish football team during his Junior academic year (1935–36).
Fromhart played Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
under coach Elmer Layden
(of the famed Four Horsemen
) who ran an offensive scheme in which the quarterback had a limited role in the passing game. Fromhart's primary responsibilities on offense were as a blocker for the halfback, Bill Shakespeare
(who actually received the bulk of the snaps and passed the ball most often), as well as a key receiver, a place kicker and a punt returner. On defense, he played the safety position (Against arch-rivals USC, in 1935, he returned an interception for 82 yards, a statistic that still appears in the annual Notre Dame Football Media Guide). As a point of historical reference for college football aficionados, Fromhart was starting quarterback for Notre Dame in the 18-13 victory at undefeated Ohio State in 1935.
Though he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers
in 1936
, Fromhart chose instead to remain an additional year at Notre Dame to obtain teaching certification, during which time he also served as graduate assistant coach of the Fighting Irish freshman football team. Upon graduating Notre Dame, Fromhart accepted a position as head football coach for Mt. Carmel High School
in Chicago
(1937–46), posting a 56-17-10 record, a Catholic League title and two city championships. During his coaching tenure at Mt. Carmel, Fromhart was called to serve in the US Navy as an armed guard officer in the US Merchant Marine (1944–45) in the Atlantic Theater of World War II.
A year after returning from the war, Fromhart accepted a head football coach position at Loras College
(1947–50), in Dubuque, Iowa, where he posted a 29-9 record, including an undefeated season in 1947. During his coaching years at Loras, he also managed the Dubuque minor league baseball team. In 1951, he accepted a position as assistant coach at the University of Detroit
under Earl "Dutch" Clark (1951–53), and succeeded Clark as head coach (1954–58). In the latter position, he posted an overall record of 19-25, won the Missouri Valley Conference title, and was named Catholic Coach of the Year. Fromhart ended his football coaching career in 1961 as head coach of the Sarnia, Ontario
-based Sarnia Golden Bears, a semi-professional football team in the upstart American Football Conference for one season (the conference lasted only one year). With his eldest son (also Wally Fromhart) as assistant coach, he led the team to an undefeated 10-0 regular season record and one post-season win to claim the American Football Conference championship.
Wally Fromhart died in 2002 and is buried in South Bend, Indiana
with his wife Donna Belle (Parvis) Fromhart.
Newburg, West Virginia
Newburg is a town in Preston County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 360 at the 2000 census. At one time, Newburg was the largest town in Preston County.-Geography:Newburg is located at ....
where he lived and attended school up until his freshman year of high school, after which his family moved to the significantly larger town of Moundsville, West Virginia
Moundsville, West Virginia
Moundsville is a city in Marshall County, West Virginia, along the Ohio River. It is part of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 9,998 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marshall County. The city was named for the Grave Creek Mound. Moundsville was settled in...
. A gifted athlete, Fromhart played varsity baseball and football for Moundsville High School from 1929-31. Following high school graduation, he worked at the local US Stamping plant until 1932 when he was offered, and accepted, an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
and play for the university's baseball team. His athletic prowess also landed him the starting quarterback position on the Fighting Irish football team during his Junior academic year (1935–36).
Fromhart played Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
under coach Elmer Layden
Elmer Layden
Elmer Francis Layden was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive. He played college football at the University of Notre Dame where he starred at fullback as a member of the legendary "Four Horsemen" backfield...
(of the famed Four Horsemen
Four Horsemen (football)
The Four Horsemen of Notre Dame comprised a winning group of American football players at the University of Notre Dame under coach Knute Rockne. They were the backfield of Notre Dame's 1924 football team...
) who ran an offensive scheme in which the quarterback had a limited role in the passing game. Fromhart's primary responsibilities on offense were as a blocker for the halfback, Bill Shakespeare
William Shakespeare (football)
William Valentine Shakespeare was an American football player. He played at the halfback position, and also handled punting, for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football teams from 1933 to 1935...
(who actually received the bulk of the snaps and passed the ball most often), as well as a key receiver, a place kicker and a punt returner. On defense, he played the safety position (Against arch-rivals USC, in 1935, he returned an interception for 82 yards, a statistic that still appears in the annual Notre Dame Football Media Guide). As a point of historical reference for college football aficionados, Fromhart was starting quarterback for Notre Dame in the 18-13 victory at undefeated Ohio State in 1935.
Though he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
in 1936
1936 NFL Draft
The 1936 National Football League Draft was the first draft of the National Football League. It took place on February 8, 1936 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and has taken place every year since. The draft was instituted in an effort to equalize strength amongst the...
, Fromhart chose instead to remain an additional year at Notre Dame to obtain teaching certification, during which time he also served as graduate assistant coach of the Fighting Irish freshman football team. Upon graduating Notre Dame, Fromhart accepted a position as head football coach for Mt. Carmel High School
Mount Carmel High School (Chicago)
Mount Carmel High School is an all boys, Catholic high school in the city of Chicago, Illinois. Located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, the school has been operated by the Carmelite order of priests and brothers since 1900...
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...
(1937–46), posting a 56-17-10 record, a Catholic League title and two city championships. During his coaching tenure at Mt. Carmel, Fromhart was called to serve in the US Navy as an armed guard officer in the US Merchant Marine (1944–45) in the Atlantic Theater of World War II.
A year after returning from the war, Fromhart accepted a head football coach position at Loras College
Loras College
Loras College is a four-year Catholic college located in Dubuque, Iowa, with a general attendance of approximately 1,700 students. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs...
(1947–50), in Dubuque, Iowa, where he posted a 29-9 record, including an undefeated season in 1947. During his coaching years at Loras, he also managed the Dubuque minor league baseball team. In 1951, he accepted a position as assistant coach at the University of Detroit
University of Detroit Mercy
University of Detroit Mercy is a private, Roman Catholic co-educational university in Detroit, Michigan, United States, affiliated with the Society of Jesus and the Sisters of Mercy. Antoine M. Garibaldi is the president. With origins dating from 1877, it is the largest Roman Catholic university...
under Earl "Dutch" Clark (1951–53), and succeeded Clark as head coach (1954–58). In the latter position, he posted an overall record of 19-25, won the Missouri Valley Conference title, and was named Catholic Coach of the Year. Fromhart ended his football coaching career in 1961 as head coach of the Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada . It is the largest city on Lake Huron and is located where the upper Great Lakes empty into the St. Clair River....
-based Sarnia Golden Bears, a semi-professional football team in the upstart American Football Conference for one season (the conference lasted only one year). With his eldest son (also Wally Fromhart) as assistant coach, he led the team to an undefeated 10-0 regular season record and one post-season win to claim the American Football Conference championship.
Wally Fromhart died in 2002 and is buried in South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
with his wife Donna Belle (Parvis) Fromhart.