Walter D. Graham
Encyclopedia
Walter DeWitt "Octy" Graham (January 23, 1885 – July 14, 1927) was an American
football
player. He played for the University of Michigan
from 1904 to 1907 and was one of the leading players on the famed "Point-a-Minute" teams of 1904 and 1905.
reported that a "young Hercules" had been discovered in a Chicago high school:
Despite his size, Graham also won honors as a hurdler while in high school.
. He played at the guard
and tackle
positions for the Michigan Wolverines football
from 1904 to 1907. He was known by the nickname "Octy" due to his having a long reach like an octopus. After he scored three touchdowns in a 1905 game, the Chicago Daily Tribune wrote:
Graham also handled kicking duties for Michigan. As a senior in 1907, he kicked two field goals for Michigan's only points in an 8–0 win over Vanderbilt
. (Field goals counted for four points under 1907 rules.) After the victory over Vanderbilt, The Washington Post called Graham "a tenth of a ton Wolverine star" who "wins games for Michigan and saves his team from defeat."
The New York Times
later called Graham "one of Michigan's greatest football stars of Yost's famous 'point a minute' eleven."
Graham's first wife died in 1920, and in April 1921, Graham married Hazel Cady Chatterton of River Forest, Illinois
. The couple announced their plans to live in Kenilworth. They had four children, Walter D. Graham, Jr., William Graham, Virginia Graham, and Jeanne Graham.
Graham lived in River Forest in his later years. After developing a brain tumor, he underwent surgery at Chicago's Wesley Memorial Hospital in late May 1927. He showed signs of improvement in the days after the surgery, but he died at his home in River Forest less than two months later.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
football
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. He played for 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 1904 to 1907 and was one of the leading players on the famed "Point-a-Minute" teams of 1904 and 1905.
Early years
A native of Chicago, Graham attended the English High and Manual Training School and the North Division High School. In 1901, the Chicago Daily TribuneChicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
reported that a "young Hercules" had been discovered in a Chicago high school:
"HIGH SCHOOL BOY A MARVEL OF STRENGTH.
Walter D. Graham is the young Hercules in strength discovered among the Chicago high school boys who aspire to become heroes of the gridiron. ... Medical inspectors of the Board of Education had been making physical examinations of ambitious punters to see whether their constitutions were rugged enough to withstand the vigorous tactics of football. After over a hundred applicants had been put through a series of tests the examiners were astonished to be confronted, who gave his age as 16 years and his weight at 218 pounds. In normal condition his chest measure is 41½ inches, and in expansion he stretches the tape to 44 inches. His height is 5 feet 6 inches. His flesh and muscles are as solid as bands of steel. The gripping machines did not register high enough to show his strength. ... It is unnecessary to add that Graham was declared fit to stand any hardship known on the gridiron."
Despite his size, Graham also won honors as a hurdler while in high school.
University of Michigan
After graduating from high school, Graham enrolled at the University of MichiganUniversity 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...
. He played 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....
and 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....
positions for the Michigan Wolverines football
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
from 1904 to 1907. He was known by the nickname "Octy" due to his having a long reach like an octopus. After he scored three touchdowns in a 1905 game, the Chicago Daily Tribune wrote:
"'Octy' Graham was allowed to carry the ball and he scored three touchdowns. Moreover he carried the ball repeatedly on sprints in which he broke away from the entire field for several yards. At other times he was down under punts like a shot out of a gun. The cheering for 'Octy' was prolonged: 'Rah for Octy, Michigan's EckersallWalter EckersallWalter "Eckie" Eckersall was an American football player, official, and sportswriter for the Chicago Tribune. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.-Early life:...
'"
Graham also handled kicking duties for Michigan. As a senior in 1907, he kicked two field goals for Michigan's only points in an 8–0 win over Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt Commodores football
The Vanderbilt Commodores football program is a college football team that represents Vanderbilt University. The team currently competes in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Southeastern Conference...
. (Field goals counted for four points under 1907 rules.) After the victory over Vanderbilt, The Washington Post called Graham "a tenth of a ton Wolverine star" who "wins games for Michigan and saves his team from defeat."
The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
later called Graham "one of Michigan's greatest football stars of Yost's famous 'point a minute' eleven."
Family and later years
Graham was married in October 1911 to Emma Lutilla Freaser at the La Salle Hotel; they took their honeymoon trip to Cuba and Mexico. They had two children, Walter D. Graham, Jr., and Virginia Graham. In his draft registration submitted in 1918, Graham stated that he was a resident of Chicago and the President of the Mutual Cigar Co.Graham's first wife died in 1920, and in April 1921, Graham married Hazel Cady Chatterton of River Forest, Illinois
River Forest, Illinois
River Forest is a suburban village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Two universities make their home in River Forest, Dominican University and Concordia University Chicago. The village is closely tied to the larger neighboring community of Oak Park, Illinois. There are significant...
. The couple announced their plans to live in Kenilworth. They had four children, Walter D. Graham, Jr., William Graham, Virginia Graham, and Jeanne Graham.
Graham lived in River Forest in his later years. After developing a brain tumor, he underwent surgery at Chicago's Wesley Memorial Hospital in late May 1927. He showed signs of improvement in the days after the surgery, but he died at his home in River Forest less than two months later.