William Boddington
Encyclopedia
William Westcott Boddington (November 22, 1910 – November 15, 1996) was an American
field hockey
player who competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics
and 1936 Summer Olympics
.
In 1932 he was a member of the American field hockey team, which won the bronze medal. He played two matches as forward. His goal for the United States in the 1932 match against India was the first goal given up by India in six Olympic competitions. Four years later he was a member of the American field hockey team, which lost all three matches in the preliminary round in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany and did not advance. He played three matches as forward. Adolf Hitler
signed his visa. Following World War II
, Boddington continued his love of sports by coaching soccer at Colorado College
. In 1990 he was recognized as the “Father” of Colorado College soccer. In 1995 he was among the first group of athletes to be inducted into the Colorado College Athletic Hall of Fame.
He was born in Jersey City, New Jersey
and died in Colorado Springs, Colorado
after having built a successful career in the lumber industry. He died on November 15, 1996, and he is survived by his sons, John and Tim. Boddington served in the United States Army
from 1941 to 1945. He joined the 10th Mountain Division
in 1942 and remained with the Division until 1945. During the Division’s training at Camp Hale
, Colorado, he commanded A of the 86th Regiment. The United States Army awarded him the Bronze Star for his valor while serving with the 10th Mountain Division in the Italian Campaign
.
Boddington’s passion for the 10th Mountain Division continued throughout his life. As one of the founders of the Tenth Mountain Division Foundation, he served as President and President Emeritus. He also dedicated time to community service. He was trustee of the Colorado Springs School and a trustee of the Colorado Springs School Foundation. He also served as a Trustee of the 10th Mountain Division Trail Hut System. He served on the Board of the Colorado Opera Festival and was an early founder of the SOXY program in Colorado Springs. In 1987 he was the honoree of the Mountain States Retail Lumber Association, of which only 14 other men have received a Life Membership by this Association.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
field hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
player who competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations...
and 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
.
In 1932 he was a member of the American field hockey team, which won the bronze medal. He played two matches as forward. His goal for the United States in the 1932 match against India was the first goal given up by India in six Olympic competitions. Four years later he was a member of the American field hockey team, which lost all three matches in the preliminary round in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany and did not advance. He played three matches as forward. Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
signed his visa. Following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Boddington continued his love of sports by coaching soccer at Colorado College
Colorado College
The Colorado College is a private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It was founded in 1874 by Thomas Nelson Haskell...
. In 1990 he was recognized as the “Father” of Colorado College soccer. In 1995 he was among the first group of athletes to be inducted into the Colorado College Athletic Hall of Fame.
He was born in Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
and died in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
after having built a successful career in the lumber industry. He died on November 15, 1996, and he is survived by his sons, John and Tim. Boddington served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1941 to 1945. He joined the 10th Mountain Division
10th Mountain Division
The 10th Mountain Division is a light infantry division of the United States Army based at Fort Drum, New York. It is a subordinate unit of the XVIII Airborne Corps and the only division-sized element of the U.S. Army to specialize in fighting under harsh terrain and weather conditions...
in 1942 and remained with the Division until 1945. During the Division’s training at Camp Hale
Camp Hale
Camp Hale, between Red Cliff and Leadville in the Eagle River valley in Colorado, was a U.S. Army training facility constructed in 1942 for what became the 10th Mountain Division. It was named for General Irving Hale....
, Colorado, he commanded A of the 86th Regiment. The United States Army awarded him the Bronze Star for his valor while serving with the 10th Mountain Division in the Italian Campaign
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
.
Boddington’s passion for the 10th Mountain Division continued throughout his life. As one of the founders of the Tenth Mountain Division Foundation, he served as President and President Emeritus. He also dedicated time to community service. He was trustee of the Colorado Springs School and a trustee of the Colorado Springs School Foundation. He also served as a Trustee of the 10th Mountain Division Trail Hut System. He served on the Board of the Colorado Opera Festival and was an early founder of the SOXY program in Colorado Springs. In 1987 he was the honoree of the Mountain States Retail Lumber Association, of which only 14 other men have received a Life Membership by this Association.