William F. Borgmann
Encyclopedia
William F. "Bill" Borgmann (May 18, 1913 – November 2, 2003) was an American football
player and coach and businessman. He was a lineman for the undefeated national champion
1932
and 1933 Michigan Wolverines football team
s and a line-mate of future President Gerald Ford
on the 1934 team
. He was also an assistant football coach on Michigan's 1935 team
.
where he played football and basketball and received the Guild Trophy as the outstanding scholar-athlete of his graduating class.
where he played at the guard
position on the undefeated national champion
1932
and 1933 Michigan Wolverines football team
s. He was also a teammate of Gerald Ford
, both playing in the line, for the 1934 Michigan Wolverines football team
. In October 1934, Georgia Tech
football coach and athletic director W. A. "Bill" Alexander refused to allow his team to take the field if Willis Ward
, an African-American player, took the field for Michigan. Ford, Borgmann and others protested when the administration decided to pull Ward from the game. Ford later recalled that, during the game, a Georgia Tech lineman taunted, "Where's your black player?" According to Ford, three plays later, the player making the taunt was hit simultaneously by Borgmann and Ford and had to be carried off the field on a stretcher.
After receiving his bachelor's degree in 1935, Borgmann enrolled at the University of Michigan Law School
where he received his LL.B. degree in 1938. He served as an assistant football coach under Michigan head coach Harry G. Kipke
during the 1935 football season
.
, he served in the U.S. military in the European Theater of Operations
.
After the war, Borgmann worked for the Lincoln National Life Insurance Company
and later for Central Soya Company. He retired in 1978 and moved to Savannah, Georgia
. Borgmann also served as a football official for the Big Ten Conference
for 20 years.
Borgmann died in 2003 at the Spanish Oaks Retreat in Savannah. He was age 90 at the time of his death. He was survived by his wife of 63 years, Helen Louise Borgmann, a daughter, Suellen B. Craig, and three sons, William F. Borgmann, Jr., Daniel J. Borgmann, and Thomas A. Borgmann.
Borgmann and Gerald Ford remained friends throughout their lives. Upon Borgmann's passing, Ford wrote a handwritten condolence letter to his widow, Helen. The letter said, in part: "Bill was a long time, very dear friend. A wonderful team-mate at Michigan. We had a great relationship. You should be very proud of his record at Michigan. I treasured his friendship and will forever recall our times together at Michigan."
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 and businessman. He was a lineman for the undefeated national champion
NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship
A college football national championship in the highest level of collegiate play in the United States, currently the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , is a designation awarded annually by various third-party organizations to their selection of the best...
1932
1933 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1933 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1933 college football season. The team's head football coach was Harry Kipke...
and 1933 Michigan Wolverines football team
1933 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1933 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1933 college football season. The team's head football coach was Harry Kipke...
s and a line-mate of future President Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
on the 1934 team
1934 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1934 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1934 college football season. The team's head coach was Harry G. Kipke...
. He was also an assistant football coach on Michigan's 1935 team
1935 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1935 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1935 college football season. The team's head coach was Harry G. Kipke...
.
Early years
Borgmann was born in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, in 1913 as the only child of Walter and Pauline (Doenges) Borgmann. He attended North Side High SchoolNorth Side High School (Fort Wayne, Indiana)
North Side High School is a secondary school in the Fort Wayne Community Schools system, serving the north central neighborhoods of Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States.- History :...
where he played football and basketball and received the Guild Trophy as the outstanding scholar-athlete of his graduating class.
University of Michigan
Borgmann 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...
where 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....
position on the undefeated national champion
NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship
A college football national championship in the highest level of collegiate play in the United States, currently the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , is a designation awarded annually by various third-party organizations to their selection of the best...
1932
1933 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1933 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1933 college football season. The team's head football coach was Harry Kipke...
and 1933 Michigan Wolverines football team
1933 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1933 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1933 college football season. The team's head football coach was Harry Kipke...
s. He was also a teammate of Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
, both playing in the line, for the 1934 Michigan Wolverines football team
1934 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1934 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1934 college football season. The team's head coach was Harry G. Kipke...
. In October 1934, Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represents the Georgia Institute of Technology in collegiate level football. While the team is officially designated as the Yellow Jackets, it is also referred to as the Ramblin' Wreck. The Yellow Jackets are a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
football coach and athletic director W. A. "Bill" Alexander refused to allow his team to take the field if Willis Ward
Willis Ward
Willis F. Ward was a track and field athlete and American football player who was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor in 1981....
, an African-American player, took the field for Michigan. Ford, Borgmann and others protested when the administration decided to pull Ward from the game. Ford later recalled that, during the game, a Georgia Tech lineman taunted, "Where's your black player?" According to Ford, three plays later, the player making the taunt was hit simultaneously by Borgmann and Ford and had to be carried off the field on a stretcher.
After receiving his bachelor's degree in 1935, Borgmann enrolled at the University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
where he received his LL.B. degree in 1938. He served as an assistant football coach under Michigan head coach Harry G. Kipke
Harry G. Kipke
Harry George Kipke was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach. He was the head football coach at Michigan State College in 1928 and at the University of Michigan from 1929–1937, compiling a career record of 49–30–5...
during the 1935 football season
1935 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1935 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1935 college football season. The team's head coach was Harry G. Kipke...
.
Later years
After receiving his law degree, Borgmann returned to Ft. Wayne, Indiana. During World War IIWorld 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...
, he served in the U.S. military in the European Theater of Operations
European Theater of Operations
The European Theater of Operations, United States Army was a United States Army formation which directed U.S. Army operations in parts of Europe from 1942 to 1945. It referred to Army Ground Forces, United States Army Air Forces, and Army Service Forces operations north of Italy and the...
.
After the war, Borgmann worked for the Lincoln National Life Insurance Company
Lincoln National Corporation
Lincoln National Corporation is a Fortune 200 American holding company, which operates multiple insurance and investment management businesses through subsidiary companies...
and later for Central Soya Company. He retired in 1978 and moved to Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
. Borgmann also served as a football official for the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
for 20 years.
Borgmann died in 2003 at the Spanish Oaks Retreat in Savannah. He was age 90 at the time of his death. He was survived by his wife of 63 years, Helen Louise Borgmann, a daughter, Suellen B. Craig, and three sons, William F. Borgmann, Jr., Daniel J. Borgmann, and Thomas A. Borgmann.
Borgmann and Gerald Ford remained friends throughout their lives. Upon Borgmann's passing, Ford wrote a handwritten condolence letter to his widow, Helen. The letter said, in part: "Bill was a long time, very dear friend. A wonderful team-mate at Michigan. We had a great relationship. You should be very proud of his record at Michigan. I treasured his friendship and will forever recall our times together at Michigan."