Fred Vehmeier
Vehmeier at Illinois
Biographical details
Born(1888-07-28)July 28, 1888
Rock City, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJuly 13, 1970(1970-07-13) (aged 81)
Rockford, Illinois, U.S.
Playing career
1909–1910Beloit
1911Illinois (freshmen)
Position(s)End, tackle
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1912North Dakota
Head coaching record
Overall1–4

Frederick Eldon Vehmeier Jr. (July 28, 1888 – July 13, 1970) was an American college football player and coach. He played football at Beloit College and the University of Illinois and was selected as an all-state player at the end position in 1909. Vehmeier served as the head football coach at the University of North Dakota in 1912, compiling a record of 1–4.

Early life

Vehmeier was born July 28, 1888, in Rock City, Illinois.[1][2] He was a native of Dakota and attended high school in Dixon,[3] before playing college football at Beloit for two years.[4] He was a left end for Beloit but repeatedly got injured, including one injury in a 1909 game that nearly required an amputation.[5] Several papers referred to him as a "star" athlete.[4][6] At the end of the 1909 season, he was selected as a first-team all-state end by at least two Wisconsin sports writers.[7] One account described him as follows:

Vehmeier is doubtless the best end Beloit has had in many years. He was especially strong on defensive and in receiving forward passes, and he put his whole force into the game, regardless of consequences.[8]

Vehmeier later played freshman football as a tackle[9] and baseball at the University of Illinois in 1911.[10] He was still attending Illinois by 1912, despite his coaching career being at the same time.[10][11] Vehmeier was a well-known figure in local towns and cities.[4] He was hired as a traveling agent for International Harvester Company in June 1912.[12]

Coaching career

In October 1912, Vehmeier was named head football coach at the University of North Dakota (UND) in Grand Forks.[10][13] The Grand Forks Herald of October 5 stated that he was "one of the best football coaches in the United States," and described him as follows: "His name is not known in this part of the country, although he comes from back east, for he has coached and played with some of the best baseball and football teams that the University of Illinois ever turned out. Vehmeier arrived in Grand Forks last night. One-look at him and you will be convinced that he knows something about athletics. In build he is a regular bull moose, broad of shoulder, deep chested and husky limbed. Any candidate for the university football team who gets a bit sassy can count on a beating, if this new coach is the man he looks to be."[10]

When Vehmeier joined the team, they were said to have had a poor roster and many thought coaching them was "a hopeless task."[14] In the short time he had between his hiring and their first game, he was able to help develop a "strong team."[15][16] North Dakota lost their opener, against Hamline,[17] but were reported as getting "stronger each day" under Vehmeier's stiff practices.[18][19]

However, when North Dakota played their next game, they lost by 35 to Carleton, although a report from the Grand Forks Herald the next day stated that it was not Vehmeier's fault, writing "Ten million Vehmeier's [sic] could not have made North Dakota play Saturday. As many more Vehmeiers and a couple of bushels of Armstrongs could not have infused life into a dead body. The men who played against Carleton did not show the stuff that counts. With one or two exceptions they did not fight. They played an indifferent variety of football that sent chills down the spines of the boys who love their alma mater. Their attack was anaemic, weak and thin, and when they were guarding the yearned-for goal line, they were as feeble as a centenarian with the palsy."[20]

The North Dakota football team then went to play Macalester and Vehmeier said in the Wausau Daily Herald that he expected a big improvement from the team compared to their game against Carleton.[21] They ended up losing the match, 19–6.[17] A news report said that, "If the football rules can be so amended that Coach Vehmeier may be permitted to walk up and down the side lines, driving the university team with vitriolic words, there would be no doubt that the pink and green warriors would emerge from the contest victorious. But the football rules committee does not like that kind of playing, and consequently Mr. Vehmeier will have to be content with dragging his body up and down the field, biting savagely at the end of a big, black cigar."[22]

Excerpt from The Dacotah, the UND yearbook

...a special coach was hired, Vehmeier of the University of Illinois. He ... gradually whipped the team into shape, and by the time of the [North Dakota Agricultural] game could well be proud of his efforts. That game was an epoch-making game in the annals of U. N. D. We won, 3 to 0; but the mere winning is not the big thing, not the thing to be remembered. The college spirit that had long seemed slumbering, suddenly awoke and proved its existence and mighty powers... That day, November 6, 1912, was the most memorable day in our football history.

– Editors of The Dacotah[23]

Afterwards, UND returned home and played the North Dakota Agricultural Aggies, and won 3–0, in what ended up being their only win of the season as they finished soon after with a loss to South Dakota.[17] Despite finishing with a 1–4 record, Vehmeier's team was still named North Dakota state champions by way of their victory over North Dakota Agricultural.[14][24] The Grand Forks Herald wrote that he "deserves much credit for the way he coached his men."[14]

In at least one modern source about the North Dakota football program, he has been mistakenly referred to as John Vehmeier.[17]

Family and later years

Vehmeier returned to Illinois after the 1912 season,[14] and did not continue coaching UND afterwards.[17] In November 1915, Vehmeier was married at Waterloo, Iowa, to Bessie B. Leamon.[25] They had a son, George.[26] As of May 1916, Vehmeier was employed by the Honduras Land Company.[27] He later served in World War I.[2] In later years, he worked as a real estate agent.[26] Vehmeier's wife died in October 1969.[28] He died nine months later in July 1970 at St. Anthony Hospital in Rockford, Illinois, at age 81.[26][29]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
North Dakota Flickertails (Independent) (1912)
1912 North Dakota 1–4
North Dakota: 1–4
Total:1–4

References

  1. ↑ Iowa Department of Public Health; Des Moines, Iowa; Series Title: Iowa Marriage Records, 1880–1922; Record Type: Marriage
  2. 1 2 United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library microfilm.
  3. ↑ "Items of interest from the county". The Daily Journal. March 4, 1908. p. 2. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. 1 2 3 "Fred Vehmeier To Coach U. Of N. D. Foot Ball Team". Freeport Journal-Standard. October 9, 1912. p. 1. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ↑ "Sad Accident In The Beloit Game: Vehmeier, Beloit End, May Lose His Leg As Result Of Accident". The Post-Crescent. November 15, 1909. p. 1. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ↑ "City in brief". The Devils Lake World. October 11, 1912. p. 6. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  7. ↑ "Ripon and Beloit Athletic Writers Pick All State Teams". The Round Table. December 10, 1909. p. 92. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Captain Ebbott Views the Season's Record". The Round Table. December 10, 1909. p. 94. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Varsity wins first game with freshmen". The Daily Illini. October 1, 1911. p. 2. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Vehmeier Is New Coach At The University". Grand Forks Herald. October 5, 1912. p. 5. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  11. ↑ "Pockets Picked of $200 on Car". Chicago Tribune. November 17, 1912. p. 2. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  12. ↑ "Will Travel For Harvester Company". Freeport Daily Bulletin. June 11, 1912. p. 8. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Coach Vehemeier Here". The Daily Journal. November 29, 1912. p. 3. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  14. 1 2 3 4 "John Harris Is Elected Captain". Grand Forks Herald. November 13, 1912. p. 8. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  15. ↑ "Grand Forks To Go To Hamline". The Fargo Forum and Daily Republican. October 12, 1912. p. 8. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  16. ↑ Owen, Tudor (October 11, 1912). "University Off To Meet Hamline". Grand Forks Herald. p. 3. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 "2019 Football Media Guide" (PDF). North Dakota Fighting Hawks. 2019. p. 175. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 11, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  18. ↑ "University Team Is Picking Up". Grand Forks Herald. October 16, 1912. p. 3. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  19. ↑ Owen, Tudor (October 18, 1912). "Carleton Will Have No Snap". Grand Forks Herald. p. 3. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  20. ↑ Hank (October 21, 1912). "Carleton Has No Trouble Beating Filckertail Team". Grand Forks Herald. p. 3. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  21. ↑ "Expects Better Playing". Wausau Daily Herald. October 25, 1912. p. 2. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  22. ↑ "Gridiron gossip". Grand Forks Herald. October 31, 1912. p. 3. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  23. ↑ "1914 Dacotah: University of North Dakota". UND.edu. Retrieved September 6, 2023 – via Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections at UND Scholarly Commons.
  24. ↑ "North Dakota Football Media Guide". North Dakota Fighting Hawks. 2015. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  25. ↑ "Miss Bessie Leamon Married in Waterloo". The Lena Weekly Star. November 18, 1915. p. 1. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. 1 2 3 "Fred Vehmeier". Freeport Journal Standard. July 15, 1970. p. 10. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  27. ↑ "Sues For Support: Mrs. Bessie Vehmeier Files Separate Maintenance Bill". Freeport Daily Bulletin. May 13, 1916. p. 1. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ↑ "Mrs. Fred Vehmeier". Freeport Journal-Standard. October 23, 1969. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ↑ "Fred Vehmeier Passes Away". Monroe Evening Times. July 15, 1970. p. 14. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
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