Rutgers University - Scarlet Letter Yearbook (Newark, NJ)

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Holm P. Tooloey, '15 John Peter Toohey, '15, stands out among Rutgers athletes as perhaps the only man in the history of the Univer- sity who played five years on the foot- ball team as an undergraduate. He first wore the Scarlet on the gridiron in 1910, playing tackle. He was a reg- ular on the squad for the next four years and was chosen captain in his senior year. Toohey was mentioned for all-American honors, he was an ideal tackle, big, tangy and powerful. He was one of the key members in one of the greatest collections of linemen ever to represent Rutgers at one time. Among the other stars in that group were Head Coach Rockafeller and Tal- man. He is considered by students of Rutgers football as the greatest tackle ever to wear the Scarlet. In addition to his prowess as a football player, Toohey won renown in other sports. Deceased, 1916. xjolm De Witt, '86 John De Witt, '86, stands out as one of the greatest hgures in the early athletic history of Rutgers. He was one of the few men in the annals of Old Queens to captain two varsity teams. He was captain and stellar half- back on the football squad and shortstop and leader of the baseball teatn. Ac- cording to a classmate, De Witt was also a talented hockey and tennis player. He, perhaps, saw more service in a Scarlet jersey than any other man who ever represented Rutgers, for after grad- uating as a member of Phi Beta Kappa, De Witt returned as an instructor and, according to the rules of the time, was eligible to play. His team is famous for its accomplishment in piling up a larger score against the powerful Yale eleven, the champions of the era, than any other team had been able to for several years. 'V Deceased, October 8, 1927.

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Roasrrs Edwin Bogert Roberts, '28 Edwin Bogert Roberts, '28, is one of the best all-round athletes ever to have been developed at Rutgers. Eddie's athletic prowess was very slight upon entering college, and his fame was hardly greater at the end of his first year, for he had failed to make any of the freshman teams. But how he made up for it later! His develo ment was extremely rapid, so that his iilnal record was very creditable. He was, without doubt, one of the best forwards any Rutgers basketball team has ever had. His cool, collected attitude on the court characterized him to perfection. In lacrosse he was absolutely nonchalant, but was a pillar of strength. In his junior year he was on the second all- American team, and in his senior year, during which he was captain, he was adjudged one of the best stick wielders in the country. In his senior year Eddie decided to make a try at football. His success may be determined by looking up the records. Here one will End him mentioned as one of the stars of the 1927 season. Elmer Gladstone Bracber, 'I 8 To the men in college now, the World War seems an abstract some- thing that they heard a lot about in their very early teens. It is hard to realize that men left college and even high school in order to enter into that great struggle. One of the men who certainly deserves a place in Rutgers' Athletic Hall of Fame left college at the end of his junior year and joined the United States Infantry. Toady Bracher did about as much for Rutgers in an athletic way during the three years that he was down here as any man possibly could. He played baseball and basketball along with the squad, and was a halfback on the foot- ball team. He played in the good old days when Rutgers was right at the top in every line of athletic activity. Bracher was also a bright light socially. He was on both the Sopho- more Hop and Junior Prom committees and was all lined up for Cap and Skull. It is unfortunate that the War cut short such a promising career.

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1 . Henry Marvin Benkert, '25 Henry Marvin Benkert, '25, will go down in Rutgers athletic annals as one of the finest athletes ever to wear the Scarlet in intercollegiate competition. His renown as a football player has, to some extent, dimmed his achievements in other branches of sports, but V Heinie Benkert was a stellar player on two other Rutgers teams, As a half- back on the 1923 and 1924 elevens he was a vital factor in the success of two of the Scarlet's greatest football teams. In 1923 Benkert was named at halfback on the second all-American team and, in the following year, he led the East in scoring to wind up four years of varsity football. Heinie made the lacrosse team in his sophomore year, played three years as a regular, and was chosen for the second all-American team in this sport also. After cap- taining the freshman basketball team, Benkert was a regular varsity guard in his last two years. He also was a mem- ber of the baseball squad, although he never won a varsity letter in this sport. Harry los. Rockrzfeller, '16 Harry J. Rockafeller, '16, holds a unique position in Rutgers athletics as the only alumnus now coaching a varsity team. Rocky has been graduate manager of athletics since 1925 and varsity football coach since 1927. He is to coach the Scarlet eleven this fall. His college record is ample proof of his capability for the post. He was a regular end on the varsity football team for four years, from 1912 to 1915, win- ning all-Arnerican honors in his senior year. He filled a regular guard posi- tion on the basketball team during his last three years in college. A varsity award as a weight thrower on the track team in 1914 gave Rocky a position among the Scarlet athletic elite, the three letter men. I-Ie was senior presi- dent of his class and vice-president dur- ing his sophomore year. Rocky served on the 1916 Scartuzr Lnrraa staff as athletic editor. During his undergrad- uate days, each class had an honorary society, and Coach Rockafeller was a member of all of the clubs.