George Stephens (American football)

George Erwin Gullett Stephens (April 8, 1873 – April 1, 1946) was a college football player. He caught the first forward pass in the history of the sport. He was later a journalist who also sold insurance and real estate.[1]

George Stephens
Born(1873-04-08)April 8, 1873
Summerfield, North Carolina
DiedApril 1, 1946(1946-04-01) (aged 72)
Asheville, North Carolina
OccupationJournalist
Known forMyers Park
College football career
North Carolina Tar Heels
PositionHalfback
Class1896
Personal information
Weight154 lb (70 kg)
Career history
CollegeNorth Carolina (1894–1895)
Career highlights and awards

University of North Carolina

He was a prominent running back for the North Carolina Tar Heels football team of the University of North Carolina. He was selected third-team for an all-time Carolina football team of Dr. R. B. Lawson in 1934.[2] Joel Whitaker selected him first-team for his all-time UNC squad.[3]

1895

It is thought that the first forward pass in football occurred on October 26, 1895 in a game between Georgia and North Carolina when, out of desperation, the ball was thrown by the North Carolina back Joel Whitaker instead of punted. Stephens caught the ball and ran 70 yards for a touchdown.[4] He was selected All-Southern.[5]

Myers Park

Stephens was much involved in the expansion of Myers Park.[6][7]

Journalist

He was joint president and publisher of the Charlotte Observer and joint owner and publisher of the Asheville Citizen.[1]

References
  1. "George Erwin Gullett Stephens Papers, 1884-1988".
  2. "All-Time Carolina Football Team Selected". Carolina Alumni Review. 22 (6): 168. March 1934.
  3. Kemp Plummer Battle (1912). History of the University of North Carolina. p. 752.
  4. "Tarheels Credited With Throwing First Forward Pass". Tar Heel Times. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  5. "[No title]". The Daily Tar Heel. April 18, 1896. p. 4. Retrieved March 14, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  6. John Nolen (2005). New Towns For Old. p. lxxxvii. ISBN 9781558494800.
  7. Alexia Jones Helsley (2007). A Guide to Historic Henderson County, North Carolina. p. 89. ISBN 9781596292758 – via Google books. open access
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