Johnny Kitzmiller

John Wesley "Dutch" Kitzmiller (November 25, 1904 – April 26, 1986) was an American football player from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He played college football at the University of Oregon and was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.

This article is about the American football player. For the actor, see John Kitzmiller.
Johnny Kitzmiller
No. 40
Johnny Kitzmiller ("The Flying Dutchman") in 1930 with the Oregon Ducks
Born:(1904-11-25)November 25, 1904
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died:April 26, 1986(1986-04-26) (aged 81)
Dallas, Oregon, U.S.
Career information
Position(s)Fullback
Halfback
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight165 lb (75 kg)
CollegeOregon
Career history
As player
1931New York Giants
Career stats

College career

A halfback from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, he played on the 1925 Harrisburg Technical High School team and scored 21 points in their championship game.[1] Kitzmiller had planned to attend the United States Military Academy and play for coach John McEwan's football team. But, just as he was about to enroll, McEwan was hired as the coach of the University of Oregon Ducks and Kitzmiller followed him to Oregon.[2]

At Oregon, Kitzmiller led the team to national prominence, with the team winning 23 of 30 games,[3] including two losses suffered after Kitzmiller broke his leg in the 1929 Civil War.[4] In addition to halfback, Kitzmiller also played defensive back and placekicker, and twice earned all-Pacific Coast Conference honors.[3] His nickname "The Flying Dutchman" was from his spectacular tackles made though he weighed just 165 pounds (75 kg).[3]

After college

Kitzmiller played one season as a fullback with the New York Giants in 1931,[2] then returned to Oregon as an assistant coach from 1932 to 1935.[5] He served in the Army Air Force in India during World War II, returning to Oregon's Willamette Valley after the war to establish a manufacturing company.[2] He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1969,[2] the University of Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992,[3] and the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1980.[6]

Kitzmiller died in Oregon in 1986.

References
  1. Beers, Paul (2011). City contented, city discontented : a history of modern Harrisburg. Midtown Scholar Press. p. 139. ISBN 978-0-9839571-0-2. OCLC 761221337.
  2. "Johnny "Flying Dutchman" Kitzmiller". College Football Hall of Fame. Football Foundation. Retrieved 2007-08-06.
  3. "John Kitzmiller". GoDucks.com. Archived from the original on 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2007-08-06.
  4. "Oregon conquers Oregon State 16-0". New York Times. November 17, 1929. p. S4.
  5. "Ducks of the Past" (PDF). University of Oregon 2006 Football Guide. GoDucks.com. p. 181. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2007-08-06.
  6. "Hall of Fame Roll of Honor Members". Oregon Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
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