Lt. Col. Tom "Trop" Trapnell-a great athlete, a greater soldier. He knew the real meaning of courage. By Joe Cahill EARLY two decade have elap ed ince the esca· Probably Trapnell's greate t grid performance was N pade of Tom "Trap" Trapnell captivated the put on before the 110,000 people ,, ho jammed Chi­ heart of the football world. but today Lieutenant cago's oldiers' Field in 1926 to watch Army and Colonel Thomas John Hall Trapnell is playing in a avy battle to a 21-21 tie in that never-to-be-forgolten bigger, more serious game and is putting all that he classic. ha into it. Trapnell was born in Yonkers. ew York, on ovem­ The Japs will long remember Trapnell, too. For, in ber 23, 1902, and began making football hi tory in the early months of the war, he won the Di tinguished the Mount Hebron Grammar School in Upper Mont­ ervice Cro "For extraordinary heroism in action at clair, ew Jersey. He learned early to face the odds Ro ario, La Union, Philippine I lands, on December without flinching. His grandfather, Joseph Trapnell, a 22. 194.l. During a concentrated fire from enemy tanks tru tee of Epi copal High chool, Alexandria, Vir­ and infantry at close range again t the rear guard of ginia, got him a partial cholar hip when he was ready the 26th Cavalry, 1ajor Trapnell, with one other offi­ for econdary school. During the e youthful days cer, with total di regard of his per onal safely, re­ at Episcopal, "Trap" was an out landing member of mained between lhe hoslile troops and his own force, the chool's track, basketball, !aero e and football set fire to a truck placed on a bridge, and remained aggregations and captained the eleven in his third at the bridge exposed to enemy fire until ati fied that year. It was during the e early years of school that the bridge was in flame . Subsequently, Major Trap­ Tom was induced to plan to become an Epi copal nell. obtaining a scout car, moved slowly with the mini ter and follow in the footstep of his great­ rear-most elements of the 26th Cavalry, picking up grandfather. grandfather, and two uncle , all of whom the wounded. and collecting and giving orders to trag· were mini ters. But Trapnell's family both on his glers. By his heroic actions, Major Trapnell pre­ father· and on his mother's side were al o predomi­ vented unhindered pur uit by the ho Lile tank , saved nantly military and erved a rebel troopers in the the live of a number of wounded, collecLed many Civil War. tragp:lers and et an inspiring example of courage for the entire regiment." :\Iajor Charley D. Daly, football player and Army oach immortal, was the man who influenced Trapnell ix month later Colonel Trapnell was reported mis · to try for an a1Jpoinlment lo the nited tates Mili­ ing in action and later he wa reported to be a pris­ tary Academy and uh equently devote hi life in the oner of war of the Japane e Government. WHETHER you ar Ii. t ning to exc1tmg Lorie of far away lands i::en·ice of hi country. But "Trap" ucceeded only in getting an alternate appointment the first year and The DSC wa awarded "Trap· by General Douglas or neaking a nap afLer dinner, ) ou will find LhaL a Scott Lawn went lo "ork for his brother Joe, who wa a port i\1acArthur, who aid: '·He matched his brilliant grid­ steward and purcha in g agent for the Baltimore team­ iron career with outstanding exploit on the battle· provid a tling thaL' hard Lo heat * * e, L pring treat your ship Company. On this job young Tom ailed the field." high seas a an ordinary seaman, making the majority yard Lo coll Seed ancl Turf Builder. Own an outdoor Jiving-room of hi trip lo the Caribbean area. Dack in 1927 when Trapnell graduated. one of his the entire family can enjo * ,:, If your dealer can't upply you write Tom Trapnell did not want to be a eaman any more cla males \ role in the HOWITZER the Academy than he "anted to be a mini ler and o tried once yearbook: "For the clas and for the cademy he has again for an appointment lo West Point. This time he been a zealous worker. hut toward hi own advance­ 1. COTT AD 0 COMP , MARY ILLE, OHIO Tr' rite for a /reP .sub.~cription pas. ed the competitive examination wilh impressive ment he ha taken a nonchalant attitude-the altitude to Lawn ('ore. These b11l· grades and won the appointment. of the truly un elfish comrade-in-arms. He is one who leti11s aro chock-full of bet· thinks first, act quickly and wisely, and of whom it ter lawn recipes. At the Iii itary Academy "Trap" was a congenial fel­ can never be said Lhat he b a t ." low. a great athlele and a hard efficient worker. He turned oul for football and lacro e and slarred in ''Trap's" fate is a my tery. It i not definitely known both port . Hi rating a a cholar was Phi Beta whether he i a prisoner or whether he ha given his SEED ancl lURE BUILDER ... THE~~ Kappa and he wa elected pre ident of his class for life in the defen e of his country. But we do know the three final year at the Academy. that he i a hero. P-ROV.EN COMBINATION FOR BEAUTIFUL L~WNS 12,816 NOVEMBER 25, 1944 MICHIGAN - OHIO STATE Wilbur E. Snypp, Editor • 256 William A. Woodruff, Advertising Manager • William S. Guthrie, Circulation Manager DEAD Football Pays Dividends In Bottle............................ ········ 1 Ohio State Service Record................................................ 2 L. W. St. John ................................ ································ 4 66 Message to The Alumni.................................................. 5 Carroll C. Widdoes ................................ ························ 6 H. 0. Crisler .................................................................... 1 MISSING Michigan Coaches and Squad ................................ ·········· 8 Corl Steeb ................................................................... .. 9 Ohi:, Squad and Coaching Stoff. ........... ____ ...................... 10 .56 Down to See In Aisle Seots .............................................. 11 Michigan, Homecoming Visitor ........................................ 12 Ohio Scores of 1943 ........................................................ 16 PRISONER Ohio Ployers ................................................ 14, 30, 37, 41 Ohio Roster (Alphabetically ) .... ···································· 18 Ohio Ploying Numbers ( Numerically) .............................. 20 Michigan Ploying Numbers (Numerically) ...................... 25 ~~~~~g~nF!~:t~~--::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.·.·.·.·.·.:·.-_::~~ Dr. W. E. Duffee and " Ernie" Biggs ................................ 33 Michigan Players .............................................. 3 5, 39, 43 Ohio Scores of 1944 ........................................................ 36 Ohio Basketball Schedule................................................. 38 Lost Ohio Scores with 1944 Opponents ............................ 40 Songs and Yells .............................................................. 42 Notional Advertising Representative THE DON SPENCER CO., INC. 271 Madison Ave. New York City 3 2 (1 ]JJ ]Juz 01umni HOW ARD L. BE VIS President, Ohio State University OMECOMING is an occasion to which the University looks forward ~ach year. It's the time H for reminiscences and renewal of old acquaintances, helping to keep green the memories of student days at Ohio State. Usually our thoughts at Homecoming are of the past. This year, more than ever before, our minds turn to that bigger Homecoming in the future, when we will have with us again large numbers of those 13,000 Ohio Staters now in the service of their country. Today we are thinking of them-ju t as we know many of them are thinking of us and longing for the time when they may return home to peaceful scenes such as this. L. W. ST JOHN For their Homecoming, Ohio State is making careful plans-for staff, curricula, and build­ Director of A thletics ings which will help our service men and women to resume their studies and speed their preparation O hio S tate University for peacetime pursuits. "\Ve are always happy to have our friendly rivals from the University of Michigan here to share our Homecoming. The traditional athletic competition between these two great universities is one of the most outstanding in the annals of intercollegiate sports. To all of you who are with us today, whether your sympathies be with the Maize and Blue or the Scarlet and G ray, we bid a cordial welcome! HOWARD L. BEVIS, President. 4 5 H . 0 . ( FRITZ ) CRISLER CARROLL C . WIDDOES Director of Athletics Acting Head Coach Head Football Cooch Ohio State University University of Michigan 6 7 MICHIGAN COACHING ST AF F have kept so much in the background in doing it. early every major q1mpus enterprise has had the bene.fic of his wise counsel and sound common sense . The campus as a whole, in fact, is a monument to his farsighted devotion to the University's cause. This is particularly true of the expansion of the Univer­ sity estate. In the two score years since he became secretary of the Board, he has been conspicuously succe sful in dealing with the public, with state officials, with stwlents, faculty, alumni and other groups. His suc­ cess is a tribute to the sound foundation he built and to his own integrity and tact. Mr. Steeb was an early friend of varsity athletics. During the pre-Big Ten days he was a member of Left to right: Arthur Valpey, junior varsity; Earl Martineau, backfield; H. 0. Crisler, head coach; Clar-· the Athletic Board and had a large hand in the ence Munn, line; Benny Oosterbaan, ends. development of old Ohio Field. When the Stadium campaign came along, he was naturally chosen treas­ MICHIGAN FOOTBALL SQUAD urer of the Stadium Fund which netted more than a million dollars. He has been similarly active in other major campus enterprises. One activity close to his heart is the Business Manager Ohio Union, on whose board of overseers he has been since its founding in 1910.