George H. Large

George Hall Large (December 1, 1850 – August 15, 1939) was an American lawyer and Republican Party politician who served as President of the New Jersey Senate. He was also the longest surviving participant in the first ever college football game in 1869.

Large was born in 1850 in the Whitehouse Station section of Readington Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, the son of John K. and Eliza (Hall) Large. He was tutored at local schools before attending Rutgers College.

On November 6, 1869, Large was one of 25 Rutgers players to face The College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in the first intercollegiate football game ever played, at College Field in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Midway through the game, Large collided with Princeton player J.E. Michael, known as "Big Mike." Large was knocked unconscious but was revived after several minutes. Rutgers went on to win the game by a score of 6-4.

At Rutgers, Large was also associate editor of The Targum. He graduated in 1872.

After graduating from Rutgers, Large read law and was admitted to the New Jersey bar in 1875. He first practiced law with his brother-in-law John N. Voorhees in Flemington and then opened his own law office in 1882.

In 1885, Large ran successfully for the New Jersey Senate on the Republican ticket. He was the first Republican elected to the State Senate from traditionally Democratic Hunterdon County. In 1888, he was selected as Senate President, and he served as acting governor when Governor Robert S. Green was out of the state.

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