Wilbur Henry
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| Position: | Tackle |
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| Personal information | |
| Date of birth: | October 31, 1897 |
| Place of birth: | Mansfield, Ohio |
| Date of death: | February 7, 1952 (aged 54) |
| Place of death: | Washington, Pennsylvania |
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Weight: | 245 lb (111 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Mansfield (OH) |
| College: | Washington & Jefferson |
| Career history | |
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| As coach: | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Head coaching record | |
| Regular season: | 3–17–3 (.196) |
| Player stats at PFR | |
| Coaching stats at PFR | |
Wilbur Francis "Pete" Henry (October 31, 1897 – February 7, 1952) was an American professional football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL). He later worked for more than 20 years as athletic director and occasional football coach at Washington & Jefferson College, his alma mater.
Henry attended Washington & Jefferson College, where he played for the Washington & Jefferson Presidents football team. He was recognized as a first-term All-American at tackle in 1917, and a consensus All-American in 1918 and 1919. In 1919, the reigning national champion Pittsburgh Panthers argued that Henry was an ineligible college player and refused to play against him. A gentleman's agreement among all college teams generally allowed players, like Henry, whose 1918 seasons were cut short by mandatory training for World War I to play. In fact, Pitt played several other teams with similarly situated players on several teams without complaint. The Panthers' stand caused an outcry among the local press and the Pitt alumni, but Henry agreed to sit out the game. In the end, Pitt won the game 7–6. In his later years, Henry was not one to keep souvenirs, but he did keep the program from that game.
Henry signed with the Canton Bulldogs on September 17, 1920. During the 1922 season while playing primarily offensive tackle with Canton, Henry, playing alongside Link Lyman and Guy Chamberlin, helped make Canton the first true powerhouse team of professional football, with a 10–0–2 record.
Despite his size and abilities at blocking, Henry was also considered one of the greatest kickers of his era. Statistics for kicks were imprecise at best during that time, however one accurate statistic was that of a 45-yard drop kick field goal kicked by Henry on December 10, 1922. He set a professional football record with that kick that stood for twelve years. Many claimed that both Jim Thorpe and Paddy Driscoll had beaten that record, both supposedly drop-kicking field goals at 50 yards. Driscoll was alleged to have kicked two from 50 yards in one game on September 28, 1924. However, these claims could not be supported by any verifiable records. Henry was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963.
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