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Joseph W. Brooks

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For other people named Joseph Brooks, see Joseph Brooks (disambiguation).

Joseph W. Brooks
Brooks in 1918
Biographical details
Born(1891-07-17)July 17, 1891
Denver, Colorado, U.S.
DiedNovember 27, 1953(1953-11-27) (aged 62)
New York, New York, U.S.
Playing career
1909–1910Williams
1912–1914Colgate
Position(s)Tackle
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1915Colgate (assistant)
1916Williams
1919–1920Williams
1921Columbia (assistant)
Head coaching record
Overall15–7–2
Military career
Service / branchU.S. Army (1917–1918)
Office of Strategic Services
Unit42nd Division (1917–1918)
Battles / wars

Joseph W. Brooks (July 7, 1891 – November 27, 1953) was an American college football player and coach. He played for Williams College and Colgate University from 1909 to 1914. He was the head football coach at Williams College in 1916, 1919 and 1920. He served in the United States Army during World War I and in the Office of Strategic Services during World War II.

Early life

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Joseph W. Brooks was born to Belvedere Brooks. His family was from the southern United States and both of his grandfathers served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War.[1]

Brooks played college football at the tackle position and place kicker for Williams College from 1909 to 1910 and for Colgate University from 1912 to 1914. He kicked four placement goals in a 1913 game against Syracuse University and was selected as an All-Eastern player.[2] The New York Times called him "a great placement goal kicker" and "one of the greatest offensive tackles of the country."[2]

Coaching career and World War I

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After graduating from Colgate in 1915, he remained there as an assistant football coach in the 1915.[2] In 1916, he coached the Williams College football team.[3]

In January 1917, Brooks was ruled ineligible to play amateur hockey for the Irish-American Athletic Club in the American Amateur Hockey League due to his having served as a coach at Williams College in 1916.[4]

After the United States entered World War I in the spring of 1917, Brooks served in France with the United States Army as a captain with the 150th Machine Gun Battalion of the 42nd Division.[2] He served in the Battles of Château-Thierry and Saint-Mihiel.[1]

After being discharged from the military, Brooks returned to his position as the head football coach at Williams College.[5] He was the head coach at Williams for the 1916, 1919 and 1920 seasons.[2][6]

In December 1920, Brooks announced that he would spend the 1921 football season as an assistant football coach for Columbia University.[2]

Later career

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In 1934, Brooks was on the national squash tennis doubles championship team.[1] He was turned down for enlistment in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. He then served as a pilot in the Canadian Air Force navigator's school. He was commissioned as a lieutenant colonel under William J. Donovan's Office of Strategic Services and conducted secret missions in Europe.[1]

Brooks was president of Brooks & Kupillas, an insurance broker on East 42nd Street in Manhattan.

Personal life

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On January 1, 1921, Brooks' brother, George Bruce Brooks (also a football player for Williams College), shot Julian Dick at a New Year's party in New York City. Brooks donated blood for a transfusion, but the shooting victim died.[7]

In October 1931, Brooks survived an airplane crash in South Bend, Indiana, shortly after becoming engaged to Alicia Patterson.[8] The couple was married two months later and the couple, both of whom were licensed pilots, flew to Florida and later to Mexico, in their own plane.[9][10][11] They later divorced in 1939.[1]

Brooks died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his right temple at his apartment on Park Avenue in Manhattan on November 27, 1953.[1]

Head coaching record

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Williams Ephs (Independent) (1916)
1916 Williams 4–2–2
Williams Ephs (Independent) (1919–1920)
1919 Williams 6–2
1920 Williams 5–3
Williams: 15–7–2
Total: 15–7–2

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Joseph W. Brooks, 62, Socialite, Sportsman". Newsday. November 28, 1953. p. 10. Retrieved August 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  2. ^ a b c d e f "NOTED COACH COMES TO ASSIST O'NEILL; Joe Brooks Will Leave Williams to Work With Gridiron Staff at Columbia" (PDF). The New York Times. December 23, 1920.
  3. ^ "HOPES HIGH AT WILLIAMS; Prospects for Strong Football Team Believed to be Good" (PDF). The New York Times. September 17, 1916.
  4. ^ "BROOKS INELIGIBLE AS AMATEUR ON ICE; Hockey League Bars Williams Football Coach" (PDF). The New York Times. January 7, 1917.
  5. ^ "WILLIAMS GETS UNDER WAY; Joe Brooks Has Squad of 15 Men Out for First Practice" (PDF). The New York Times. September 11, 1919.
  6. ^ "EXPECT BROOKS TO COACH; Williams Believes He Will Be InCharge of Football Again" (PDF). The New York Times. January 4, 1920.
  7. ^ "Julian Dick Dies, Despite Blood Transfusion from the Brother of the Man Who Shot Him" (PDF). The New York Times. January 3, 1921.
  8. ^ "MISS PATTERSON ENGAGED TO WED JOSEPH BROOKS: Plans Revealed Following Airplane Crash". Chicago Daily Tribune. October 29, 1931. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012.
  9. ^ "ALICIA PATTERSON WEDS J.W. BROOKS; Publisher's Daughter Married in Broadway Tabernacle by the Rev. Allan K. Chalmers; HONEYMOON IN AIRPLANE; Couple, Licensed Pilots, to Fly to Florida, and Later to Mexico In Their Own Plane". The New York Times. December 24, 1931.
  10. ^ "Alicia Patterson and Joseph W. Brooks Will Marry Today". Chicago Daily Tribune. December 23, 1931. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012.
  11. ^ "Milestones". Time Magazine. January 4, 1932. Archived from the original on October 27, 2010.
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