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Walt Holmer

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Walt Holmer
Holmer in 1928
Biographical details
Born(1902-12-05)December 5, 1902
Moline, Illinois, U.S.
DiedAugust 27, 1976(1976-08-27) (aged 73)
Cashmere, Washington, U.S.
Playing career
1926–1928Northwestern
1929–1930Chicago Bears
1931–1932Chicago Cardinals
1933Boston Redskins
1933Pittsburgh Pirates
Position(s)Quarterback, running back
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1934–1941Boston University (backfield)
1942Boston University
1945–1946Boston University
1947–1950Colby
Head coaching record
Overall18–27–4
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
MIAA (1949)
Awards

Walter Ree Holmer (December 5, 1902 – August 27, 1976) was an American football player and coach. He played professionally as a quarterback and running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Chicago Bears, Chicago Cardinals, Boston Redskins, and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Holmer served as the head football coach at Boston University from 1942 to 1946 and at Colby College from 1947 to 1950.

Playing

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A native of Moline, Illinois, Holmer was a standout fullback at Northwestern University under Dick Hanley from 1926 to 1928.[1] He was captain of the 1928 Northwestern Wildcats football team and was named to the teat year's All-Big Ten Conference football team.[2] Holmer then played five seasons in the NFL, where he completed 36 of 110 passes for 642 yards and 7 touchdowns and rushed for 266 yards and 4 touchdowns.[3]

Coaching

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In 1934, Pat Hanley, Dick Hanley's brother and assistant coach, made Holmer his lead assistant. While coaching, BU, Holmer also earned a bachelor's degree in education from the Boston University College of Education. As an assistant, Holmer coached future NFL running back Gary Famiglietti and helped develop Solly Nechtem, who had only played one year in high school, and Walter Williams, who had never played high school football, into top college players. In 1942, Hanley was ordered to active duty with the United States Marine Corps and Holmer succeeded him as head coach.[1] Holmer left B.U. in March 1943 to join the United States Navy Reserve. After he completed his indoctrination course at the Navy pre-flight school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Holmer remained at the school as an instructor for the Navy's physical training program for aviation.[4] Boston University did not play football in 1943 or 1944, but returned to the field the following year under interim head coach Robert McKelvey.[5] Holmer was discharged from the Navy later that year and resumed his coaching duties on November 5, 1945.[6] He resigned after a 5–2–1 1946 season and became the physical education director at Cushing General Hospital in Framingham, Massachusetts.[7][2]

Three months after leaving Boston University, Holmer returned to football as the head coach at Colby College.[2] He complied a 9–17–2 record over four seasons. He resigned on December 14, 1950.[8]

Holmer died on August 27, 1976, in Cashmere, Washington.[9]

Head coaching record

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Boston University Terriers (Independent) (1942)
1942 Boston University 4–5
Boston University Terriers (Independent) (1945–1946)
1945 Boston University 0–2
1946 Boston University 5–2–1
Boston University: 9–7–1
Colby Mules (Maine Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1947–1950)
1947 Colby 1–6 1–2
1948 Colby 1–6–1 0–3 4th
1949 Colby 3–3–2 2–0–1 T–1st
1950 Colby 4–3 1–2
Colby: 9–18–3 4–7–1
Total: 18–25–4
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

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  1. ^ a b "Holmer New Terrier Football Coach". The Boston Globe. January 25, 1942.
  2. ^ a b c "Walt Holmer Colby Coach; Ex-BU Mentor Starts Aug. 1". The Lewiston Daily Sun. March 17, 1947. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  3. ^ "Walt Holmer". Pro Football Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  4. ^ "Lieut. Holmer, Ex-B. U. Coach, Now Navy Physical Instructor". The Boston Globe. July 12, 1943.
  5. ^ "B. U. to Resume Gridiron Activities". The Boston Globe. September 20, 1945.
  6. ^ King, Bill (November 5, 1945). "Braves Have Already Signed New Manager". The Telegraph. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  7. ^ "Grid Coaches Quitting Fast". The Lewiston Daily Sun. December 11, 1946. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  8. ^ "Walter Holmer Announces He Quit Colby Coaching Berth". Lewiston Evening Journal. December 15, 1950. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  9. ^ "Walter Holmer, former pro gridder dies". The Dispatch. Moline, Illinois. August 31, 1976. p. 18. Retrieved June 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
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