William Henry Dietz facts for kids
Dietz, as a member of the Carlisle football team between 1909 and 1912
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| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 17, 1884 Rice Lake, Wisconsin |
| Died | July 20, 1964 (aged 79) Reading, Pennsylvania |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| 1909–1912 | Carlisle |
| Position(s) | Tackle |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1915–1917 | Washington State |
| 1918 | Mare Island Marines |
| 1921 | Purdue |
| 1922–1923 | Louisiana Tech |
| 1924–1926 | Wyoming |
| 1929–1932 | Haskell |
| 1933–1934 | Boston Redskins |
| 1936 | Ole Miss (assistant) |
| 1937–1942 | Albright |
| Baseball | |
| 1923 | Louisiana Tech |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 104–60–7 (college football) 16–6 (college baseball) 11–11–2 (NFL) |
| Bowls | 1–1 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| Football 1 PCC (1917) |
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| College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 2012 (profile) |
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William Henry "Lone Star" Dietz (born August 17, 1884 – died July 20, 1964) was a famous American football player and coach. He led several college football teams, including Washington State University, Purdue University, and University of Wyoming. He also coached in the National Football League for the Boston Redskins. In 2012, he was honored by being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Contents
Early Life and Identity
William Henry Dietz was born on August 17, 1884, in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. His father, William Wallace Dietz, was a county sheriff.
Dietz attended Macalester College and later the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania. At Carlisle, he became a star player on their football team.
Questions About His Heritage
Dietz often said he was a Native American, specifically from the Sioux Nation. However, his background became a topic of discussion. In 1918, people started looking into his claims. It was found that he had taken on the identity of James One Star, an Oglala man.
Despite these questions, Dietz continued to say he was Native American. This claim remains a debated topic. Some groups, like the National Congress of American Indians, have discussed his identity.
Playing Football
Dietz played football at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He played alongside the legendary athlete Jim Thorpe. Their team was coached by the famous Pop Warner.
Coaching Career
After his playing days, Dietz became a football coach. In 1921, he coached at Purdue University. Later, he coached at Louisiana Tech University, University of Wyoming, and Haskell Indian Nations University.
In 1933, George Preston Marshall, who owned the Boston Braves football team, hired Dietz as their head coach. The team later moved to Washington, D.C. Marshall decided to rename the team the "Redskins." Many believe he chose this name to honor Dietz, who claimed to be of Native American heritage.
Dietz continued coaching for many years, with his last coaching job being at Albright College in Pennsylvania, from 1937 to 1942. He passed away in 1964 in Reading, Pennsylvania. Besides coaching, Dietz was also a painter and showed his artwork in exhibits.
Recognition and Nickname
In 2012, William "Lone Star" Dietz was recognized for his contributions to football and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Dietz gave himself the nickname "Lone Star." He chose this name after James One Star, the Oglala man whose identity he had taken on. The names "Lone Star" and "One Star" mean the same thing in the Oglala language.
Images for kids
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Dietz as a player for Carlisle
See also
In Spanish: William Henry Dietz para niños
