Woodchuck Welmas facts for kids
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| Position: | End | ||
| Personal information | |||
| Born: | February 26, 1891 California, United States |
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| Died: | November 15, 1968 (aged 77) Riverside County, California |
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| Height: | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||
| Weight: | 180 lb (82 kg) | ||
| Career information | |||
| College: | Carlisle Indian | ||
| Career history | |||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||
Philip J. "Woodchuck" Welmas (born February 26, 1891 – died November 15, 1968) was an important Native American football player. He played professionally in the early days of the National Football League (NFL). Woodchuck Welmas was a member of the Cupeño people, an indigenous group from Southern California.
Who Was Woodchuck Welmas?
Philip J. "Woodchuck" Welmas was born in California in 1891. He grew up to become a talented athlete. He is remembered as one of the early Native American players in professional football. He was part of the Cupeño people, who have a rich history in California.
His College Days
Before playing professionally, Woodchuck Welmas went to college. He attended the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. This school was famous for its strong college football program. Many talented Native American athletes played there. Welmas played football for the Carlisle Indian School team.
Playing Professional Football
Woodchuck Welmas played in the National Football League (NFL) in 1923. The NFL was much newer back then. He played for a unique team called the Oorang Indians. This team was special because it was made up mostly of Native American players. They were based in LaRue, Ohio.
Welmas played in four games during the 1923 NFL season. He was an "end" player, which is a position on the football field. After the 1923 season, the Oorang Indians team stopped playing. This also marked the end of Woodchuck Welmas's professional football career.
