Birton Neill Wilson (November 16, 1874 – January 27, 1948) was an American professor, engineer, and college football coach. He served as a professor of mechanical engineering and the head football coach at Arkansas Industrial University (now known as the University of Arkansas).
 Wilson pictured in a 1908 University of Arkansas publication | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 16, 1874 Philadelphia, New York, U.S. |
| Died | January 27, 1948 (aged 73) Fayetteville, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1897–1898 | Arkansas Industrial |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 4–1–1 |
Biography
editWilson was born in Philadelphia in 1874.[1] Residing in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Wilson attended the Georgia School of Technology where he earned a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering in 1896.[2] Wilson was elected president of his senior class and "always maintained a high standing in college."[3] He was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Alpha Tau chapter of Kappa Sigma.[4][5] After graduation, Wilson began teaching at the University of Arkansas as an instructor in mechanical engineering until 1899.[4]
From 1897 to 1898, Wilson coached the Arkansas football team and over the course of two seasons amassed a record of 4–1–1. Later in his life, Wilson enjoyed recalling a quote from a partisan newspaper after his team played Fort Smith: "Thugs, pug-uglies, and roughnecks. Such are B. N. Wilson and the University of Arkansas football team."[6]
From 1899 until 1902, he was an adjunct professor of mechanical engineering and assistant superintendent of mechanical arts.[7] In 1902, the University of Arkansas promoted him to the post of professor of mechanical engineering.[4] In 1903, he studied at the University of Michigan,[4] and eventually received a master of engineering degree from Michigan in 1909.[2] By 1908, he was the superintendent of mechanical arts.[8] He received an M.M.E. degree from Cornell University.[9] He taught at the University of Arkansas until 1923.[10]
Wilson died suddenly at his Fayetteville home on January 27, 1948.[11]
Head coaching record
edit| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Industrial Cardinals (Independent) (1897–1898) | |||||||||
| 1897 | Arkansas Industrial | 2–0–1 | |||||||
| 1898 | Arkansas Industrial | 2–1 | |||||||
| Arkansas Industrial: | 4–1–1 | ||||||||
| Total: | 4–1–1 | ||||||||
References
edit- ^ "Engineers To Survey Industry", Harrison Times, Saturday, April 29, 1916, Harrison, Arkansas, United States Of America
- ^ a b General Catalogue of Officers and Students, 1837-1911. University of Michigan. 1912. p. 290. ISBN 9780472751983.
- ^ Caduceus of Kappa Sigma, Volume 11, p. 377, Kappa Sigma, 1896.
- ^ a b c d Catalogue of the University of Arkansas, Thirty-Second Edition, p. 33, University of Arkansas, 1905.
- ^ Caduceus of Kappa Sigma, Volume 20, p. 78, Kappa Sigma, 1905.
- ^ Orville Henry, Jim Bailey, The Razorbacks: A Story of Arkansas Football, p. 8, University of Arkansas Press, 1996, ISBN 1-55728-430-X.
- ^ Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of Arkansas, p. 112, Arkansas Department of Education, 1902.
- ^ Catalogue of the University of Arkansas, p. 21, University of Arkansas, 1908.
- ^ Michael S. Martin, Michael Phoenix, Chemical engineering at the University of Arkansas: A Centennial History, 1902-2002, p. 5, University of Arkansas Press, 2002, ISBN 0-9713470-0-X.
- ^ William Jordan Patty, Mechanical engineering at the University of Arkansas, 1874-2004, p. 26, University of Arkansas Press, 2004, ISBN 0-9713470-7-7.
- ^ "Death Claims B. N. Wilson At His Home". The Northwest Arkansas Times. Fayetteville, Arkansas. January 28, 1948. p. 1. Retrieved September 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com
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