Raymond Joseph Eichenlaub (1892/1893 – November 9, 1949) was an American football player. Nicknamed "Eich",[1][a] he was best known for playing college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
.JPG) Eichenlaub in 1913 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born: | 1892/1893 Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died: | November 9, 1949 (aged 56–57) Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight: | 210 lb (95 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | East (Columbus) |
| College: | Notre Dame (1911–1914) |
| Position: | Fullback |
| Career history | |
Biography
editEichenlaub was born in Columbus, Ohio—his date of birth varies by source, most indicating January 10 of 1892 or 1893.[b]
After graduating from East High School in his hometown, Eichenlaub received collegiate offers from Notre Dame and Michigan.[6] He selected Notre Dame, where he played as a fullback for the Fighting Irish football teams of 1911 to 1914.[2] Eichenlaub wore uniform number 13 for his first three seasons, then number 33 as a senior.[7] The Fighting Irish compiled a record of 26–2–2 (.900) during his four seasons.
With the 1913 Fighting Irish, which featured Gus Dorais and Knute Rockne and finished with a 7–0 record, Eichenlaub scored 12 touchdowns.[1] In the spring of 1914, various newspapers reported that Eichenlaub was in danger of losing his eyesight due to conjunctivitis,[8] but this was refuted by Notre Dame head coach Jesse Harper.[9] For all but his freshman season, Eichenlaub was named to All-Western teams and received All-America honors from some selectors of the era.
Eichenlaub also competed in track and field, in shot put and discus, for Notre Dame.[10] Initially elected as captain of the 1915 track and field team,[11] Eichenlaub quit athletics early in 1915 and was succeeded by Dutch Bergman.[12]
Eichenlaub served in the United States Army in the 12th Field Artillery Regiment from September 1917 to December 1918, and was honorably discharged as a lieutenant.[4] He played on the military football team at Camp Sherman, Ohio, in the fall of 1917.[13] In December 1922, Eichenlaub played in an all-star charity game at Ohio State University.[14] He also played four games for the Columbus Tigers of the National Football League (NFL) in 1925,[5][15] and served as a college football official for 25 years.[10][16]
Outside of athletics, Eichenlaub was an insurance executive in his hometown of Columbus.[10] During his time in the military, he married Emma Elizabeth Eberle on August 2, 1918.[17] A son, Ray Jr., played football at Notre Dame in the early 1940s.[18] Eichenlaub was elected president of the Notre Dame alumni association for 1940–41.[19] He died in Columbus in 1949 of a heart attack,[10] and was buried in Lockbourne, Ohio.[4] In 1972, Eichenlaub was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame.[2]
Notes
edit- ^ A nickname of "Iron Eich" is noted by the College Football Hall of Fame,[2] but examples of that nickname being used when Eichenlaub was an active player are lacking.
- ^ Eichenlaub's 1942 draft registration card listed January 10, 1892.[3] His 1957 headstone application initially listed January 10, 1893, with the year manually altered to 1892.[4] Online images of his death certificate and actual headstone indicate January 10, 1893. The College Football Hall of Fame and pro-football-reference.com both list July 15, 1892.[2][5]
References
edit- ^ a b "Seasons Score Credited to Stars: Eich Got 12 Touchdowns". South Bend Tribune. South Bend, Indiana. December 2, 1913. p. 12. Retrieved July 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d "Ray Eichenlaub (1972)". footballfoundation.org. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
- ^ "Draft Registration Card". Selective Service System. April 1942. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via fold3.com.
- ^ a b c "Application for Headstone or Marker". National Archives. February 1957. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via fold3.com.
- ^ a b "Ray Eichenlaub". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
- ^ "Eichenlaub in Demand". Akron Beacon Journal. September 12, 1911. p. 7. Retrieved July 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Lookin' On: The Wearer of No. 13". South Bend Tribune. South Bend, Indiana. September 28, 1927. p. 16. Retrieved July 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Total Blindness Threatens Star Full Back of Notre Dame Eleven". The Cincinnati Enquirer. March 27, 1914. p. 6. Retrieved July 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "(untitled)". University Oklahoman. Norman, Oklahoma. May 5, 1914. p. 2. Retrieved July 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d "Former Notre Dame Star Dies of Heart Attack". Troy Daily News. Troy, Ohio. UP. November 10, 1949. p. 12. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Eichenlaub Is Chosen to Lead Next Year's Track Team". The Indianapolis Star. June 15, 1914. p. 6. Retrieved July 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Bergman Elected Captain". The Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, North Dakota. February 28, 1915. p. 5. Retrieved July 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Eichenlaub Star on Camp Eleven". South Bend Tribune. South Bend, Indiana. November 14, 1917. p. 10. Retrieved July 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "West Defeats East in All-Star Grid Fracas". South Bend Tribune. South Bend, Indiana. December 3, 1922. p. 13. Retrieved July 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "National Pro Grid Notes". The Rock Island Argus. Rock Island, Illinois. October 23, 1925. p. 37. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Former Notre Dame Ace Officiates Here Sunday". The Buffalo News. November 2, 1934. p. 10. Retrieved July 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Eichenlaub-Eberle". Chillicothe Gazette. Chillicothe, Ohio. August 5, 1918. p. 5. Retrieved July 19, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Sullivan, Gene (September 7, 1940). "Wise Owl (column)". St. Joseph News-Press. St. Joseph, Missouri. p. 7. Retrieved July 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Former Grid Star Is N. D. Alumni Prexy". Vidette-Messenger. Valparaiso, Indiana. June 15, 1940. p. 6. Retrieved July 20, 2023 – via newspapers.com.