Eugene Gentry "Guy" Neely (February 9, 1896 – December 2, 1949) was an American football player. Despite having only one arm, he played

college football College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States. Unlike most ...

at the

guard Guard or guards may refer to: Professional occupations * Bodyguard, who protects an individual from personal assault * Crossing guard, who stops traffic so pedestrians can cross the street * Lifeguard, who rescues people from drowning * Prison ...

position for Dartmouth College and was a consensus first-team selection to the

1917 College Football All-America Team The 1917 College Football All-America team consists of American football players selected to the College Football All-America Teams selected by various organizations in 1917. The selections were affected by the First World War. The Walter Camp Foot ...

Early years

Neely was born in 1896 in Comanche, Texas,World War II draft registration card for Eugene Gentry Neely, born Feb. 9, 1896, in Comanche, Texas. and raised in Dallas, Texas. His parents were Richard V. Neely and Opelia Gentry. He lost his right arm in a hunting accident in approximately 1911. His arm was cut off above the elbow.

Dartmouth

Neely enrolled in Dartmouth College in 1915. Neely played football for Dartmouth's freshman team in 1915. It was reported at the time that he was probably "the only one-armed football player in the country." Neely then played for the Dartmouth Big Green football varsity team during the 1916 and 1917 football seasons. By October 1916, he had won a reputation as "the best man" in Dartmouth's line. He reportedly used the stub of his severed right arm "with telling effect in blocking and straight arming." Despite his handicap, he was also able to intercept and return a forward pass, later described by '' Life'' magazine as a "spectacular" play, during a game against West Virginia. After the 1917 season, he was selected as a consensus first-team

on the

Later years

After leaving Dartmouth, Neely returned to Texas and coached football at the Terrill School (now known as St. Mark's School of Texas). He was married shortly after returning to Texas, and he and his wife Nell had two children, Stanley (born c. 1919) and Adele (born 1920). In 1920, he was living in Comanche, Texas, working as an oil dealer.1920 U.S. Census for Eugene G. Neely, age 23, born in Texas. Census Place: Comanche, Comanche, Texas; Roll: T625_1789; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 70; Image: 609. Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census atabase on-line In 1930, he was living in Dallas and working as a securities broker.1930 U.S. Census for E. G. Neely, age 34, born in Texas. Census Place: Dallas, Dallas, Texas; Roll: 2318; Page: 41A; Enumeration District: 0067; Image: 83.0; FHL microfilm: 2342052. Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census atabase on-line In 1940, he was living in Dallas and working as a loan agent for life insurance.1940 U.S. Census entry for Eugene G. Neely, age 43, born in Texas. Census Place: Dallas, Dallas, Texas; Roll: T627_4172; Page: 61A; Enumeration District: 255-20. Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census atabase on-line In 1942, he was employed by the Federal Housing Administration in Dallas. Neely died in Dallas on December 2, 1949 at the age of 53.Death certificate for Eugene Gentry Neely, born Feb. 9, 1896, died Dec. 2, 1949. Ancestry.com. Texas, Death Certificates, 1903–1982 atabase on-line

Head coaching record

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Neely, Eugene 1896 births 1949 deaths American football guards Austin Kangaroos football coaches Dartmouth Big Green football players All-American college football players People from Comanche, Texas Players of American football from Dallas Businesspeople from Texas American amputees 20th-century American businesspeople