Frank Earl Birch (November 11, 1883) was a

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 ...

and basketball referee who first introduced signals. In 1920, he passed out cards to coaches and the press with a code of twelve gestures. He was a graduate of

Earlham College Earlham College is a private liberal arts college in Richmond, Indiana. The college was established in 1847 by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and has a strong focus on Quaker values such as integrity, a commitment to peace and social ...

. He married Margaret Johnson. He was also once mayor of

Sterling, Illinois Sterling is a city in Whiteside County, Illinois, Whiteside County, Illinois, United States. The population was 14,782 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, down from 15,370 in 2010. Formerly nicknamed "Hardware Capital of the World", the ...

References

1883 births 1948 deaths College football officials Earlham Quakers men's basketball players College men's basketball referees in the United States Earlham Quakers baseball players Earlham Quakers football players Mayors of places in Illinois People from Sterling, Illinois {{collegefootball-stub